TOWN REPORT

What’s happening in your town? Here’s a report from all over the Outer Banks.

COMPILED BY CATHERINE KOZAK

Kill Devil Hills

Currituck County

At their July 18 meeting, the Currituck County Board of Commissioners approved a zoning change for the H2OBX Waterpark in Powells Point, which could lead to the addition of a campground on the waterpark property with up to 335 campsites. A site plan for the proposal must still be approved by the board in order to move forward with the project that would be renamed the H2OBX RV & Waterpark Resort. If constructed, the campground would include a mix of RV campsites, tent sites and cabins that would be built in at least two phases. The campground, which would be accessed from the existing waterpark entrance, would also feature a swimming pool, playground, dog park, and a lodge with a pavilion and golf cart rentals, as well as pickleball, cornhole, shuffl eboard and volleyball courts.

Duck

During a July 6 meeting of the Duck Town Council, members responded with tentative approval for some kind of law – preferably on a statewide coastal level – to prevent people from digging dangerous holes on the beach. The discussion was prompted by an earlier letter sent to coastal towns by Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon that encouraged a united approach to the issue. Attention to the longstanding problem was reignited locally in May after Kill Devil Hills Ocean Rescue supervisor Dave Elder posted a photograph on Facebook of him standing in a sevenfoot-deep hole left on the beach, and recent publicity about a death in New Jersey from a collapsed hole has served as an unfortunate illustration of the risks these holes pose. Children and families often spend hours digging large holes at the edge of the surf without realizing how easily the heavy sand can bury them if a large wave washes in. Another common issue is that people dig holes and don’t fi ll them in when they leave, making them a future hazard to other beachgoers. Judging from the councilors’ discussion, Mayor Don Kingston said that Duck would be looking to participate in a “reasonable” solution.

Southern Shores

In a move that expands options for mixed-use development, the Southern Shores Town Council has voted in favor of a zoning ordinance amendment allowing residential housing as part of some commercial properties. According to minutes of the June 7 council meeting, the amendment applies to group development of commercial and residential buildings as conditional use units in the general commercial zoning district. The council agreed to require that the residential building and parking portion comprise a maximum of 25% to 40% of total lot coverage. Commercial group development is limited by the maximum allowable lot coverage of 60%.

Kitty Hawk

Fire insurance ratings for the Kitty Hawk Fire Department improved dramatically with new rankings by the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the Offi ce of the State Fire Marshal, according to a town press release. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced on June 27 that a recent inspection found that the department has improved its ability to respond to fi res in its district, earning a higher fi re rating of two (with a previous rating of four). The North Carolina Response Rating System ranges from one (highest) to 10 (not recognized as certifi ed by the state), and higher ratings in a district can result in lower homeowners’ insurance costs. The Kill Devil Hills Board of Commissioners has voted to amend its zoning ordinance to allow for the construction of cluster homes as another option for supplying desperately needed workforce housing. This will allow for compact homes that are separated from other homes in their respective “clusters” by at least 10 feet, and includes the provision that the units can share septic and driveways. The amendment added cluster homes by designating them as special use constructions in low-density residential zones, and they are required to be used only for long-term housing of at least 31 consecutive days.

Nags Head

The Nags Head Board of Commissioners has approved a working group to develop a voluntary septic subscription service, which was recommended in the town’s Decentralized Wastewater Management Plan that was adopted by the board back in May. The idea behind this service is to give property owners the option of paying an annual fee for basic maintenance such as inspections and tank pumping, rather than having to request these services on an irregular basis. Increased participation in the town’s Septic Health Initiative could help ensure that proper septic function is maintained and that any future pollution issues could be prevented in a timely manner.

Manteo

In light of a lack of local health care providers on Roanoke Island, the Manteo Board of Commissioners has agreed to appoint a Healthcare Task Force to seek solutions to the crisis. This past May, more than 2,400 patients at Outer Banks Family Medicine in Manteo were notifi ed that the practice could no longer provide services due to staff shortages. The task force, helmed by resident Malcolm Fearing, will focus on both retention and recruitment, as well as patient care and facility needs. In addition to Fearing, the panel includes both elected and public offi cials, as well as representatives from the local healthcare community. The medical community has already taken steps to address the issue, according to several video presentations made over the summer by Ronnie Sloan, president of The Outer Banks Hospital. On July 8, Sloan announced that the Manteo practice will be fully staff ed with three physicians by this fall. On July 22, Sloan also announced that the building where the Manteo practice is housed will be renovated, and that an addition will be built adjacent to the existing facility.

Dare County

After many months of ironing out various complications, Dare County Manager Bobby Outten announced at the July 18 board of commissioners meeting that two workforce housing projects providing 100 units under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program are ready to advance. The projects, which are to be constructed by the Ohio-based company Woda Cooper, will be located on county-owned land off Bowsertown Road in Manteo and on unspecifi ed land in Nags Head, with about 40 units in Manteo and 60 in Nags Head. According to Outten, the board fi nalized a contract with Woda Cooper at a special meeting this past June, with Dare County being expected to provide no more than $9 million toward the projects. In addition to this, the county is working with Coastal Aff ordable Housing on plans to construct another 350 to 400 housing units within Dare.