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The PKS Board of Adjustaent listened sympathetically May 22 when William Von Thaden,
Wb wife and Rex Johnson^ their builder, recited the troubles they have encountered in^^
getting started on the Von Thanden's retirement home at 137 Loblolly Drive. They blam^B
VOH THADEMS ^ 8®all patch of marsh grass for delays that had held up a start on the^
— house since February.
GET VARIANCE
**We were supposed to be in our house by July," said Mrs. Von Thaden. "We've
alxoady sold our place in New York, Now we*re looking like crazy for some place to live
until our house is finished."
Stated simply, the Von Thaden*s problem was thisi The Pine Knoll Shores zoning
ozdinance req^uires folks building on the canal to bulkhead the property before a building
permit can be Issued, However, that pesky patch of marsh grass lay squarely in the path of
the proposed bulkhead. An official of the Coastal Area Management Administration suggested
that the bulkhead should veer to the north to avoid the marsh grass. However, regulations
of the Pine Knoll Association require bulkheads to follow a straight line. But that, GAMA
said, would kill the marsh grass. It said the Von Thadens would have to obtain a major
CANA permit to do that. And it would take CAMA 60 to 75 days to act on a major permit
after it receives the application.
Von Thaden said he called attention to the wording of the law which says a major per
mit is required for the destruction of a "significant amount" of marsh grass and asked how
much marsh grass would be a "significant amount,"
"They said it coiad be one blade," he told the board, "It’s difficult to work with
that kind of bureaucracy."
The Von Thadens asked that they be grated a variance that would allow them to start
their house before the bulkhead is biiilt. Meanwhile, they would post a $3,500 bond to
guarantee that the bulkhead will be built as soon as CAMA issues a permit,
Board member Mary Korff argued that the Von Tadens were entitled to the variance
because "The situation is no fault of their own, and it's a problem unique to their property,"
On motion of Ken Knight, the board voted unanimously to grant the variance that
allowed the Von Thadens to get a bidlding permit without first building a bulkhead,
"But what if the CAMA permit is not obtained?" asked Mrs, Korff, Building Inspector
Bill Ballantine said he did not think that would be a problem. He did not think a small
patch of marsh grass would be sufficient grounds for denying a permit,
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I/>u Rasberry has lived at 105 Holly Road since December, Her move to Pine Knoll
Shores was very unique in that she brought her house with her. Formerly in the area bought
up by Jungleland, she was literally squeezed out by the activity and expansion of that
business. She loved her house and did not want to give it up so she bought
"the lot at Holly Road and had her house moved onto it. After the house was
NEIGHBORS ooved an addition and a few alterations made it look as though it had all been
" built ri^t there where it is nestled in among the trees.
Originally from Raleigh, lou has been living in the area off and on for fourteen years.
Before that she spent many vacations hereabouts, most of them visiting relatives in Beaufort.
Thus Pine Knoll Shores was well known to her from its very beginning and she decided that
this is irtiere she wotild settle permanently.
Widowed many years ago, Lou now lives alone. One son is in Raleigh, another in
Washington. She has an eight-year-old grandson who visits when he can. She has her cats,
though. They rode inside the house with her when it was moved, ^
Lou worics part time at Ramada's Clam Digger Restaurant, In her spare time she lixW
Jto sew and walk the beach.
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