Next-Door
Nightclub Could Cause
Parking Nightmare,
Merchant Says
BY LYNN CARLSON
An Occan Isle Beach merchant's complaint about
parking problems could result in a re-examination of the
town's ordinances governing businesses and commercial
building codcs.
Betty Causey, owner of Ocean Isle Beach Shop and
Causey's Car Wash, asked the Occan Isle Beach Board
of Commissioners Tuesday if it is necessary for a night
club locating next door to her shop to have fire doors
opening onto her parking lot.
"People will automatically think they're supposed to
be parking in my parking lot," Causey said about pa
trons of a private club reported to be opening next to the
bcach shop in a building on West Second Street operat
ed last summer as J. Scott's restaurant.
"Nothing can be done aboul il building-codc-wisc,"
Building Inspector Druied Robcrson said. Roberson
agreed to ask slate officials for a possible alternative to
the side doors and that if there is not, he will ask the
nightclub owners to put signs indicating that the side
doors arc fire doors only.
Commissioner Kendall Suh said Causey's problem
is an indication that the town's commercial building
codes should be updated.
Robcrson said the nightclub building is in compli
ance with the town's parking space requirements, with
about 35 spaces, but acknowledged that there arc no reg
ulations to permit several hundred people from being in
the building at a given time.
"A private club is different from a restaurant,"
Causey said. "People aren't just going to stay for an
hour and leave, they're going to be there for a while."
Robcrson said current ordinances do not differentiate
between lounges and restaurants.
There is no building height limitation in the /one,
Robcrson said in response to a question from Suh. "That
means that somebody technically could put a five-story
parking deck there with a 10-story building on lop of it,"
Suh said. "That's not what I think we want the character
of Occan Isle Beach to be."
The town's proposed new subdivision ordinance sets
35-foot height limitations in most residential zones but
should also address commercial heights, Suh said.
Robcrson suggested implementation of fixed area ratio
rules specifying how much land is required for build
ings' dimensions.
Meanwhile, stale regulations would not prohibit
Causey from constructing a chain link fence along the
property line, which is only six inches from the night
club building, Robcrson said.
"That shows that we need to upgrade, if Betty's
within her legal right to put a fence on the oihcr side
even if it would be completely blocking fire doors," Suh
said.
Although Causey indicated no intention of putting
up a fence, she said something should be done about
parking woes which get worse every season in the com
mercial district.
Mayor Betty Williamson said the planning board
will be asked to review the commercial codes.
WILLIAMSON'S FIRST MEETING
State Transportation Board
Adjusts Road Project Funds
Budgets adjustments for several
U.S. 17-rclated projects in Bruns
wick County were approved by a
new State Board of Transportation
last Friday in Raleigh, along with
other routine items.
It was the first meeting of the
board for new member Odcll Wil
liamson of Ocean Isle Beach, who
was recently appointed by Gov.
James Hunt to represent a six-coun
ty area of southeastern North Caro
lina.
Specifically the board allocated
another S838,500 to cover additional
costs on curTcnt or recently complet
ed projects, as follows:
?Another SI8,000 to cover cost
ovcmins for construction of the 4.8
milc U.S. 17 bypass of Shallotte.
Previously, $4,882,664 had been ap
proved.
?Another SI0,000 in construction
funds for the rest area off of the U.S.
17 bypass of Shalloue, for a total of
SI,486,000.
?An additional SI20,000 for prelim
inary engineering on U.S. 17 from
N.C. 211 at Supply to the South
Carolina state line, a distance of
21.3 miles. The board has previous
ly approved SI,612,000 for the
work.
?An additional S50.000 for con
struction on U.S. 17 1.72 miles from
N.C. 211 northwest to southwest of
Galloway Road (S.R. 1401), previ
ously budgeted at S2.83 million.
?An additional S500.500 for right
of way and utilities on U.S. 17 from
less than a mile east of Red Bug
Road (S.R. 1136) to N.C. 211 at
Supply, a distance of 5.275 miles.
Previously 52,358,500 was budget
ed.
?Another SI00,000 in addition to
the 51,820,000 previously approved
for preliminary engineering, right of
way and utilities for a new Sunset
Beach Bridge.
?Another 540,000 to cover cost
overruns on a widening project on a
6.4-milc section of N.C. 133 from
Funston Road (S.R. 1518) to Olde
Townc Wynd (S.R. 1543). Pre
viously a S910,000 budget had been
approved.
?Approved three road name
changes as requested by the Bruns
wick County Board of Commis
sioners: S.R. 1322, Hughes Smith
Road; S.R. 1401, Tucker Road; and
S.R. 1845, Wilkes Street.
The board also reduced, by
S166.470, its budget for preliminary
engineering and construction on
U.S. 17 from the South Carolina
state line to N.C. 87 South, a length
of 22.85 miles (excluding the Shal
lotte and Bolivia bypasses). Pre
viously 51,299,419 had been ap
proved.
Soles Selected To Chair
Senate Judiciary Committee
Stale Senate Deputy President Pro
Tempore R.C.
Soles, D-18th
District, has
been named
vice chairman
of the Senate
Judiciary II
Committee by
Senate President
Pro Tempore
Marc Basnight.
SOLES
The Judiciary
II Committee is responsible for re
viewing legislation pertaining to ad
ministrative, business and civij law.
The work of the Senate Judiciary
committees is among the most diffi
cult and complex undertaken by any
Senate committee," Basnight said.
"R.C.'s legal expertise and legisla
tive experience make his leadership
vital to the work of this committee.
The Senate is fortunate to have a
man of his considerable talents serv
ing in a leadership role not only on
this committee, but as deputy presi
dent pro tempore. R.C.'s guidance
and advice have proven invaluable
to me in the past, as I know they will
in the future."
Soles is serving his ninth term in
the Senate, and his first as deputy
president pro tempore. In addition to
serving as vice chairman of the
Judiciary II Committee, he is a
member of the Agriculture, Marine
Resources; Banks and Thrift In
stitutions, Economic Development,
Finance, Insurance, Pensions and
Retirement, Public Utilities, Rules
and Operation of the Seante, Ways
and Means, and the Select Gov
ernment Performance Audit com
mittees.
Late Class Registration
Will End March 12 AtBCC
Registration for spring quarter
curriculum classes at Brunswick
Community College continues
through Friday, March 12.
Prospective students should see
their respective curriculum advisors
first, said Public Information Officer
Anne Marie Bellamy. New students
should telephone the Office of
Student Services at 754-6900, 457
6329 or 343-0203 to be assigned an
advisor.
Registration will be held today
(Thursday) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the main
campus on U.S. 17 Business north
of Supply. The last day to register is
Friday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m.
Bellamy said students can select
from classes in 13 areas: air condi
tioning, heating and refrigeration;
basic law enforcement training; gen
eral education; automotive mechan
ics; business administration; cosme
tology; welding; general office; re
creational grounds management;
business computer programming;
electronic engineering technology;
administrative office technology;
and real estate.
Some classes start Wednesday,
March 10. The quarter will end May
27.
Ocean Isle Sets
Public Hea
rings
On Subdivisions,
House
Moving
BY LYNN CARLSON
The Occan Isle Beach Board of Commissioners will
entertain comments on its proposed new 48-page sub
division ordinance at an 8:30 a.m. public hearing April
13.
Before the public hearing, the proposed ordinance
will be reviewed by the town's planning board, which
is not expccted to recommend anything other than
"nuts and bolts" changes, according to Druied
Robcrson, the town's building inspector.
Robcrson said the new ordinance, if adopted, would
benefit developers, townspeople and the commission
ers by clarifying regulations and procedures and pro
viding a checklist to determine whether plans arc in
compliance.
Under the proposal, subdivisions would be classi
fied as major or minor. Minor subdivisions would be
defined as those which will have no new private or
public streets or right of way dedications, which will
have five or fewer lots, and whose entire tract is five
acres or less in area.
It would require initial subdivision plans to go to a
"subdivision administrator," currently proposed to be
the building iaspector, before being forwarded to the
planning board, and ending up with the commissioners
for final approval.
It would require thoroughfare plans, prohibit "piece
meal development to circumvent the subdivision regu
lations," and provide an avenue for variances.
"It spells out be'ter what has to be on the plans,"
Roberson said. "It specifies who is responsible for
streets and makes it very clear that it is imperative that
utilities meet the requirements of the ordinance and are
paid for by the subdividcr."
To comply with floodplain management regula
tions, the ordinance would require permanent bench
marks within 1,000 feet of all subdivisions.
The proposed ordinance was drafted by planning
consultant Roger Briggs of North Topsail Beach, who
also drew up the town's recent land use plan update
and extraterritorial jurisdiction ordinance.
In the same April 13 session, the commissioners
will hold a public hearing on a proposal 10 add to the
zoning ordinance rules for moving older structures.
The commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolu
tion drafted by Town Attorney Elva Jess to require
property owners to move buildings within six months
of the date of their permit to do so. The zoning amend
ment ordinance to be drafted will specify when and
how structures may be moved over the Odell
Williamson Bridge, will set permit fees and will man
date that exteriors of relocated buildings be made
"equal or superior to" buildings in the new neighbor
hood, Jess told the commissioners.
Saturday Rabies Clinics Scheduled
Brunswick County's Animal
Control Department, in cooperation
with local veterinarians, will spon
sor a low-cost rabies clinic on
Saturday, March 27, at various loca
tions in the county.
All vaccinations will cost S5.
Other shots will be subject to veteri
narians' charges. Following is a list
of locations and times:
?Seaside Animal Clinic, Calabash,
8:15-9:30 a.m.
?Seaside Plaza, Intersection N.C.
904 and 179,9:45-10:15 a.m.
?Ocean Isle Airport, N.C. 179,
10:30-11:15 a.m.
?Shalloue Lions Park, 11:30-11:45
a.m.
?Ash Post Officc, noon-12:30 p.m.
?BenneU's Esso Station, Exum, Big
Neck/Makatoka, 12:45-1 p.m.
?Brunswick Animal Hospital, Sup
ply, 9 a.m.-noon
?Sunset Grocery, Sunset Harbor,
12:30-1 p.m.
?Bolivia Post Office, 1:30-2 p.m.
?Boiling Spring Lakes Town Hall,
2:15-3:30 p.m.
?Towncrcck Park, 4-4:30 p.m.
?Midway Trading Post, 12:30-1
p.m.
?Long Beach Town Hall, 1:30-2
p.m.
?Yaupon Beach Town Hall, 2:15
2:45 p.m.
?Souihpon Town Hall, 3-3:30 p.m.
?Companion Animal Hospital,
Shallotte, noon-12:30 p.m.
?Smith's Grocery, Civietown,
12:45-1:15 p.m.
?Bill's Quick Stop, Boone's Neck
Road, 1:30-2 p.m.
?Pal's Beach Shop, Holden Beach
Causeway, 2:15-2:30 p.m.
?Varnamtown Town Hall, 2:45
3:15 p.m.
?Lcland Veterinarian Hospital,
Clairmont Plaza, 8 a.m.-noon
?Wilson's Groccry, Lcland, 1-1:30
p.m.
?Holly Bucks, Lcland, 1:45-2:15
p.m.
?Phoenix Country Store, Mt. Mis
cry Road, Cedar Hill, 2:30-3 p.m.
?Maco Truck Slop, 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Parvo and distemper shots will be
available.
For more information, call Bruns
wick County Animal Control be
tween 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday at 754-8204 or 1
800-233-2169.
Elections Board Meets
Monday
To Consider Precinct
Changes
The Brunswick County Board of
Elections will consider several pro
posed precinct changes when it
meets Monday, March 15, at 6 p.m.
at the elections office at the Govern
ment Center in Bolivia.
Under the proposals, a precinct
would be added in Shallotte Town
ship and the two precincts in Wac
camaw Township consolidated into
a single precinct.
The proposals met with little ob
jection at public meetings held in
Shallotte and Ash last month. The
changes reflect the need to accom
modate continuing growth in popu
lation and voter turnout in the
Shallotte Township area and a de
cline in the number of voters in
Waccamaw Township.
Brunswick County is one of 18
counties to come under the slate's
precinct boundary program this year,
an effort to make precinct bound
aries continuous and conforming to
federal census blocks or to municipal
or county lines, township lines,
named roads and other readily iden
tifiable features. Rather than have to
submit separate changes later for
state approval, counties were given
the option of making other changes
at the same time it submits the cen
sus maps required for review by the
Legislative Services Office. Those
maps are also on the agenda for con
sideration at Monday's meeting.
The board aims to have the
changes in place before the 1994
general elections and possibly in
time for the 1993 municipal elec
tions.
AT BOONCS NECK
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Nine Students
Trained As Peer
Literacy Tutors
Nine juniors participated in the
Brunswick County Literacy Coun
cil's peer tutoring workshop at
North Brunswick High School on
March 2.
North Brunswick will be the first
school in Brunswick County to im
plement a tutoring program in litera
cy. The nine trained to help other
high school students improve their
basic skills included Heather Ben
ton, Sharlcnc Bordeaux, Angelia
Brown, Andrea Dauphinais, Shan
non Dorsey, Alassandra Gibbs, Jan
nifer Loftis, Athelia Moore and
Krista Thornton.
Trainer Joan Altman led the six
hour workshop held in the school li
brary.
Guardsmen
Are Honored
Thirteen members of Shalloitc's
National Guard unit were honored
during recent Family Day activities
and awards.
The following members of E
Company 1st Battalion (Mechan
ized) 120th Infantry were recog
nized with 20-year service awards.
Army achievement medals and cer
tificates of achievement:
?20-Year Service: SFC Charles
Foss Jr., SGT Paul C. Smith, SPC
Lawrence Daniels, SPC Samuel
Hill.
?Army Achievement: SSG Robert
B. Cmse, SSG Terry L. White, SGT
Ickel L. Stanley, SGT Tony M.
Richardson, SGT Miles H. Hardy,
SPC Douglas S. Haste, SPC George
E. Parrish Jr., SPC Marlin D. Smith
II.
?Certificate of Achievement: SGT
Rodney L. Foushee.
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