HOLDEN BEACH ROAD
Scaled-Down Business
Zone Adopted In Split Vote
BY ERIC CARLSON
For the third time in as many
m.cr.thr., the owners of home* and
businesses along Holden Beach
Road near Civietown clashed Mon
day night over the question of whet
her the area should be zoned resi
dential or commercial.
In round one, opponents of the
zoning change told the Brunswick
County Planning Board in July that
the area of N.C. 130 around Evans
Circle should keep its residential
zoning to prevent a local tavern
from remodeling.
Last month, the owner of the Idle
Hour Game Room and several pa
trons told the county commissioners
that the business was a well-super
vised operation that did not allow
customers to over-indulge, get row
dy or drive drunk. They asked the
board to approve a zoning change
that would fit the existing use ot the
area, which also includes a car
stereo shop and a small used car
dealership.
This time, the county commis
sioners heard the same messages
from both sides. Then in a split vote,
they approved the planning depart
ment's scaled-down plan that would
create a smaller commercial zone in
cluding only the existing businesses.
Commissioner Jerry Jones, who is
also a member of the planning
board, voted against the change.
The original proposal called for a
larger commercial zone running
along Hoiden Beach Road from
Woody 's store to Jerry Moore's
Heating and Air Conditioning, said
County Planning Director Wade
Home, it wouia nave taken in eight
existing businesses and several va
cant lots.
But several property owners in
the area expressed concern that they
might not be able to build homes on
their land if it was zoned commer
cial. The smaller zone was created
to alleviate those fears, Home said.
Even with its reduced size, sever
al residents of the area voiced com
plaints. Most were directed toward
the tavern.
Thomas Obrien of Civietown pre
sented a list of signatures from area
residents opposed to the zoning
change.
Dean Carroll, who said she lives
about 100 yards from the Idle Hour,
complained that businesses in the
area have caused an increase in traf
fic and accidents. Citing problems
with the Idle Hour, she said a man
once knocked on her door and asked
for a drink, thinking her home was
the game room.
But another neighbor, Claude
Suggs, who said he doesn't drink,
called the Idle Hour "one of the few
places that don't allow people to
over-indulge or drive drunk." He
said the area needed more such busi
nesses.
Randall Brown said he often vis
its the Idle Hour and brings his chil
dren there to play in the game room.
He agreed that the road has seen a
marked increase in traffic but said
the higher volume was not caused
by the local businesses.
"That area has always been com
mercial," Brown said. "To have it
zoned residential would be ludi
crous."
Randy Edge, who owns the car lot
across from the Idle Hour, said the
zoning controversy has turned into a
fight against having a drinking es
tablishment on the comer.
"That bar is a legal business, just
like mine," Edge said. "We're here
to decide about zoning. We should
stick to the issue."
Elizabeth Simmons, who leases
the building to Idle Hour owner Ron
Flint, said the property has been
used for commercial purposes since
Randall Brown, who also lives near the property in question, asked
the board to allow the change front residential to commercial zon
ing at an intersection on Holden Beach Road where several busi
nesses have been operating as non-conforming uses.
OCEAN ISLE BEACH PROPERTY
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
wishes to thank our 1 45 volunteers and
the following merchants for their contri
bution to making our 1994 TRASH
BASH such a success:
Food Was Provided By:
Hardee's of Seaside
Big Nell's Pit Stop
Randy's Meat Center
Island House Restaurant
Sandwich Const. Co. of Charlotte
Fred Watts & Bill Benton, Cooks
Gifts Provided By*
Sharkey's Pizza
Bill's Dawg House
The Breakers
Ocean Aire Market
Scrivner's Inc.
Museum of Coastal
Carolina
Sharkey's Pizza
Bill's Dawg House
Ocean Aire Market
Lockwood Folly Golf
Shady Oaks Florist
Big Nell's Pit Stop
UCB Bank
Riptide Video
Duffer's Pub & Deli
OIB Golf
The Brunswick Beacon
OTR Fishing Pier
Shallotte Electric
Sandpiper Bay Golf
Kimberly Jo's Boutique
Sandflddler's of
Shallotte
Mole Hole-Calabash
Calabash True Value
Hdwe.
Pelican Square
Bookstore
Joe's BBQ of Shallotte
The Igloo
Island Warehouse
Hardee's Seaside
Williamson Realty
Pelican Bay
Trading Co.
Kathy's Ceramics
Carson's Cards & Gifts
Island Realty
Professional Pool
Maintenance
The Pearl Golf
Flamingo Row
103.7 Radio
Trendsetter's
Shoreline Beauty Shop
OIB True Value Hdwe.
Ocean Isle Beach Shop
Plumb Rite Plumbing
Brunswick Building
Supply
Ocean Isle Marina
Cheney's Gifts
Cooke Realty
Island Tackle
Marsh Lighting
Coastal
Paints
McClure
Realty
Bricklanding Golf
Leeway Construction
The Turtle Program
Pro Tee Golf
STA/f PHOTOS fY E?C CARLSON
PETITIONS signed by residents opposed to a re-zoning request are presented to the Brunsw ick County
Board of Commissioners by Thomas Obrien of Civietown Monday night.
the early 1960s. It wasn't until she
applied for a building permit to add
space that she discovered the land
was zoned residential. The business
use can't be expanded under its cur
rent zoning.
"Please zone this property what
it's always been," Simmons said, "if
you bought it as a business, you'd
want it to stay a business."
In calling for a vote on the issue
during the commissioners regular
meeting. Chairman Don WarTen ex
pressed concern that property own
ers could not lease their buildings to
another business if current tenants
dccide to move out.
Jones said he opposed the change
because existing businesses would
be permitted to operate as non-con
forming uses even if the area kept its
residential zoning.
However, under the zoning ordi
nance. the land could only be used
for homes if a business moved out
or was destroyed by fire, unless the
owner obtained a special exception
from the law.
Think Storm Windows
1 m
i (S3
? Enamel finished on painted models
? Extruded aluminum throughout
? Recessed Head
? Fully weatherstripped inserts
? Drop-in glazing
? Center brace bar
? Heavy Aluminum screen doth
? Flat sill design
? Adjustable bottom expander
We carry a top-line of storm
windows in 4 finishes
Custom sizes same as standard prices
FROM ECONOMY TO DELUXE CALI
iff
Shallotte Glass & Mirror
For All Your Class Needs
Where The Workmanship Makes The Difference
579-6778 ? (800)579-6778 -Fax 579-7862
6456 Ocean Hwy., 5 minutes south of Shallotte on Hwy. 17
October Is Co-op Month
You are invited
to the
THIRTY-SEVENTH
ANNUAL MEETING
of the members of
ATLANTIC TELEPHONE
MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
Friday, September 30
7:30 p.m.
West Brunswick High School
Reporis-Eniertainment-Refreshments-Door frizes
$2,000 in CASH Prizes
I
_iUU
Ml-irriNG PEOPLE'S NhhDS
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY
Wednesday, September 28
10:00-3:00 P.M.
Free Hot Dogs and Cokes
Everyone Is Welcome