Sunset Fon
Following !
BY SUSAN USHER
A proposed update of the Sunset ,
Beach land use plan predicts that
growth and development of the town
will continue "much in the same
general pattern" as in the past.
That forecast hinges on two conditions,
notes Town Manager Wallace
Martin in his summary: continued ,
enforcement of existing local and
state regulations and continued
public involvement in community ,
decision-making.
Land use has changed dramatical- ,
ly at Sunset Beach over the past 10
years, notes the plan that was i
presented to the town council last ,
Thursday night. The plan was forwarded
to the N.C. Office of Coastal
Management for review and comment,
the next step in a lengthy approval
process that will end in early
1986 with adoption by the Coastal
Resources Commission.
The town is characterized as "a
family oriented vacation and second
home community with seasonal
DODUlations reaching as high
10,000 persons during peak periods,
in contrast with a year-round population
of no more than 200."
Base Will Double
The town's $55,000,000 tax base is
expected to double following county
revaluation, the study shows. Over
the past three years, property values
have increased "in an unprecedented
fashion," writes Martin. The average
cost of a new single family resider.ce
is about $70,000, and no lots on the
island sell for less than $35,000.
Oceanfront lots command $175,000
sales figures.
In terms of development, streets
account for nearly half of the town's
developed land, single family
residences, 25 percent; and commercial
development, about one percent.
About half of the platted, developable
land lies vacant, while almost 75 percent
of the total land area within the ,
town is considered to be |
"undevelopable" under existing
regulations. j
"Exceptional development" in the |
area accounts for an increase in .
housing units from 411 to 744 from |
1980 through 1984. in 1984 alone, 95
homes were built. During the same
period, 82 new homes were built
within the town's extraterritorial fringe
and 1985 rates are expected to
exceed those of 1984.
"If the average rate of 67 houses
per year should continue over the
next 10 years," predicts Martin, "the ]
number of houses in the town would |
roughly double the present number." |
Increasing Demands
If so the town will have to address
increased demands on services from
sanitation and water service to (
transportation and public access. I
The plan notes nearing completion
of the county water main, needs for a .
system of incineration for garbage
disposal, a regional sewer system in (
the Sunset Beach-Calabash area, the
need for improved bridge access to ,
the island and transportation links in j
the area. i
At the Sunset Beach Bridge, for in- (
stance, the average daily traffic
count in July jumped from 1.380
vehicles per day in 1981 to 3,5^0
vehicles per day the same month in
ino < .4 ? ?*? ? ?
IW1, IU1UJWI CU VU Cl .hUllC piUJCVUUlI
of abut 1,400 vehicles then.
The plan also addresses concerns '
for protection of unique and fragile
coastal features such as marshes and
coastal waters.
Growth of the area surrounding the
town also affects Sunset Beach, since
these residents expect to use the local
beach. If growth continues at the
same rate as from 1980 to 1984, the
population of the area around Sunset
Beach will double by the year 1990 to
at least 6,328.
Access Seeded
Mainland town residents will continue
facing the same problems with
beach access and parking as do nonresidents,
the study notes, until a
long-range solution is
found?possibly publicly financed or
encouragement of a private property
owner to construct adequate parking
as an investment
However, the study adds. "It is
argued that the casual non-rtsidtrst
user of the beach contributes little to
the local economy and may actually
impose burdens by creating litter,
traffic congestion and law enforcement
problems "
Also addressed in the plan are '
flood management, storm hazard
mitigation and hurricane evacuation
plans, constraints?such as soil types
and the need for a sewer sy stem?on
development, and policy statements
What Next?
Haskell Rhett, state Land use plan- <
ner, said review by state and federal
officials should be completed in
about 30 days, with comments
returned to the town "hopefully
esees Its Gi
Similar Path
within a month or I
month-and-a-half," he added. i
It may be accompanied by recom- I
mendations for changes.
"It's a strong suggestion with a >
possiouuy oi tuture problems In plan \
adoption," added Rhett "But we are
not trying to dictate what your policy
might be."
Once any changes?such as map
revisions already suggested?are incorporated,
a public hearing on the
revision is held and only then is the
plan approved by the town and forwarded
to the Coastal Resources
Commission for consideration. That
can happen probably no sooner than
the January 1986 CRC meeting.
Demand Soars
The council took no no action on a
proposal from Martin to increase the
fee for special trash pickups from $2
to $25.
Requests for hauling items to the
county landfill that can't be taken to
the transfer station?such as construction
debris, tree trimmings, appliances
and furniture?are "grow
ing by leaps and bounds," Martin [
said. "It wouldn't cover the expense, c
but it would cut down the number of J
times we're called."
"That's a little steep," Coun- f
cilwoman Hill observed, with Mary t
Katherinc Griffith adding that the ?
higher fee could be charged only if ?
the person wanted immediate
pickup. t
As an alternative, several s
members suggested scheduling c
special pickups at weekly intervals, t
not on demand. v
Other Business c
In other business, the board: c
Elected two extra-territorial ?
residents to the planning board, v
Schuyler "Sky" Bramley will u
replace George K. Meier Jr. on the S
board and Richard Good, previously
an alternate, will replace as a '
regular member Robert McColl, who f'
has moved rrom the area. ti
Adopted a policy, on Councilman n
Kathy Hill's recommendation, that c
planning board alternates will I
automatically advance to regular b
board membership if the person o
Knopp's Comi
In Sunset Hec
Comments i.nade by a Sunset
Beach Taxpayers Association officer '
during a July 1 public hearing will re- '
main in the minutes over Mayor Pro (
Tern Ed Gore's objections that they I
were unrelated "innuendos." 1
But a majority agreed with Coun- 1
lilwoinan Kathy Hill, who told Gore, f
the subject of the comments, that, ?
'All matters in a public hearing '
should be included in the minutes." '
Added Gore, . . if they are f
apropos."
Council members voted 3-2 against '
deleting the comments from the
minutes, but only after a awkward !l
delay in voting. r
Gore and Councilman Donald 8
Safrit had voted to delete the com- c
ments when Mayor Jim Gordon
pointedly waited for Councilman v
George Foster to speak up. b
Foster, along with Councilwomen a
Kathy Hill and Mary Katherine Griffith,
had not voted.
"He hasn't voted yet," Gordon b
loted, looking at Foster expectantly a
is most audience members Laughed. (\t
past meetings, Foster has fre- P
quently voted in apparent tandem a
with Gore and Safrit. b
"If he is going to vote no or "
abstain," interjected Hill at Thurs- r
day's meeting, "he hasn't had a
:hance. Call for the negative vote." lj
Pressed to call for the "no" votes, b
Gordon did And Fostcr voted against
deletion, with Hill and Griffith con- P
mrring. r
Gore introduced the topic by say- c
ng that when he had motioned at an h
iarlier meeting to approve minutes n
H the July 1 meeting, he had not in- T
:!uded the public hearing that P
preceded it <*
J COMPLETE INTER]
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lolding a seat is not interested in
eappointment or is no longer able to
leep it.
Received the July police report,
vhich showed that 113 town citations
'ticmmen, mosi ui tnem ior uiegai
>arking, said Martin. Chief William
I'll also listed four state citations,
ine breaking and entering, one
ireaking and entering and larceny,
our arrests, one auto wreck, two
ehicle towings, five disturbances,
wo fires and 65 investigations of the
hooting of fireworks. Twenty-one
nessages were delivered. The two
>atrol cars logged 4,574 miles on 525
jallons of gas.
Another 306 gallons of gas was used
ly the sanitation department and 54
;allons by the water department.
I .earned that the town is awaiting
he results of a study requested from
Irunwsick Electric Membership
'orp. with recommendations on the
lumber of street lights needed by the
own and where they should be
ocated.
Approved as amended a set of pro>osed
town zoning maps for recorling.
The board deleted a single line
it Gore's recommendation.
Authorized Martin to build an ofice
for the water operator in the bay
idjoining the police department, at
in estimated cost of $5,000, with town
employees providing the labor.
Approved spending $4,000 for
hrce drainage projects, two on Inlet
ind North Shore drives using routine
Irain lines that nin to filter beds in
he marsh, and one on 33rd Street
rhich will experiment with use of a
atcb basin that doesn't allow sand to
log attached short drain lines set in
i tied of rock. If the method works it
rill be used to address a slightly less
irgent drainage problem on Second
itrect.
Citing the possibility of town
lability and the setting of precedent
or other neighborhoods, took no acion
on a request to provide a
eighborhood accessway so that west
nd property owners can reach Mad
nlet. A previous set of steps was
milt there by a private property
wner, not the town, Gore noted.
-
-nenfs Stand
iring Notes
In those minutes, Sunset Bench
Faxpayers Association Vice Presiient
Warren "Bud" Knapp of
^labash is quoted. "During the
rnblic hearing Warren Knapp stood
ip and stated that prior to the start of
he meeting, he was approached by
Cd Gore and physically threatened
ind called a S.O.B. and it was inlicated
that physical violence could
>e done to him as others were in the
last.
"He said Gore needed to apologize
0 him as an elected official."
Councilwoman Hill continued her
irgument that the remarks were
nade as part of "a public meeting in
1 public place," adding that all town
fficials must be "held accountable."
Gore argued that the comments
rere irrelevant to the topic of the
learing?the proposed annexation of
golf course development?and were
allegations" and "innuendos."
In including them in the minutes,
e countered to remarks from Hill
nd Councilwoman Mary Katherine
iriffith, "You're saying they hapened.
You want them included to
dd credibility to
inuendo. . . That's the result of
. hat you're doing," he added in
esponse to their denials.
He continued, "The public was not
eing heard. We were listening to Mr.
inapp make his allegations."
Noting that in the minutes of a
rior board meeting, dealing with
ezoning. Gore had insisted on inluding
discussion as well as moons,
Hill said, "They were put in the
unutes. They were allegations also,
hat was a public meeting. This is a
ublic hearing 1 think what goes for
ne should go for all."
jB||
. Vv h I HPETynft^fTr -' *
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c.
Ol
Families from across North Caroline
long weekend at the beach Labor Da
rain interfering only a little with tt
Firefighter, C
Sunset Beach's Volunteer Fire
Department paid $1,900 of its own
money to cover the expense of
hospital treatment for some
members following a July 19 fire tiiat
destroyed the Oyster Bay Golf
Clubhouse.
That was just one of the operating
expenses enumerated by firefighter
Richard Edwards in comments to the
Sunset Beach Taxpayers Association
Saturday.
With overcast skies outside, a
larger crowd than usual?between
14(1 find lfiO cfnthnrod Vlnfurdnn innMn
?d?h.v.vuu?i<?uaj iiuiui:
the Sunset Beach Volunteer Fire
Department bay area for the
meeting. Among those in the audience
"just to listen" were Mayor
Pro Tern Ed Gore, along with two
family members who mistakenly
stood during a members-only count
of those who support a high-rise
bridge. The vote stalled and a
substitute motion carried successfully
Debate regarding the fate of the
pontoon bridge lending to the htluiul
dominated the meeting, but there
were other items on the agenda.
Edwards pointed out that with the
largest-capacity tanker in the county,
7,400 gallons, the 27-member
department is frequently called to
give mutual aid.
With the area's Increasing popula
tion and the increased costs
associated with firefighting, Edwards
predicted, "Ten years from
now, we're going to have to have paid
firefighters. Of that there's no doubt
in my rnind."
He criticized county commissioners
for what he called "lack of
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jmmer's Lost Fling Er
i enjoyed their last Clliton Cauldcr i
y, with occasional joy the sun at !
leir plans. Above, later in the day
7ore Address
foresight" in dealing with the problem.
"We're between a rock and a
nam piace?tremendous growth and
use and no funds needed to prevent
the tragedies like we saw several
years ago," added Edwards.
Eor its part, the association contributes
$100 per year to the deportment
plus $50 each time it meets
usually several times each year. Its
members were urged Saturday t<
contribute.
Firefighters "shake buckets" neat
the bridge approach on majoi
holidays as a source of funds.
"A lot of people still think it's a toll
bridge?we don't tell them any different."
Edwards quipped.
While most members of the
association disagree strongly wit!
Gore regarding the ideal fate of the
town's pontoon-type barge bridge
civility ruled at Saturday's session.
Not As Adversary
"We don't sec him (Ed Gore) here
as an adversary," one membc
reminded the Rroup. "He has pre
litems, we have problems. Maybe w
can help each other, maybe he ca
help us with some of our problem
some of our compromises."
Gore in turn asked the group not ti
consider him "unapproachable,'
citing a great concern for the town
He has confirmed plans to seek re
election to the town council.
He said he was there to "retain thi
rpiality of life we've all known and en
Joyed," not to destroy It.
His remarks were cut short wher,
Secretary Minnie Hunt warned, "3(
seconds?you never allow us bu1
about two minutes during town bouri
meetings."
only buy It from a telephone
ne of many exciting new innovf
introduced in recent years. We
ow and a lot in store for the futi
ie Initiative that introduced the
' to your telephone is involved 11
dependable telephone systems
rJ business
part of ihai "tiapviridabiiiiv" it
e you hold in your hand If it's o
quality of the system is complet
nents we introduced won't do nr
qhone doesn t work Ours work
we know how to fix them
.ANTIC TELEPI
ERSHIP CORPC
Highway 130 Wast, Shallot
CALL 754-4311
r...... ;
hursday, September 5, 1985?Page 11-A
LW
V < k ?-?
- A.
.MAft PMOIO BY SUSAN USHIR
ids
and Angela llowyer of 1-auringburg ensunset
Beach Monday before leaving
for home?and school on Tuesday.
. T
> taxpayers
In other business it was announced
that President John McCarthy had
I resigned, in part because of the
tremendous growth experienced by
| the town. Also, Ann Hammond suggested?as
others had done at a prior
meeting?that the group form a
. political action committee to channel
, support and funding for candidates
"conoltUi?" *? ' ~' ,L
i oviumrv lU VICWS UI IIIC OSSOClOi
lion.
Half-time residents Ann Sorrell
and Mason Barber were appointed to
fill the remainder of two years terms
on the board of directors previously
| held by John McCarthy and Pat
Wiedmaier. Nominations are due in
by Oct. 1 for the expiring terms of
i four members, Warren "Bud"
i Knapp, Alan Buss, Minnie Himt and
? Joe Majctte.
r wuuiesaie
SHALLOTTE
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Shallotte. N C.
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