„ „
THt BKlINSWlLK^BtACON
Twenty-fifth Year, Number 17
Cirar llll MUHSWKK MACON
Shallotte, North Carolina, Thursday, March 5, 1987
25c Per Copy
32 Pages Plus Inserts
SPEAKERS CALL FOR REFERENDUM
Zoning Issue Draws Large Hearing Crowd
BY SUSAN USHEU
If Brunswick County
sioners follow the advice of speakers
at a public hearins on zoning last
Wednestlay night, they’ll take the
issue directly to tlie voters or el.se
drop it like a hot potato.
More than 20 speakers took their
turn at the podium in the county’s
public assembly building at Bolivia,
most to decr>' additional regulation
of property, pr.rticulr.rly ir. rural
areas of tlie county.
“What I’ve got I worked hard for,"
said Ira Chadwick of the Shell Point
area in a statement typical of the op
position. “I don’t want anybody tell
ing me what I can and can’t do witli
“If these people moving in here arc
unhappy, why do they come?’’
Edison Moore of Northwest
Township predicted zoning would be
“burdensome” to a certain segment
of the people and suggested if people
wanted higher standards, they
should move into such an area.
Many of tho.se unsure of zoning’s
impact or even against it still agreed
a referendum is in order, cither for
the entire county or for a specific
district. “It could help me or hurt
me," .said I.ouie I,cwis of Supply.
“But if you want tills thing to work,
give the citizens an opportunity to
vote. If a majority wants it, I will go
with it."
But several speakers were set in
their eppesition: “You people are
.wrong, absolutely wrong," one Oak
Island resident said, while James
Bellamy of Shallotte suggested zo.n-
ing would create problems, not solve
liiem.
H.C. (Cortez) Ward Sr. of
I.ongwood drew the loudest applause.
“1 don't URe anyoody cdueaieu nuuve
their intelligence to tell me what to
do with my property," he said. "If it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
In a show of liands at the close of
the licaring, about GO percent of Uic
110-membcr audience indicated they
lou were against zoning.
While one speaker, Tony Aweeky of
Boiling .Spring Cakes, said tlie senti
ment against zoning surprised him,
Brunswick Comity Planning Board
CTiaimian Ed Gore said it was about
what he expected. "Tliey clearly feel
the county coirunissiciuers should pu!
it to a vote of the people," he said.
As for comments made during the
itvui Guic i.'uiiltiluvu, '*5urriv pcO-
pie understand zoning, are comfor
table with it and see a need for it."
However, he added, people who
liavc always lived in a rural area
witli little property regulation fear
that their lives and property woidd be
adversely affected by zoning or other
land iLse regulation.
Aweeky said he came to the hear
ing expecting a majority of those pre
sent to support zoning.
“Most people who have lived here a
long Ume are against it,” he conclud
ed. “The people who liave nnt are for
it."
Also, he surml.sed, “the people
against zctttng •ecV.*.*t! el n ** * nar-
sonal thing. I Uiink you have to look
at it in tenns of what the county will
lose or gain.”
However, he expects the county to
eventually go to zoning, Aweeky add
ed, “because we neeil it."
I.inda Phillips of Southport, a bank
employee, recommended countywidc
zoning because of "predominant
value," a principle used in qualifying
loan applicants. The loan value on a
nice home can be adversely affected
by tlie value of surrounding property,
such as junkyards, she said.
"Brunswick County is one of the
strongest counties in the state. We
have got to keep up, folks, we can't
stand back.”
Most speakers weren’t convinced
of the need.
Thomas Yaglc of Sunset Harbor
said zoning would only cost county
residents money, “lots of it."
Ocean Isle developer Udell
Williamson, who described land use
planning as his “long suit," .spoke
against iiic county creating a
bureaucracy to deal with zoning
when it has established neither long-
range goals nor a plan to attain them.
“If you have a dream. I’ll join
you,” he added. “But we’ve got a
long way to go.”
Walter Iteinhclmcr cf Ixing Beach
urged county residents to talk to peo
ple who had lived with zoning and
witliout it: “Find out if they like it or
don’t like it and make up your own
mind."
Sonic speakers, iike Henry
Williams of Shell Point and Bobby
Ixjng of Grissettown, said zoning
should be addressed by area, if at all.
"Zoning the county would be
damaging," said Ixing, noting that
decti restrictions were slowly ‘zon-
(See ZONING, Page 2-A)
Vote Will Seek Shorter Terms hor Holden Beach Corminissidners
BY EDDIE SWEATT
Holden Beach voters will decide
May S whether to cut the terms of of
fice of commissioners from four to
two years.
The special election was set Mon
day night by the town commission, in
its regular monthly meeting, after
Town Administator Bob Buck cer
tified a petition calling for a vote to
amend the town charter.
Forty-seven of the town’s 359
registered voters, of 13.1 percent,
signed the petition asking for two-
year terms for all commission
members. State law requires a peti
tion of at least ten percent of
on a proposed amendment to the
town charter.
Signatures on the petition were col-
lecied by the Political Action Com
mittee (PAC) of the Holden Beach
Property Owners Association, accor
ding to committee chairman Don Pr
ingle. The petition was submitted to
the town Feb. 2.
The petition drive grew out of
discussions at meetings of the
association where members conclud
ed that shorter terms far eom,mis-
sioners woidd make them “more sen
sitive" to the people and their needs,
Pringle explained.
“Several have not been too respon-
registered voters to call an election sive," Pringle continued, but did not
specify which conimissioncrs.
Commissioner Graham King’s mo
tion to hold the election on the first
Tuesday in May passed unanimous-
ly-
After the vote. Commissioner Hal
Stanley suggested the property
owmers’ association host a forum
where the issue can be discussed,
since the association generally spon
sors a meet-the-candidates-night
prior to municipal elections. HBPOA
ricaiuciit \jc
audience, agreed and said he will ar
range a date and time for such a
meeting before the vote.
“It (two- or four-year terms)
makes no difference to ms; I’ve had
it both ways,” commented Ckimmis-
sioner Stanley, who has served both
two-year and four-year terms.
Tlie town cliarter was amended in
1981 to provide for four-year stag
gered terms for commissioners. At
the time, there was no sign of disap
proval in public hearings which
preceded the change.
John Tandy, the present mayor,
held that office in 1981 when the four-
year term for commissioners was in
stituted. Lyn Holden is the only cur
rent commissioner who was serving
at that time. Other commissioners
were Jim Mulholland, Roger Morton,
John Clarke and Spiro Poulos. At that
time, the commission agreed that
longer, staggered terms would pro
vide more continuity in governing the
town and prevent a complete turn
over of elected officials at any one
time.
The top two vote-getters in the ’81
election, Jim Griffin and Gloria Bar
rett, served four years each to begin
the staggering process.
After that, elections every two
years were to alternate with three
commission seats up for grabs one
time and two the next time around,
with the mayor continuing to be
elected every two years.
Before tlie change in ’81, the mayor
and all five commission seats were
up for grabs every two years. The
petition would bring back the
previous system.
The four-year temes of tlusie of the
present commissioners are up this
year. They are Lyn Holden, Hal
Stanley and Graham King. The other
two. Gay Atkins and William
Williamson, were elected in 1985 for
four years.
Most municipalities in Brunswick
County use' staggered, four-year
terms for commissioners and elect
the mayor every two years. Only
Calabash and Bolivia elect a mayor
and all commission members every
two years. Shallotte’s mayor is Uie
only one elected for a four-year term.
Flood Waters Put Cawcaw District
Back Before County Commissioners
BY SUSAN USHER
Flooding in the Cawcaw Swamp
area of western Brun-swick County
had several .speakers asking county
commissioners Monday night about
the status of the former Cawcaw
Drainage District
Carolina Shores resident Warren
“Bud" Knapp, for one, wanted to
know what the county planned to do
about the drainage problem in the
area.
He said all residents of Shingletree
Precinct ryere concerned about the
flooding and that the high water was
creating an image problem for
visitors entering the state from South
Carolina.
"It reflects a ladt of concern on
sonnebody’s part," he said.
James Bellamy, chairman of the
Brunswick County SoQ and Water
Conservation District, also was at the
meeting, asking the county to take
over (^ration of the districL
But commissioners told Bellamy,
for the third time in a year, that the
county had no intention of doing so.
Instead, they asked again that the
district be re-established and its
residents assess themselves to sup
port the drainage project Then, said
Commissicrier Chris Cha;^U, the
district could approach the county
for a contribution as do other
organizations.
“Do you want it bad enough to go
out and seek a special tax for that
uisiriet? That’S the only quick solu
tion to that problem," he continued.
However, Bellamy is convinced
that the county is responsible and
that taking over the maintenance is
the fastest and least expen-sive alter
native. He estimates the annual cost
at $1 per county resident.
He told coinmlssioners he wants
that question of responsibility settl
ed, through the courts or otherwise.
"When we find out who is responsi
ble, then people flooded like Lynn
Fetch (owner of Farwinds Stables)
will know . who to sue," Beiianiy con
tinued.
Bellamy said he is present his con
cerns to the state Soil and Water Con
servation Board on March 11 in
Raleigh. He also hinted that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture is con
sidering taking on tlie issue as a
precedent-setting legal case.
He said, “I don’t see, for the life of
me, why the county commissioners
don't go ahead and do what they will
eventually have to do."
The district was established in the
early 1960s, with the county Soil and
Water Conservation District signing
a contract with the U.S. Department
of Agriculture to maintain its
drainage system for 50 years.
The district cut 16 miles of canals
allowing development of com
munities such as Carolina Shores.
Drainage District No. 1—the coun
ty’s only such district—was abandon
ed after its board had trouble collec
ting assessments from residents and
a county board of commissioners
voted in 1976 to take over
maintenance of the canals and paid
66,000 in debts owed by the district. In
1977, however, another board of com
missioners refused to sign a contract
with the USDA to that effect
In the meantime, the Clerk of
Superior Court, Jack Brown, had
dissolved the district
The current board of commis
sioners agrees -with Bellamy and
Knapp that the drainage district has
been an economic boon for the coun
ty, but say that if the county takes
over the district it will be expected to
provide similar drainage projects in
other areas of the county.
Two years ago county staff
members estimated it would require
an initial Investment of $200,000 to
thoroughly clean the canals and at
least $60,000 simply to snag along
them.
Bellamy also said he would ask the
State Soil and Water Conservation
Board about county adjustments last
year in the local district’s budget.
Home Show Offers Full Spectrum
Of Home Improvement Resources
BY SUSAN USHER
Fencing, lumber, wallpaper, furniture, landscap
ing materials—anything ne^ed when building or
remodeling a home will be on di^lay at the second an
nual Brunswick living Home Show.
. •The thrccKlay show will be held at the Shallotte Na
tional Guard Armory March 27-29. Admission is tr^.
ilovrs are from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 ^.m.
Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p,m. Sunday.
Sponsored by the South Brunswick Islands Home
Buildera-Association, the show offers a wide spectrum
of ideas and resources for homeowners or prospective
homeowners, whether they’re adding on a room or
ded(, remodeling a kitchen or building from the ground
"Pt-, , ■
Thirty-four exhibitors have already committed to
the show, with 11 spaces stiU available, said Mark
Saunders, secretary-treasurer (rf the associatloR.
Along with displays of supplies and Informatlbnal
materials, said Nidt Newton, public relations chair
man, "expertslnpracticallyeveryfacetofthebulldlng-
trade will be available to answer questiais.’’
“We’ll have everything you can imagine relating to
the home or services, for it," he added.
Many exMbitors will offer drawings for gifts.
Last year’s show was very successful, Newton said.
The association was pleased with' the quality and
number of exhibitors and with the crowds that turned
out.
More man i,uw peune came urat year aini we’re
expecting a much larger crowd this year," he con
tinued..
year exhibitors will compete for three
trophlM-^best single booth, best double booth and best
of show, with the winners to be announcedat a March 26
preview party for exhibitors.
Exhibitors pay to participate in the show, with pro
fits used by the Home Builders Association for com
munity, service projects. This year’s projects include a
leading role in renovating and expanding the South
Bmnsudek Islands' Chamber of Commerce facilities,
donations to rescue squads within the group’s jurisdic
tions and support of other activities as possible.
' These interested in reserving one of the remaining
booths should call either Saunders, at 8424939, or
Newton, 579-7038.
Way Clears For Shallotte Nursing Home
uiai draineu about 16,000 ucrta if oTu when a secretary was reassigned to a
me Waccamaw River south and weal county department and a tj’pewritcr
to Calabash and Grissettown, mak- removed frian the office. A^rding
ing them suitable for farming and (See COUNTY, Page ^A)
BY SUSAN USHER
One company has abandoned its
two-year legal battle to build a nurs
ing home in Supply, clearing the way
for construction of a similar facility
in Shaiiotie.
Douglas Suddreth, director uf
development for Autumn Corp. of
Rocky Mount, said the company
plans to begin construction this sum
mer of a 110-bed facility at the comer
of Mulberry and White Streets. The
center, which will include 50 skilled
riursing and 58 Intermediate-care
beds, plus 10 hems for the aged be-Js,
is expertMi to rwn In summer 1988.
"We’re moving right along," said
Suddreth, noting that the first step
would be to seek rezoning of the tract
by the Shallotte Board of Aldermen.
The agency rtceived a certificate of
need from the state on Feb. 23.
Autumn’s r ctlon follows a dedslMi
by Beverly Enterprises of Pasadena,
Calif., to withdraw its two-year ap
peal of a 1983 decision by the N.C.
(See WAY CLEARS, Page 2-A)