Southern Shores land use plan

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

SOUTHERN SHORES
Land Use Plan

COASTAL ZONE
HD INFORMATION CENTER
268
.S68
S68 AUGUST, 1980
1980

W.DOUGLASPOWELL
VICECHAIRMAN
WILMINGTON
rcft ARTHUR W. COOPER
RALEIGH
DEWITT L. DARDEN
J. PARKER CHESSON, JR. NEW BERN
CHAIRMAN MAYME W. DAVENPORT
CRESWELL
P. 0. BOX 1752 CHARLES EVANS
ELIZABETH CITY, N. C. 27909 NAGS HEAD
1. FRANK FURLOUGHJR.
COLUMBIA
KENNETH D. STEWART WILLI AM GIBBS
ORIENTAL
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY I ERRY W. HARDESTY
P. 0. BOX 27687 MOYOCK
RALEIGH, N. C. 27611 T. ERIE HASTE, JR.
HERTFORD
GENE R. HUNTSMAN
Telephone 919-733-2293 HAVELOCK
JAMES E. SYKES
MOREHEAD CITY
December 9, 1980 W. RANDOLPH THOMAS
JACKSONVILLE
EUGENE 6. TOMLINSON, JR.
SOUTHPORT
CHARLES C. WELLS
WILMINGTON
U DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAk
The Honorable Kern Pitts COASTAL SERVICES CENTER
Town of Southern Shores
P.O.- Box 272 2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina 27949 CHARLESION , SC 2q4O5-2413.,

Dear' Mayor Pitts:

At their meeting of December 4, 1980 in Nags Head, th Coastal
Resources Commission reviewed the 1980 Southern Shores Land. Use Plan.
Upon finding that the plan sufficiently meets the requirements of the
Coastal Area Management Act and the state guidelines for land use planning
(15 NCAC 7B), the Commission approved the plan as submitted.

With this approval, the plan becomes the official land use plan and
acts as an important link between the local, state and federal
governments. The plan will be used to inform all interested parties of
the desires of the local government in the development of the coastal
area-@,.
We look forward to working withyou and using your plan during the
upcoming years.

Sincerely,

J. Parker Chesson, Jr.,

JPC:kh:4050

cc: Bob Trost
John Crew

F-
Property or,
ltesou-

North Carolina Department of Natural Resources & Community Development

TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES

TOWN COUNCIL

Kern Pitts---Mayor
Charles Leet
Katherine Kenan
Harold Via
John Wiley

LAND USE PLAN TASK FORCE

Planning Board Advisory Grou

Robert Trost --- Chairman Homer Althouse
Mary Alexander Nelson Bortz
RobertAndrews Donald Gott
Mickey Hayes Arthur Peterson
Allen Rodeheffer
.George McIntosh
Virginia Ross
David Stick

Consultants

Coastal Consultants, Ltd.
Southern Pines, N.C.

The preparation of this report was financed in part through a grant
provided by the North Carolina Coastal Management P 'rogram, through
funds provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended,
which is administered by the Office of Coastal Management, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

OCLC: 12567873 Rec stat: n
Entered: 19850918 Replaced: 19950318 Used: 19860610
S Type: a Sib LvL: m Source: d Lang: eng
Repr: Enc LvL: I Conf pub: 0 Ctry: ncu
Indx: 0 Mod rec: Govt pub: t Cont:
Desc: a Int tvi: Festschr: 0 IlLus: b
F/B: 0 Dat tp: s Dates: 1980, %
$ 1 040 ERE Ic ERE %
S 2 043 n-us-nc %
S 3 090 HD21I.S683 Ib S68x 1980 %
S 4 090 Ib %
$ 5 049 NOW %
$ 6 245 00 Southern Shores Land use plan / Ic Town of Southern Shores. %
S 7 260 [Southern Shores, N.C.?] : Ib The Town, Ic 1980. %
$ 8 300 75 p. : Ib folded maps ;-Ic 28 cm. %
$ 9 500 Cover title. %
S 10 500 "This report was financed in part ... by the North Carolina
Coastal Management Program." %
S 11 650 0 Land use Iz North Carolina Iz Southern Shores Ix Planning. %
$ 12 651 0 Southern Shores (N.C.) Ix City planning. %
$ 13 650 0 City planning Iz North Carolina. %
$ 14 710 1 Southern Shokis O.C.Y.---Ib Town Council. %

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

TERRAIN . * 5
MAN-MADE CWGE*S* 5
RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ROADS AND WATERWAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
FACILITIES AND SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
POPULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
EMERGING ISSUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

COMMUNITY GOALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PLAN DEVELOPME NT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

POLICY FORMULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

RESOURCE PROTECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN . . . . . . . . . 16

Ocean Hazards Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The EstUarine .System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

AREAS OF SPECIAL CONCERN NOT COVERED BY CAMA 20

WATER QUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

HURRICANE AND FLOOD EVACUATION . . . . . . 24

RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . 25

LAND UTLIZATION . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

INLAND WATERWAYS (LAGOONS) . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SOUND AND OCEAN WATERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . i7

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . 29

ZONING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Page

ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . 33

COMMUNITY SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION . . . . . . . . . . . 4.0
GROWTH . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . 44

BOUNDARY DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

COORDINATION AND COOPERATION . . . . . . . . . 45
ANNEXATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6

RECREATION . . . . ... . . . . . . . . 46

CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION . ... . . . . . 47
POLICY SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . 49
LAND CLASSIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

TOWN ORDINANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

ENFORCFMFNT OF LAND USE REGULATIONS . . . . . . . . . . 63
SELECTED RESOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .64

STATE LICENSES AND PERMITS . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 66

FEDERAL LICENSES AND PERMITS . . ... . . . . .I . . . . . 68

MONITORING OF LAND USE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . 70

MAPS

MAP A - EXISTING LAND USE
MAP B - LAND CLASSIFICATION
MAP C - SOIL RATING FOR ON-LOT SEWAGE
DISPOSAL USE
MAP, D- POLICY KEY MAP

FOREWORD

The Town of Southern Shores has prepared this initial Land Use

Plan to assist the Town Council and its successors, the citizens of

Southern Shores, and the state, federal and county governments in making

decisions concerning natural resources, facilities, services, and

growth of the Town.

This plan is intended to be used as a guide for decision-making

and the development of policies to be implemented in the next ten years,

but it serves also as a foundation for longer range planning.

It is important to emphasize that the Town is still in its

formative stage having come into existence only in 1979. This is its

first effort to set forth comprehensively a view of its problems, alter-

natives, policy guides and implementing strategies. The Town has sought

in its first year to enact as many basic ordinances as feasible,,' establish

a functioning town organization and tax structure, and address longer-

range problems in an orderly'manner. It has solicited - and received

community support for its efforts. There are, however, practical limits

time, staff resources, resident.and non-resident acceptance, and internal,

considerations such as the community control of properties by citizen

organizations that preclude positive assertions and hasty actions. Such

circumstances, in a denocratic society, require evolutionary processes

of study, research, discussion, compromise, and community endorsement

before they can be translated into viable actions.

Changes i*n life styles economy, population, areas of citizen

concern, and exterior pressures, will in time make this plan outdated.

At the same time the very nature of local government, almost invariably

resulting in present officials being replaced by other individuals un-

acquainted with this current planning process, calls for special efforts

to insure a high degree of continuity.

Planning is a continuing process, and with or without future CAMA

sponsorship it is essential that this plan be reviewed and revised

regularly.

Copies of the plan will be providedf,prall'elected officials and

individuals appointed to the Planning Board and similar Town bodies.

If possible, a synopsis wil.1 be provided to every Southern Shores

property owner.-

NATURE OF THEUMMUNITY

The process by which Southern Shores has been transformed during

a period of a third of a century from zero population to muni@cipality
status is unique among Outer Banks communities.1

It began in 1947 with acqui.sition by a single development company

of all of what was to become the Town of Southern Shores; 2,600 acres,

extending from ocean to sound for a distance of four miles on the North

Banks above Kitty Hawk..

The original development concept emphasized low density family-

oriented residential use; extensive setting aside of parks, beaches,

boat harbors, overlooks and other open space; protection or preserva-

tion of the extensive natural forest growth, dune formations,.and even

representative swamps and marshlands; and slow, carefully planned growth.

In short, the goal was to create an informal environment in a natural

setting,, rather than a conventional subdivision.

.People who liked the development concept were attracted to the

community and they purchased building sites for summer use or permanent

residence here. instead of elsewhere on the coast. Review of.archi-

tectural plans was an essential element in creating a community in

which aesthetics was an important consideration, and for tha t reason

property owners were brought into the architectural review process

early on.

As Southern Shores grew, the property owners and residents

I
(Notes refer to references on page 59)

gradually assumed more and more responsibility and authority from the

developi ng Kitty Hawk Land Company in matters affecting their homes,

neighborhood and life style. By 1970, an informal property owners

organization was serving in an important advisory capacity; by 1975,

this had been transformed into a more formal Southern Shores Civic

Assotiation; and between then and the incorporation of the Town of

Southern Shores in 1979, the Civic Association had acquired title to

roads, beaches, open areas and public facilities.

Incorporation of the Town came about only after residents and

other property owners petitioned for it, having clearly expressed a

desire for minimal government, minimal town services, and thus minimal

taxation. Volunteers performed much work for which other towns hire em-

ployees, including service in the volunteer fire department, clean-up

after storms, maintenance and beautification of-common areas, 'and street

repairs.

Close cooperation between the elected Town officials, the.Civic

Association.and.the developer continues.. Each plays an important and

generally well:defined role in maintaining the Southern Shores environ-

ment.. Representatives of the three meet periodically as a joint

community taskJorce to discuss and allocate responsibility in matters

of mutual or possibly overlapping concern.

With.this history, so different from many coastal communities in

which,development was undertaken on a piecemeal basis by dozens and

eveln hundreds of individual property owners, the preparation of a com-

prehensive land use plan calls for a unique approach. The great majority,

of Southern Shores people like their community the way it is, and their

main concern is how to keep it that way in the face of inevitable future

population growth.

TERRAIN

The natural terrain of the Town of Southern Shores varies so

widely that an early vilsitor, passing from theoceanfront across the

high sand hills into dense fores ts described the sudden metamorphos.is

as bei-ng akin to "entering another world." A high and well'stabilized

oceanfront dune ridge, wider than sand dune formations on most parts of

the coast, extends the full four miles, with the crest an average of a

hundred feet or so back from the high water mark. To the west of the

dune.line is the so-called back beach, relatively level, sparsely

vegetated and considerably lower than the oceanfront dunes. It extends

for an average of,a quarter of a mile before rising gradually.to the

tops of high, partially vegetated sand hills, some more than fifty feet

in elevation. These once migratory sand hills.drop off prec ipitously

into.a heavily forested area consisting of a succession of ridges and

valleys running north and south and extending almost to the shore of

Currituck Sound and Ginguite Bay.

There is similar variation on the western boundary, with nearly

bare sand hills intruding on Currituck Sound in the northernmost half

mile; changing into high, heavily wooded ridges extending to the shore

of the Sound for the next mile or so; then a mix of ridges, swamps and

marshes bordering Ginguite Bay until finally, on the south, approaching

U.S. Highway 158, the terrain flattens out into marshland.

MAN-MADE CHANGES

Initial development, in 1947, consisted of constructing a mile
of paved road northward from U.S.'Highway 158 and parallel with the

ocean. Subsequently this conventional style development wascontinued

for another two miles, and other roads were built in some of the hill

areas, for the most part following the natural contours. Meandering

ponds and lakes were dug in low areas throughout the back beach.

In 1957 a radical departure in-development methods was applied

to the remaining 'Mile of oceanfrontage at the north end of Southern

Shores. Here, in.an entity named Seacrest Village, winding roads

averaging a quarter mile in length extended eastward from the road built

by the State to connect Kitty Hawk with Duck, each one dead-ending in a

"Pt in back of the oceanfront dune ridge. In the early 1960's develop-

ment of the soundside and interior areas was begun, a process in which

low areas were dug out and converted to navigable water, or filled.
This process fn time produced some six miles of "laqoons", and provided

hundreds of additional waterfront homesites. In the mid-1960's, the

Southern Shores developers donated approximately 300 interior acres

north of U.S. 158 to the non-profit Outer Banks Recreation Association

for construction of a golf course and related recreational facilities.

At the same time, roads were constructed to make accessible additional

hill areas, culminating in construction of a paved road to the top of

the highest hill in Southern Shores and construction of an overlook
parking area on the crest.

As the'decade of the 1970's began, approximately 1,000 acres of

theoriginal 2,600 acres in Southern Shores sti 11 had not been developed.

More than half of.this, extending northward from U.S. 158 for nearly

two miles, and containing interior woodland, sand hills and some back

beach, was developed as an.ePtity within Southern,.Shores in the mid-1970's

and named Chicahauk. Separate Chicahauk recreational and improvement

associations were formed to deal with localized activities within the

new,.neighborhood. At that time three relatively large undeveloped

areas remained, one in the southwest corner of Southern Shores, an-

other in the northwest corner on Currituck Sound, and the third in the

wooded area east of the golf course.- These were zoned for multi-family
use, w.ith densities ranging from six to ten u .nits per acre. I'Subsequent
development in these areas has been for single family residential use,

though the first multiple dwelling units are in the'planning s tage.

RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE

A variety of areas, developed or set aside by the developer for

use by community residents were turned over to the Southern Shores

Civic Association in 1977. They include some 35 ocean accesses; a

mile of oceanfrontage in Seacrest Village, initially extending back

from the high water line a distance of 100 feet; an oceanfront bathing

beach, 300 feet wide and approximately a quarter of a mile deep, with

paved access roadway and parking area; a bathing beach and picnic area

on Currituck Sound; a marina and boat launching area at the mouth of

Ginguite Bay; Hillcrest Overlook; a so-called "Village Green" on Duck

Woods Trail at the intersection with U.S. 158; plus a number of other

small open areas. (See Map D)

Additionally, some 140 acres in Chicahauk, including the 13 acre

Cypress Swamp and extensive maritime forest areas, were retained in their

natural state for the use of Chicahauk property owners.

The areas owned by Southern Shores Civic Association are available

for use by all Southern Shores property owners. Those in Chicahauk,

including recently constructed tennis courts, are reserved for members

of the Chicahauk Recreational Club. The 18-hole Duck Woods Golf

Course, swimming pool and tennis courts are the property of the Outer

Banks Recreation Association, a non-profit, non-stock membership cor-

poration. Although in the process of incorporation the golf course
was excluded from the Town boundaries, the Town does exercise extra-

territorial jurisdiction over this tract and also Martins Point.
The Kitty Hawk Elementary School, located on the south edge 0'. f the

Town, has a large open area and facilities which are often used by

Southern Shores residents.

ROADS AND WATER14AYS

In all instances where lots have been platted and sold, the

developer has constructed hard-surfaced roads to state specifications,

though some of the earlier roads were built to specifications which

applied atthat time rather than the more stringent requirements of today.

Approximately 22 miles of these roads were deeded to the Southern Shores

Civic Association i n 1977, and subsequently turned over to the Town of
Southern Shores in",1979. The developer's rights to lagoons were tra.ns-

ferred to the Southern Shores Civic Association in 1978.

Externally,potential impacts from developments in Currituck and

Dare Counties are a concern of the Town. Widening the U.S. 158 By-Pass

through Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, a proposal favored by those

communities, would severely affect residents of Southern Shores. Road

widening activities in Currituck County will also result in greatly

increased traffic flows through Southern Shores. The possibility of the State

taking of the road.from the Currituck County line to Corolla'is another trans-

portation concern.

Since all of these activities are controlled by the State, the

Town seeks to increase its coordination with the State to insure that

mitigation of possible impacts to Southern Shores is fully considered

before actions are undertaken by the State.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES

The Southern Shores Fire Station is one of three owned by the

Kitty Hawk Fire Department; the others being in Collington and Kitty

Hawk Village. Operating under a central board of trustees and a depart-

ment chief, the Southern Shores company, with two trucks, is made up

entirely of volunteers from the Southern Shores area.

The Town offices, two small rooms in a building owned by the Kitty

Hawk Land Company, are located at the intersection of U.S. 158 Business

and Skyline Road. Town employees include a part-time Town Clerk, a part-

time Tax Collector, a part-time Building Inspector (and CAMAJ.ocal

permit officer) and a two-man police force. The Police Department

operates out of the same building, sharing space with the Dare County

Sheriff's Department.

Since the inception of the Southern Shores community, water has

been p rovided by individual shallow wells for each residence. A central,

water system for the beach area and Roanoke Island, scheduled,to have

been completed early in 1979, will soon be operational. Distribution

lines have been constructed in most areas of Southern Shores, and the

primary storage tower for the north end of the beach is located in

Southern Shores.

Individual septic tanks provide for waste disposal, and in all but

a relatively few sections of Southern Shores soil conditions are con-

sidered adequate.

One utility, Carolina Telephone and Telegraph, has a sub-station

in Southern Shores serving the north end of the beach. The Community
was the first in Virginia Electric and Power Company's North Carolina

district to go underground with power lines, with the result that all

such installations since the mid-1960!s have been underground. However,

the original beach area, part of Seacrest Village and the older hill

areas, are still served by overhead lines. VEPCO's main line to the

area is also overhead, resulting in outages even in the areas serviced

by underground wires.

There are currently two commercial buildings in the Town's

commercial zone. One is occupied by the developer and a real estate
office. The other, a Professional building, contains a law office,

engineer and accountants.

The Kitty Hawk Elementary School, serving the beach area north

from the Nags Head-Kill Devil Hills line, is located in Southern Shores

at the intersection of U.S. 158 and Dogwood Trail.

POPULATION

Southern Shores is similar to other beach communities in that a

number of dwellings in the. Town are inhabited for seasonal use only.

However, the proportion of permanent residents is increasing rapidly,

with an approximate perm anent population of 400 at this time.' The

majority of the permanent residents are retirees, averaging only a

little more than two persons to the household. In,recent years, however,

younger couples have built or purchased homes, and most of them have

families. A growing number of people engaged in business activities

in communities outside of Southern Shores have chosen to make their homes

here, as have some professional people, including doctors And lawyers.

The majority of permanent homes are located in the soundside and.

woods areas, while most of the houses in the oceanfront, back beach and

hill areas are seasonally occupied. A typical beach house or cottage,

equal in size to an average permanent home occupied by a retired

couple, will accommodate six or eight people thus accounting for an

estimated peak summer population of over 2,500.

EMERGING ISSUES

The fact that Southern Shores was developed as a single entity,

although on a piece-meal basis, over a third of a century has not

rendered it immune from a variety of typical coastal area problems.

Today's environmental and developmental concerns emerged slowly, over

several decades, as government, land developers, and residents became

increasingly aware of the potential conflicts inherent in man's

increasing utilization of the fragile barrier islands for economic and

residential purposes.

As reflected throughout the land use document, some of the issues

which must be addressed range from potential flooding of low-lying

areas and roadways,as occurred during the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962,

to the possibility of declining water quality in the man-made network

of canals and lagoons resulting from the lack of water movement.

Control of waterways and adjacent properties is now spread among

several entities resulting in concern over protection of the resource

and proper utilization by the maximum number of people.

A major problem is the potential impact from exterior action,

such as the proposed extension of the State road to the Currituck Outer

Banks, and the rapid growth of the resort communities to the south.

These are only a few of a wide variety of other problems already

being faced in other resort communities. Each has been addressed in

the process of developing this plan.

.13

COMMUNITY GOALS

In open meetingss, responses to questionnaires, private conver-

sations, and group discussions, the citizens of Southern Shores have

made clear thei.r,goals for the future of their community.

They want a cont.inuatio.n. of Tow density, development; protection

and preservation of the natural forest growth; proper maintenance of

roads and waterways; low speed limits; strict zoning enforcement,

minimal government; continuation of a viable civiclassociation.; as.few

side effects as possible from the burgeoning resort areas sur .r,ounding

them;'and good water,,fire protection and police protection.

They do not.want or feel they need commercial facilities"other
than those necessary to meet the basic needs of the community_@(e.g.,

physic.ian, law office, drug store); high density development or high
rise construction,; excessive traffic through theircommunity;,a-central

sewage system; vehicles on their beaches or dunes@; structured-recrea-,

tional facilities or complexes typical of so-I'mAny retirement communt-

ties;, or too rapid grot-ith.

PLAN DEVELOPMENT

The Town of Southern Shores is governed by a five-member Town

Council, with the Mayor elected from among the Council members., The

initial Town Council was named in:a special'act of the General-As-.

sembly. The Act was ratified March 26, 1979. The Town Council took

office April 1, 1979, and gave early priority to land use matters.
They.established-a Planning Board and Board of Adjustment; adopted

zoning, subdivision regulations and a building code; and passed an

ordinance implementing extra-territorial authority.

Responsibility for developing this land use plan was delegated by

the Council to the Southern Shores Planning Board, and a contract was

entered into with Coastal Consultants, Ltd., to assis't.in the.prepara-..

tion of the plan. The fact that Coastal Consu.1tants., Ltd., was con-

currently working with the other municipalities on the Outer Banks-
(Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills) and with Currituck County in developing

or revising landuse plans provided a unique opportunity for inter-

governmental coordination.

From its inception, the keystone of the development of Southern

Shores Land Use Plan has been public participation. The initial meeting

designed to solicit citizen input on issues.was@attended by over 50.

percent of the permanent residents. At this.meeting each individual

was offered an opportunity to voice concerns.
A Citizens, Advisory Committee was appointed to assist in land use

plan development. It consisted of individuals who-had served formerly

as chairmen of the Civic Association, three members of the initial Town

Council including the first Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem, and other citizens

with experience critical to development of the plan.

The Planning Board and the Advisory Committee constituted a task

force which met regularly with the planning consultants over a. period

of four months. A questionnaire was prepared and distributed with the

assistance of the Civic Association, resulting in responses from more

than half of all property owners, including most of the permanent
residents.15 In general the answers to questions in the land Iuse

.questionnaire paralleled the results of three prior samplings of opinions

among property owners conducted in recent years, and provided a firm

base for task force deliberations on community issues and long range

goals.

Individual members of the Task Force and the consultants

developed discussion papers (see references section). Each of these

subjects was studied and discussed in detail until a consensus,emerged.

Conclusions were then developed into policies and, where appropriate,

implementation strategies outlined.

POLICY FORMULATION

This section provides the rationale for and statoment'of,Towh policies.

Where feasible, implementation plans are included. Policies are grouped

according to land use planning guideline categories of

- Resource Protection

- Resource Production and Management

-.Economic and Community Development

Continuing Public Participation

A summary listing of policies is contained on 'page 49.

RESOURCE PROTECTION

AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

The term Area of Environmental Concern, or AEC, is usedin North

Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) to identify important

natural resources, both on land and on water, which could be damaged

irreparably if subjected to incompatible development activity.

The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) has identified thirteen

different types of AECs -- in four general categories -- spellJng out
the significance and the basic management objectives for each, and -has

encouraged local governments to recommend those types of development,

or use, which they consider appropriate in the AECs within their

jurisdiction.

Southern.Shores AECs fall into two general categories, those
located on the Town's eastern boundary in immediate proximity to the

Atlantic Ocean in what has been designated Ocean Hazard Areas; and

those located near the Town's western boundary in immediate proximity

to Currituck Sound and Ginguite Bay,-and their tributaries, in,what has

been designated The Estuarine System.

Ocean Hazards Areas

Ocean Erodible Areas

In Southern Shores two AECs occur within the general Ocean Hazard

zone. The first is Ocean Erodible Areas, in which there exists a sub-

stantial possibility of excessive erosion and significant shoreline

fluctuation. Ocean Erodible Areas cover the entire four miles of

Southern Shores oceanfront, extending landward to a point 95 feet from

the first line of stable vegetation adjacent to the ocean. In general

the Ocean Erodible AEC in Southern Shores is a band extending from the

waters of the Atlantic Ocean to or slightly west of the crest of the

oceanfront dune system.

POLICY 1. THE BASIC OBJECTIVE WITHIN THE OCEAN ERODIBLE

AREAS IS TO MAINTAIN THE LINE OF OCEANFRONT SAND DUNES BY

PROTECTING THE VEGETATION WHICH STABILIZES THE DUNE SYSTEM.

The Town currently implements this policy by prohibiting the con-

str,uction of buildings within the Ocean Erodible Areas; by enforcing an

ordinance banning use of off-road vehicles; by authorizing the construc-

tion of wooden walkways and steps to the beach, as well as elevated

observation platforms.; and finally by authorizing the installation of sand

fences in areas wh.ere erosion has occured.

High Hazard Flood Areas

The second type of AEC within the Southern Shores Ocean Hazard

Zone is High Hazard Flood Areas, which are subject to high velocity

waters, including but not limited to hurricane wave wash. In general

this AEC extends westward a distance of between 150 and 300 feet from

the Ocean Erodible AEC, the exact boundaries being the eastern margin

of Ocean Boulevard in the southern two miles of the Town, the'eastern

margin of the Seacrest Village "T's." in the northern mile, and else-

where a line projected between these two (See Map D).

POLICY 2. WITHIN THE HIGH HAZARD FLOOD AREAS THE TOWN WILL

ENFORCE THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY THE FEDERAL INSURANCE

ADMINISTRATION.

This policy is implemented through the Southern Shores building

permit.process, as specified in appropriate Town ordinances and enforced

by the Town Building Inspector.

The Estuarine System

Estuarine Waters

All four of the individual AECs falling under the general classi-
fication of the Estuarine System are to be found in or connected with

the Southern Shores sound area.

Currituck Sound, which extends along the northern one-third of-

the Town's western boundary, is the only affected AEC in the Estuarine

Waters classification. Since no part of Currituck Sound is within the

boundaries of the Town of Southern Shores, the Town has no jurisdiction

over this AEC, but does have management responsibility over this area

in the estuarine shoreline category.

Public Trust Waters

Ginguite Bay is classified as a Public Trust Waters AEC, but as

in-the case of Currituck Sound no part of the AEC is within the Town

boundaries. Southern Shores does have jurisdiction, however, over the

network of navigable lagoons and canals which connect with Ginguite Bay,

and which are also classified as Public Trust Waters.

POLICY 3. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AND

FEDERAL AGENCIES IN PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC TRUST

14ATERS WITHIN SOUTHERN SHORES.

This policy is currently implemented.through the CAMA permit-

letting process as administered by the Town Building Inspector in his

capacity as the CAMA local permit officer. At the Town's request

NO-WAKE speed limits are enforced by the N.C. Wildlife Resources

Comm.ission.

Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands, or marshes, are located in an area adjacent to

Ginguite Bay in the southernmost half mile or so of the Town.

POLICY 4. THE TOWN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL

WETLANDS AS A BREEDING GROUND FOR FISH, SHRIMP AND CERTAIN

ANIMALS, BIRDS AND PLANTS. NO SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY

IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED WITHIN THIS AEC.

Implementation of the policy is through the CAMA permit-letting

process.

Estuarine Shorelines

All of the several miles of interior lagoons and canals in

Southern Shores empty into Ginguite Bay rather than into Currituck

Sound, and thus are classed as Public Trust Waters. Their shorelines,

therefore, are Public Trust Water shorelines, rather than Estuarine

Shorelines, and are not.classified as AECs.

Thus the only Estuarine Shoreline AECs in Southern Shores are

those bordering on Currituck Sound, with a total length of less than a

mile and a half. This Estuarine Shoreline AEC covers a strip 75 feet

landward from the mean water mark in which the construction of.septic

tanks and drain fields is carefully monitored, and those contemp lating

construction are forewarned about the dangers of possible erosion.

POLICY 5. THE TOWN WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH

DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE STATE OFFICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT

IN MANAGING ESTUARINE SHORELINES.

In implementing the policy the Southern Shores Building Inspector

notifies all property owners planning construction within the AEC of

the septic tank requirements, and of the potential for soundfront

erosion, before issuing a building permit.

AREAS OF SPECIAL CONCERN NOT COVERED BY CAMA

The people of Southern Shores are concerned about the destruction

of other natural resources, including but not limited to vegetation,

animals, birds, geological formations, and an interior swamp and lake

area known as the Cypress Pond. In the course of developing this CAMA

land use plan careful consideration was given to the possibility of

requesting AEC designation for areas which might qualify under the

general heading of Fragile Coastal Natural Resource Areas, but it was

determined that no section of Southern Shores contains the specific
features to qualify. 12

POLICY 6. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN TO IDENTIFY A

VARIETY OF NATURAL RESOURCES WHICH.DO NOT QUALIFY FOR AEC

STATUS UNDER CAMA: TO ENCOURAGE THE RETENTION OF FOREST

GROWTH AND NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE

PROTECTION OF MARITIME FOREST AREAS: TO MAINTAIN A

SUITABLE HABITAT FOR ANIMALS AND BIRDS INDIGENOUS TO THE

AREA: AND TO DISTURB THE NATURAL TERRAIN AS LITTLE AS

POSSIBLE.

The Town has begun implementing this policy by designating the

Town as aBird Sanctuary; by an ordinance. prohibiting the use of fire-

arms within Town limits; and by another ordinance prohibiting off-road

vehicle use. Until the new Town is able to develop other appropriate

ordinances and means of enforcement, the Town Council and the Civic

As:sociation are encouraging citizens to protect such resources on a

vo'luntary basis. A program of informing and educating citizens with
regard to such resources is being developed, with the help of the Dunes

of Dare Garden Club and other groups.
WATER QUALITY8
Three issues are involved in the asse'ssment of water quality in
Southern Shores. The first issue is the availability of potable and
palatable water for household consumption. The second issue is the
effect of individual septic systems on the quality of water in lagoons,
ponds, canals, and adjacent bodies of water. This second issue also

involves an analysis of a need for a public wastewater treatment facil-
ity. The third issue is the potential for accumulation of large quan-
tities of water in low areas as the result of excessive rainfall or

storm flooding.

Water for Household Consumption

In the past, water for household consumption has been secured

from individual wells on each lot. Southern Shores voters actively

supported a county bond issue to provide a central water system with

wells on Roanoke Island, and after nearly two years of delay full

operation it expected by the end,of the year. The major overhead

storage tank for the northern end of the Dare Beaches is located in

Southern Shores, insuring adequate pressure for distribution.. The

central water system is projected to satisy the requirements of the

County through 1990. However, use of wells for drinking water has

not caused any problems in the past and it is not anticipated that

they would cause any problems in the future.

POLICY 7. DRINKING WATER FROM WELLS AND SURFACE WATERS IN

THE AREA ARE BELIEVED TO BE FREE OF HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS.

THERE HAS.BEEN NO INDICATION THAT HARMFUL WATER QUALITY

PROBLEMS EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY.

The County Health Department confirms the satisfactory.quality of

tap water at most rental housing units in the Town on an annual basis.

The Town has initiated a qualitytesting program for surface water

(ponds, lagoons, bay, sound) to confirm the satisfactory quality of

these waters as well.

Need for Central Wastewater Treatment

In making an analysis of wastewater treatment and disposal facili-

ties, extensive data has been accumulated from a 1977 Soil Survey of the

Outer Banks made by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Additional

information and advice has been secured from the NX. Department of

Human Resources, Division of Health Services; the N.C. Shellfish
Sanitation Commission; and the Dare County@Health Department.7,8

The conclusions reached are that in most-dev'eloped areas of

Southern Shores the soils are suitable for indivi-dual septic systems;

in the few instances where soils are questionable, septic system design

and special Soil preparation can render the sites acceptable; and the
large lot size in Southern Shores (averaging over 20,000 sq. it.)

minimizes potential problems of contamination-from individual septic

systems. Multi-family development requires a public or community

disposal system.

POLICY 8. DUE TO THE LARGE LOTS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT,:

THE DESIGN OF SUBDIVISIONS WHICH HAS_LEFT-THF. MORE UNFAVORr'

ABLE SOILS IN OPEN SPACE, AMD THE GENERALLY FAVORABLE SOILS

FOR ON-LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL, THE TOWN WILL BE ABLF TO

ACCOMODATE FUTURE GRO14TH ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IT IS NOT

ANTICIPATED THAT A PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM WILL BE NECESSARY.

This subject -is monitored and impl..emerit6d, -by',thb- Dare- CoUnty,Health

Department and the Town Building Inspector. Zoning regUlations sp .ecify

minimum lot sizes and require public or community systems for other

than single-family, detached dwellings. Possible contamination is

monitored through a water quality testing program.

Accumulation of Water In Low Areas

The one area in Southern Shores with a potential for accumulation

of substantial quantities of water as the result of excessiverainfall

or storm overwash is the back beach, which constitutes a basin between

the high oceanfront dune line and the even higher ridge of sandhills

extending the-length of the community. During the Ash Wednesday Storm

of 1962 tremendous quantities of ocean water washed over the dunes and

accumulated in this basin, innundating numerous residential lots and

rendering roads impassable.

POLICY,9. THE TOWN WILL SEEK REMEDIES TO AVERT FLOODIMG

SUCH AS THAT WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE ASH WEDNESDAY STORM.

Implementation of this policy has not begun, but the Town will,

during the current fiscal year, request a cooperative study by the N.C.

Department of.Transportation, the,Soil Conservation Service, and the

Dare County Health Department, to*determine whether the installation of

permanent drains to the ocean, or other methods of removing excess water

from overwash, are feasible.

HURRICANE AND,FLOOD EVACUATION

Southern Shores participates in an overall Dare County Civil

Preparedness Evacuation Plan. The Town's portion of the Plan:was

recently reviewed and evaluated and residents attended a briefing by

the Town Coordinator. While the Town feels comfortable that its portion

of the County plan is workable, there is a large degree of dependence on

other county governments and agencies and the efficiency of the@total

plan has not been tested.

Southern Shore@'concerns in this area focus on the possibility of

bumper-to-bumper evacuee traffic from the north and the south converging

on the Town'and the Wright Bridge with no opportunity for Town evacuees

to break tnto the traffic stream. While a full-scale tevacuation exercise

is impracticalq a plan of this type can be evaluated analytically.

POLICY 10. THE TOWM WILL RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY SPONSOR

AN ANALYTICAL EVALUATION OF THE DARE COUNTY EMERGENCY

EVACUATION PROCEDURES.

RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

LAND UTILIZATION

'The Town's resources are embodied in its residential character as

evidenced by historic growth, existing zoning, and future desires of its

property owners. The Town has no productive agricultural or commercial

forest areas; no known exploitable minerals nor commercial fisheries or

industrial potential. Aside from community commitments to husband and

manage its natural surroundings and man-made improvements, such as its

network of interior lagoons, the Town's limited area (2600 acres) pre-

cludes consideration of non-residential land use. Recreational uses

are those typified by the personal choices of individual residents:

boating, swimming, fishing, bicycling, hikingand jogging, golf and

tennis. Except for summer rentals of privately-owned cottages, tourism,

as an enterprise,.is nonexistent. Use of any type of motorized vehicles

on the beaches and dunes is prohibited by ordinance and enforced by

Town police.

POLICY 11. THE TOWN IS PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

AND THEREFORE DOES NOT DESIRE TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE,

FORESTRY, MINING, FISHERIES, INDUSTRY, ENERGY FACILITIES,

OR TOURIST-RELATED RECREATION.

Evidences of the commitment to preserve the residential character

of the Town are expressed throughout the land use plan and its policy

statements.

INLAND,WATERWAYS",(LAGOONS)
The western areas of the Town (woods and sound side) are inter-

laced with a man-made network of approximately 6 miles of lagoons with

outlets on C'urrituck Sound and Ginguite Bay. Initially, these lagoons

helped to drain low-lying swampy areas while providing, at the same

time, suitable building sites. Currently, 80 or 28 percent of the 290

10
presently platted lagoon lots have been built upon.,

Constructed by the developers in the 1960's, the lagoons were

conveyed to the Southern Shores Civic Association in 1978 except for a

stretch of a mile or so within or bordering upon the Chicahauk sub-

division which is still held by the developer. Most of the "bottoms"

of the canals are therefore presently owned by the Civic Association.

Ownership of the,lagoon banks resides with individual property owners

except alongside@,several roads where the lagoon borders the Town right-
of-way. Since t@ese waters are navigable, various governmental agencies,

Federal and State, possess certain regulatory rights or controls over

the use or alteration of the lagoons. These agencies in clude the Army

Corps of Engineers, Coastal Resources Commission, N.C. Dept. of Natural

Resources and Community Development, the N.C. Wildlife Commission, and

county health authorities.

This picture is further clouded by the emergence of potential
problems associated with anticipated future greater use of the,waterways

arising mainly from residential growth. These problems include: (a)
adequate water cir@culation and flushing; (b) contaminants affecting the

quality of water; (c) siltation, erosion, and deterioration of embank-
ments; (d) growth of brush, trees, weeds along the banks and.milfoil

and other aquatic.growths and (e) impact.of ani,mal 1.1fe nutria,

muskrats, etc.

Existing options appear unlikely to resolve these problems. The

Civic Association has neither the resources or authority to provide

adequate safeguards; individual property owners likewise lack the

resources, authority, or collective will to assure suitable protective

measures. Responsibilities of various government agencies are fractured

and segmentally limited to certain prescribed functions or authority.

Although difficult and complicated, the most viable alternative is.for

the Town to seek proprietary rights over the canals within its borders.

Then by a series of steps. including measures already taken in matters

over which the Town has existing police power and continuing, after

acquirement of proprietary rights, to work with community organizations

and governmental agencies toward the objective of obtaining maximum

Town control over the maintenance, preservation-, and management of all

facets of the inland waterway network. This would include evaluation of

costs and methods of funding.

SOUND AND OCEAN WATERS

Although the preceding discussion has focused upon inland waters,

somewhat similar basic problems exist as regards effective land use

safeguards along the approximately 8 miles of oceanfront and soundside

where privately owned lands border the waters. Currently, about 70

percent of oceanfront lots and 30 percent of soundside lots have been
built upon. 10 In addition to matters of erosion, b ulkheading, construc-

tion of docks/piers, milfoil growth in the soundq etc., thes.e exposed
waterfront areas pose other issues, primarily related to severe

storm contingencies which must be resolved on a long term basis.

POLICY 12. THE TOWN WILL SEEK TO ACQUIRE AND MANAGE ALL
INLAND WATERWAYS (LAGOONS) CONNECTING WITH CURRITUCK SOUND

AND GINGUITE BAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING A SINGLE

TOWN ENTITY FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT.

POLICY 13. THE TOWN WILL ENACT APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES

REGULATING SPECIFIC MATTERS PERTINENT TO THE CONTROL,

MANAGEMENT, AND PRESERVATION OF INLAND WATERWAYS AND THEIR

USE (OR ABUSE) SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS9

BULKHEADS, BOAT OPERATIONS, NOISE, LITTER, AND POLLUTANTS.

POLICY 14. THE TOWN IN COOPERATION WITH ALL OTHER INTERESTED

PARTIES (SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, CHICAHAUK

IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, KITTY HAWK LAND COMPANY) WILL

DEVELOP A LONG RANGE POLICY REGARDING THE PRESERVATION,

MAINTENANCE, AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL PROPERTIES BORDERING ON

ALL BODIES OF WATER - INLAND, SOUND, AND OCEAN. SUCH POLICIES

SHOULD CONSIDER CONTINGENCIES,LIKELY TO ARrSE FRO1.1

EMERGENCY CONDITIONS SUCH AS FLOODS, HURRICANES, AND STORMS.

The Town proposes to (a) undertake negotiations in 1981 with the

Southern Shores Civic Association for the conveyance of all inland

waterway rights to the Town; (b) create a Study Committee on Ocean, Inland

Waterway, and Soundside Management and Preservation Issues; and

.,,ordinances for the exercise of its police powers as regards water

related matters of contamination, noise and litter, dock, bulkheading

and other construction activity abutting waterfront areas.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ZONING

Shortly after incorporation, the new Town of Southern Shores

adopted, with minor changes, the Dare County Zoning Ordinance. This

action was mainly one of expediency. State law provides thata new

community has ninety days from the date of incorporation to either

adop@ the zoning ordinance under which it had been operating or adopt

a new zoning ordinance, If neither alternative were adopted by the

end of the ninety day period the Town would be without a zoning

ordinance. Recognizing that a new zoning ordina'.nce could not.be drafted

and approved within ninety days, and that the alternative of operating

without a zoning ordinance was unacceptable, the Town adopted a modi-

fied Dare County ordinance. Because citizens of Southern Shores played

a major role in the initiation and writing of the original Dare County

ordinance, acceptance of the county ordinance was not difficult.

The Southern Shores Zoning Map (Map D) is a graphic illustration

of the desire for a single-family residential community withmiMmal

provision for multi-family and commercial.

Martins Point and the Outer Banks Recreation Association's Duck

W1o,ods Golf.Club are not part of Southern Shores. ,However,the Town does

exercise,extraterritorial zoning and development jurisdiction over

.these.tracts.

The minimum lot size permitted in the RS-1 and R-1 districts is

15,000 square feet. However, the average lot size i:n Southern Shores

is over 20,000 square feet and the density of the developed areas is

less than three dwelling units per acre.

No multi-family districts have.been sub-divided or developed as..

multi-family. Zoning regulations stipulate a public or community dis-

posal system as a requirement for multi-family development. The

eastern and southern portions of the RS-6 Di-strict; the western leg of

the RS-8 District; and, the northwest corner of the RS-10 District have

all been sub-divided for single-family detached dwellings.

Zoning Issues

Throughout the process of land use plan development the citizens

of Southern Shores confirmed their desire for a low-density residential

community with minimum supporting commercial and multi-family develop-

ment. In Southern Shores low-density equates to single-family detached

dwellings, with a density approximating three dwelling units per acre.

In spite of the general unanimity in the character of development

desired, issues arose in the following areas:

Housing mix - amount of multi-family desired

Commercial zone - size and permitted uses

Motels/hotels as a permitted use in the commercial.district

Buffer zone between commercial and single-family residential.

idistricts,- size and description
Maximum building heights.

Housing Mix

The residential character of Southern Shores was a major factor in

attracting both resident and non-resident property owners. Current

provislon for multi-family development in the RS-6, 8, and 10 districts

is acceptable. Any increase in multi-family districts is unacceptable.

POLICY 15. THE TOWN DESIRES TO MAINTAIN A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL

ZONING. MULTI-FAMILY DISTRICTS ARE ACCEPTABLE AS CONSTITUTED

AND WILL NOT BE INCREASED.

Commercial Zone

The community is opposed to any increase in the size of the

Commercial Zone. The Town desires commercial uses that serve the

community and which the community needs. Some of the uses currently per-
mitted in the Commercial Zone do not fit these criteria (i.e. marinas,

boat sales, laundromats, cafeterias, etc.). Motels/hotels are discussed

in a subsequent paragraph.

POLICY 16. THE COMMERCIAL ZONE IS ACCEPTABLE AS CURRENTLY

CONSTITUTED AND WILL NOT BE INCREASED. USES PERMITTED IN

THE COMMERCIAL ZONE WILL BE ONLY THOSE THAT SERVE THE

COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN SHORES AND THAT THE CITIZENS DESIRE.

The Southern Shores Planning Board will, in 1981, revise the zoning

ordinance to insure that permitted uses in the commercial zone are

consistent with this policy.

Motel s/Hotel s

The current zoning ordinance permits motels/hotels in the commer-

cial zone. Public sentiment is evenly divided on the need for motels/
hotels in Southern Shores.15 Alternatives are to leave zoning.as it

is; do not permit motels/hotels in Southern Shores; or, provide for a

small motel/hotel zone in keeping with the criteria established in

POLICY 16.

Preliminary study and questionnaire results indicate that the
preferred alternative would be a smaller, separate motel/hot6l zone.

The most logical location for this zone is in the southeast corner of
the Town in the vicinity of the old Southern Shores Motor Lodge (Map D).

POLICY 17. THE TOWN WILL RESTRICT MOTELS/HOTELS TO A

SEPARATE ZONE IN THE VICINITY OF THE OLD SOUTHERN SHORES

MOTOR LODGE.

The Planning Board will develop specific recommendations in the

1981 revision of the zoning ordinance.

Residential/Commercial Buffer Zone

The zoning ordinance provides that where the commercial district

adjoins an RS-1 district no commercial "building or other facility"

shall be located nearer than fifty feet to the boundary. The ordinance

also provides for a visual buffer. Neither these requirements nor the

definition of "buffer" are considered specific enough to enforce the

space and buffer requirements. Additionally, over 50% of the

questionnaire respondents felt that the fifty foot separation was
insufficient. 15

POLICY 18. OWNERS OF PROPERTY IN THE RS-1 DISTRICT ARE

ENTITLED TO VISUAL AND NOISE BUFFERS FROM COMMERCIAL

FACILITIES.

.Planning Board will recommend changes in the 1981 zoning ordinance

revision to insure implementation of this policy.

Maximlum'Buildfng He'ight .

All zoning districts have a height restriction of thirty-five
f eei. P@ovi .ston is made for a va riance@in the' c Ias.e of istI ructIu.res such
as@ 11 cIhurch steeples, flag'poles, etc. Up to'no"w few:'structures.were
6uil,t up f6 this limit. Recent construction', taking advantage" of the

full thirty-five feet, 'is inconsistent with existing structures and,

has caused residents to question'the desirability of a thirty@-five foot
limit. A Conventional two-story house' can' be built within a thirty-

foot limit. Where flood plain or lot topography considerations require
I..a @@he ig ft, inIe-xc&@s of thiIrty feet 'a vari ance can be granted.

POLICY 19. MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT OF THIRTY FEET IS MORE

CONSISTENT WITH COMMUNITY HOUSING STANDARDS THAN THE

CURRENTLY PERMITTED THIRTY-FIVE FEET.

Planning Board will implement this policy in the 1981 zoning,-:

proi-nance-revision.

5@
FACILITIES

The Southern Shores Town Office is housed in two small rooms of

an old real estate office owned by the Kitty Hawk Land Co. (Map D

One*rol'om is occupied by the Town Clerk/Fiscal Offi cerand the other

by the Building Inspector. There is insufficient room for the Tax

Collector and he is required to work out of h is home. Working,

conditions ar te such that it is'difficult o carry on business in one

office without disturbing the occupant(s) of the other.
The Tok's-two!-man'poiice force shares space in an adjoining room
which is a sub-station of the Dare Cou nty S.her'if' f s Department

Meetings of the Town Council, Planning Board, etc., are held in

the Southern Shores Fire Station or the Kitty Hawk School.

Issues

In the case of administrative faciliti es three dependent issues

arise: (1) requirement for additional space, (2) location, (3)

finan cing.

Over one yearls experience has.proven that the current facilities

are inadequate, and a majority of the Town's property owners agree

15
that the current Town Office should be replaced by 1985. Alternatives

are: remain in the present location; expand the space in the present

building; or, construct a new building. Rental space is not available.

Considering that additional space in the building is not available, and

that ownership of the building, type of construction, and lack of avail-

able land operates against constructing an addition to the building;

the only viable alternative for resolution of the issue of Town Office

space is a new building.

There are two feasible locations. The first is a parcel of
Civic Association property known as the Village Green. (Map D) This

property is not centrally located and is not easily accessible.during

the Summer season due to the heavy traffic on U.S. 158.

The other location is in the Fire Station block. (Map.D) This

block was planned as a community service area and currently c ,ontains

the Southern Shores Fire Station and a telephone company installation.

The property owner, Kitty Hawk Land Co., has indicated a willingness

to make land available for a Town Office. The central location and

proximity to the fire station make this the preferred location for a

new Town Office.
In the Land Use Ouestionnaird5 respondents indicate! a preference

for a capital improvement fund over bonds for funding improvements such

as a Town Office. A new Town such as Southern Shores must plan for

growth and factl1ties to support it, Establishment of a capital

improvement fund is considered to be a prudent action.

POLICY 20. THE TOWN WILL INITIATE PLANNING FOR A NEW TOWN

HALL AND TAKE ACTION TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR T014N FACILITIES

IN THE VICINITY OF THE FIRE STATION.

The Town will initiate negotiations with Kitty Hawk Land Co. for

the required property during 1981 and will appoint a committee to

commence planning for a new Town Hall.

POLICY 21. THE TOWN WILL START A CAPITAL IMPROVEMFNT FUND.

The current budget will be amended to provide initial funds.

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Fire Protection4

Southern Shores is one of three companies of the Kitty Hawk Fire

Department which is incorporated under Chapter 55A of the General

Statutes of the State of North Carolina. The Southern Shores Company's

area of responsibility extends from the southern Town boundary north to

the Currituck County line. The fire house (Map D) and all equipment

is owned by the Kitty Hawk Fire Department. Major items of equipment

are a pumper and a tanker. The Company is staffed by volunteers from

the Southern Shores area. Financial support is provided from a Kitty

Hawk Fire Department special fire district tax.

Creation of an independent Southern Shores Fire Department has

been considered for some time. The issue is complicated to the degree

that the alternatives are not clear at this time. Factors such as the

establishment of the Department by an act of the General Assembly,

coverage of the area north of Southern Shores, equitable division of

facilities and equipment, etc., make this a subject for continuing

study.

POLICY 22. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND STUDY

ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION.

Police Department4

The current police department organization consisting of a two-

man force, with two four-wheel drive vehicles is satisfying the

immediate needs of the community. The force is designed to grow with

the Town to meet demands for additional service.

Library Service4

Library service is provided by the Dare County Library in Manteo

from a central 40,000 volume, 10,000 square foot facility. A book-

mobile visits Southern Shores twice a month and a book drop is conven-

iently located. Decentralization of the present system is not planned

at this time, nor does it appear to be warranted.

Public Education4

'Southern Shores is served by the Dare County Public School System.

Kitty Hawk School is located in Southern Shores. A current expansion

program, scheduled.for completion in 1982, will have Southern'Shores

students attending Kitty Hawk School for grades K - 5, Manteo Middle

School grades 6 - 8, and Manteo High School for grades 9 - 12. No

education issues are foreseen at this time.

The location of,Kitty Hawk School in Southern Shores is not only

convenient for the attendance of our younger children but provides an

excellent playground and location for community meetings and other functions.

Water/Sewer �y@tem
The need for and status of public water/sewer systems is discussed
on page 22. However,-a public water system issue is extension of the
system to areas not programmed for service.

The long-delayed Dare County Water System should be fully opera-

tional and providing treated water to Southern Shores by January 1981.

A policy is needed for extension of the water system to areas of the

Town not developed when the water system was installed. In response to
a request from the Town to work together in development of such a policy,

Dare County requested that the matter be delayed until the system.is

fully operational.

POLICY 23. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH DARE COUNTY TO DEVELOP

A POLICY ON EXTENSION OF THE WATER SYSTEM.

Medical Service4

There are three physicians in private practice within a twenty

mile radius of Southern Shores and the location of a fourth, in the

Town, is imminent. Health services are provided to the Town and its

residents by the Dare County Health Department in Manteo, N.C..

The Outer Banks Medical Center is a non-profit, out-patient, 24-

hour facility located in Nags Head. The Center is staffed by three

physicians and a normal complement of paraprofessional and administra-

tive personnel. Necessary support is provided by serviced communities.

The Center provides a vital service to the community and it has

grown to meet the needs of the population it serves.

General hospitals are located in Elizabeth City and the Norfolk

area, It is unlikely that the beach area will be able to support a

hospital in the foreseeable future.

POLICY 24. THE OUTER BANKS MEDICAL CENTER RENDERS A VITAL

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE TOWN WILL PROVIDE FULL

SUPPORT TO THE CENTER AND,ITS PROGRAMS.
,Emergency movement and evacuation4 is a critical link between the

services of the local doctors and the Medical Center and, the hospitals.

Until recently evacuation was a joint effort on the part of the Sheriff's.

Department (drivers/pilot) and the Emergency Medical Technicians

Association, and an ambulance could not answer a call without a trained

driver and technician. There was a continuing shortage of trained

technicians and Deputy Sheriffs were not always available to drive

ambulances.

In a move designed to improve this service, Dare County recently

placed all emergency evacuation service under a Director of Emergency

Medical Service. Ambulance drivers are now county employees separate

from the Sheriff's Department. It is too soon to judge the effectiveness

of the new organization.

POLICY 25. THE TOWN SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY

EVACUATION SERVICE AND WILL MONITOR THE QUALITY OF SERVICE

PROVIDED.

Utility Lines

Southern Shores is served by Carolina telephone and Telegraph

Company and Virginia Electric and Power Company. The phone company has

a sub-station in Southern Shores. Both companies provide hook-up., as

required, to all areas of the Town.

Since the mid-1960's utility lines in Southern Shores have been

placed underground. However, the older sections of the Town in the

lower beach and dune areas are still served by overhead lines. Recently

Carolina telephone and Telegraph placed some of its old lines under-

ground. Although overhead utility lines in a treeless beach area are

singularly unattractive, the issue with overhead lines is an operational

one.. Overhead lines are vulnerable to the severe weather conditions of

the Outer Banks and frequent power outages are the result. Unfortunately

the few overhead lines feed the underground lines and when the overhead

lines go out the underground lines are out too. Less than severe

weather conditions can cause salt build-up on lines and transformers

which can also cause power loss.
Property owner's response to the Land Use Questionnairel5 was in

favor of working with utility companies to place existing wires under-

ground and, if necessary, to pay for the project from a combination of

general revenues and assessment of affected property owners.

Growth of the area north of the Town holds a future threat of

larger overhead transmission lines passing through the Town. Planning

now may mitigate the effect of these larger lines upon the community.

POLICY 26. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO

DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO PLACE ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE LOCAL

SERVICE AND TRANSMISSION LINES UNDERGROUND.

Solid Waste Collection

The Town contracts with Dare County for solid waste collection.

Study of this subject by the Town Council concluded that in light of

costs associated with setting up a Town collection system; the scarcity

of qualified private contractors; and, the multitude of problems-asso-

ciated with land-fills there was no other feasible alternative-at this

time.

ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION6

About 35 miles of hard-surface roads interlace the community.

Of this mileage, 22 miles belong to the Town, 8 miles in the Chicahauk-

subdivision are owned by the developer, and two State highways (one

along the southern boundary (U.S. 158) and the other bisecting the

community north/south (S.R. 1200) account for 5 miles. The primary

interior Town road is Dogwood Trail which connects with U.S. 158 and

also S.R. 1200 (Duck Road) which currently runs to the Currituck County
line.. A second "connector" (with U.S. I158and S.R. 1200) exists via

the Chicahauk private road network. A third short, but heavily used

"connector" (Skyline Road) in the southeast sector is a part of a

hazardous six-way intersection the State is plan ning to eliminate.

In addition to the above interconnections of State roads there

are along Duck Road (S.R. 1200) 23 street intersections, including the

Fire Station access, and approximately 100 curb cuts (i.e. private

residential driveways).

Internally, most roads feed into either Dogwood Trail (soundside)
or the Duck Road (oceanside). Two additional interior roads (Hickory

and Hillcrest) which serve the open dunes area connect with the Duck

Road to the east and merge into Dogwood Trail to the west. Thus

although there are several roads which feed Into (or receive traffic

from) the Duck Road these ultimately converge into a single east/west

interior connector, i.e. Dogwood Trail. Through traffic (autos, trucks,

campers) going to or coming from Duck and the Currituck Banks seek

"short cuts" over Town roads in increasing volume.

The community does not have nor does it desire local public

transit service (15). The concept of a seasonal Outer Banks public bus,

at no financial obligation to the Town, is supported.

Growth within Southern Shores and especially both north and south

of the Town will continue. Current problems or conditions will be

exacerbated: heavier traffic flow along U.S. 158 and on S.R.

1200 north to Duck and beyond into the Currituck Banks; more hazardous

intersections; increasing dangers to families walking to the beach,

joggers, and bicyclists. Internally, a second east/west connector, at

least for emergencies (fire/storms, etc.) appears to be required so

that.linkage between oceanside and soundside will not depend upon the

passability of Dogwood Trail-East. A southern east/west internal

connector is precluded due to the location of the golf course.

The Town believes it can make such internal road adjustments as

will be required. It will also, through its zoning and subdivision

ordinances, seek to minimize future private outlets on major.highways.
However, it is virtually helpless to correct or ameliora Ite problems

arising from greatly increased.traffic flows to the Outer Ban ks,beaches

and particularly the amplification of traffic northward into the

Currituck Banks whose only outlet, at this time, is to the so'uth thus

traversing Southern Shores on both its ocean and southern flanks. In

a very real sense, Southern Shores is at the vortex, not.only of bur-

geoning seasonal traffic but also for emergency evacuation procedures

affecting the entire northern banks.

Viable alternatives to the exterior road/traffic problems noted

above are extremely limited. The community cannot.expect to be insulated

from growth factors. Although the Town is powerless to provide direct

access to the Currituck Banks from the Currituck Mainland, it has gone

on record in two resolutions in support of this alternative. Nor can it

build another bridge, south of the present Wright Bridge over Currituck

Sound (U.S. 158) to ease impending traffic flows and crisis emergency

evacuations. It is reasonable to expect, however, where critical

problems can be mitigated, relief should be sought with State coopera-

tion. This includes lower speed limits, strict traffic enforcement, clear

and visible intersections and rights-of-way with appropriate turn-off

lanes, well maintained road surfaces and shoulders, etc. Also,

enforcement of State laws and Town ordinances relating to all aspects

of "traffic pollution" - visual, and noise and fumes which, due to pre-

vailing southwesterly winds, carry such pollutants into populated Town

areas.

POLICY 27. THE TOWN WILL CONSULT AND COOPERATE WITH STATE

AGENCIES IN THE DETERMINATION OF NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS AND

SAFEGUARDS ON U.S. 158 BORDERING THE TOWN ARISING OUT OF

PROBABLE INCREASED TRAFFIC FLOW BROUGHT ABOUT BY ROAD

IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S. 158 IN CURRITUCK COUNTY AND THE STEADY

GROWTH OF THE ENTIRE OUTER BANKS AREA.

POLICY 28. THE TOWN WILL CONSULT WITH AND SEEK STATE

ASSISTANCE IN EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF INCREASED

TRAFFIC ON DUCK ROAD (S.R. 1200) CAUSED BY ANY POSSIBLE STATE

ACTION EXTENDING'S.R. 1200 INTO THE CURRITUCK BANKS.

POLICY 29. THE TOWN WILL URGE THE STATE TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY

TO IMPLEMENT ITS DECISION (FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING IN JULY

1979) TO CORRECT HAZARDOUS AND BOTTLENECK TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

NOW EXISTING AT THE 6-KAY INTERSECTION OF U.S. 158, BY-PASS
158, SKYLINE ROAD, PIER ROAD, AND S.R. 1200 ACCESS. (PROJECT

W-441)

POLICY 30. THE TOWN WILL REQUEST THAT THE STATE STUDY TRAFFIC

PROBLEMS AND HAZARDS AT INTERSECTIONS OF TOWN ROADS WITH U.S.

158 WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE DOGWOOD TRAIL INTER-

SECTION WHICH ALSO SERVES THE KITTY HAWK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

AND DUCK WOODS GOLF COURSE: AND THAT THE STATE MONITOR, ON A

PERIODIC BASIS, PEAK TRAFFIC FLOW&THROUGH SOUTHERN SHORES ON

THE DUCK ROAD (S.R. 1200).

POLICY 31. THE TOWN WILL UNDERTAKE, WITH THE COOPE,RATION OF

THE DEVELOPER, FEASIBLE MEANS TO PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY ACCESS

EAST/WEST ROAD THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERN SECTOR OF THE TOWN

CONNECTING WITH DOGWOOD TRAIL NORTH.

POLICY-32. THE TOWN SUPPORTS A SEASONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT BUS

KITTY HAWK TO NAGS HEAD, WITHOUT ANY COMMITMENT OF TOWN

REVENUE@ FOR ITS OPERATION. RESIDENTS HOWEVER HAVE OVER-
WHELMINGLY INDICATED LACK"OF INTEREST FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT

WITHIN THE TOWN.

To the extent the Town can, on its own authority, implement the

above recommendations it plans to do so as the criticality arises. To

the extent the initiative and determination resides in.State agencies,

the Town will solicit careful consideration and appropriate support or

action by such agencies.

GROWTH2

Population estimates show a growth from approximately 400 year-

round residents in 1980 to over 800 in 1990. Similarly the Summer peak

population is estimated to increase from 2600 to 5700 over the same

period.
In responding to the Land Use Questionnaire15 Southern Shores

property owners expressed desires to "limit" and "control" growth. How-

ever, only minor, temporary measures can be taken to limit growth in a

Town developed to the extent of Southern Shores. An owner of a

"buildable" lot should not be deprived of his right to build on that lot

without cause.

The Town's attitude toward growth is expressed in its policies on

housing mix and commercial zones. Additionally, there is no intent to

promote or "advertise" the Town in the manner practiced by many other

beach communities.

POLICY 33. THE TOWN WILL MO' ADVERTISE OR OTHERWISE PROMOTE

THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN SHORES IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE

YEAR-ROUND OR SEASONAL POPULAT ION.

BOUNDARY,DEVELOPMENT

Compatible development along a community's boundaries is of vital

interest to its citizens Southern Shores is no exception. (See Map D)

The Town's eastern boundarY is the Atlantic Ocean. On thewest it is

bounded by Currituck Souno, Ginguite Bay, and Martins Point. The extra-

territorial jurisdiction tne Town exercises over Martins Point provides

adequate control over the western boundary, Developmental control over

the northern and southern boundaries is exercised by Dare County.

Dare County recently zoned the land along the southern boundary.

This action was taken in coordination with Southern Shores and the

result is acceptable to the Town and.compatible with its zoning. Part

of the land along the northern boundary is undeveloped. The Town will

work to insure that zoning/development of this area is compat.ible with

adjacent areas of Southern Shores.

POLICY 34. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH DARE COUNTY TQ*INSURE

THAT ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO ITS

BOUNDARIES IS COMPATIBLE IN LAND USAGE WITH THAT EXISTING

OR PLANNED FOR ADJACENT AREAS OF THE TOWN.

COORDINATION AND COOPERATION

Both before and after incorporation the new Town of Southern Shores

was the beneficiary of an outstanding degree of assistance from State,

County and neighboring Town governments. It 'is the intent of the Town

to continue this spirit of coordination and cooperation and reciprocate

wherever and whenever possible.

The Town has supported,' and continues to support, both formal and

informal discussions among local government leaders and agencies, for

the purpose of working together to solve common prob lems.

Southern Shores provided draft copies of this Land Use Plan to

Dare and Currituck Counties, and the Towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags

Head for their review and comment.

POLICY 35. THE TOWN WILL CONTIMUE TO COORDINATE AND

COOPERATE WITH STATE, COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY

GOVERNMENTS ON COMMON PROBLEMS AND OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST.

ANNEXATION 13

During the Land Use Plan development process annexation of the

two extraterritorial jurisdiction tracts, the golf course and Martins

Point was raised as an issue. Questionnaire responses indicated that

Southern Shores property owners favored studying annexation of both
tracts.15

Preliminary study indicates that State law does not qualify Martins

Point for involuntary annexation. Voluntary annexation is a possibility

and should be explored.

The golf course property does appear to qualify for involuntary

annexation under the provisions of the general statutes with additional

support in case law. As the Town already provides road maintenance and

police services to the golf course, the case for its annexation appears

stronger than that of Martins Point.

POLICY 36. THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ANNEXING

THE GOLF COURSE AND MARTINS POINT.

RECREATION11

Ownership of recreation facilities and open space in the Town is

in the hands of the Southern Shores Civic Association and the,Chicahauk

Recreation Club. This arrangement is describ ed on page 7 . Location

of,recreation areas and.open space is shown on Map D .

Under the current ownership arrangements the Town can only

recommend improvement of recreation facilities.
From a list of possible recreation improvements15 Southern Shores

property owners indicated that their top priorities are:

Bicycle, walking, joggi.ng paths.

Additional parking at the Ocean Beach.

Additional parking areas at other points of beach access.

An initial estimate of $25,000 per mile of paved bike path over-

whelms a small community like Southern Shores. It remains for other

alternatives such as grants, donations, etc. to be developed,and

explored.

Existing parking facilities (25 cars) at the Ocean Beach were
filled a number of weekends during the Summer of 1980. If the Civic

Association plans to provide parking space for qualified users of the

Ocean-Beach in 1981, the parking area will haveto be expanded...

In anticipation of saturation of available parking space at the

Ocean Beach area additional parking areas must be located and plans made

for opening them to Southern Shores property owners.

POLICY 37. THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CON-

STRUCTING BICYCLE, WALKING, JOGGING PATHS.

POLICY 38. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC

ASSOCIATION TO INCREASE THE OCEAN BEACH PARKItIG AREA FOR THE

NEAR TERM AND STUDY ALTERNATIVES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BEACH

PARKING FOR THE LONG TERM.

CONTINUING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Southern Shores community has always enjoyed active partici-

pation of its residents in public affairs. Incorporation has not seen

a lessening of this attitude. Town meetings, public hearings.i Civic

Association meetings, etc., are lively and well attended.

Public participation in preparation of this Land Use Plan is

described in the Plan Development section. Periodic updates of this

plan will depend just as heavily on public participation.

POLICY 39. THE SOUTHERN SHORES LAND USE PLAN WILL BE

REVIEWED AND UPDATED ANNUALLY. THE PUBLIC WILL BE OFFERED

AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL PHASES OF THE UPDATE

PROCESS.

The Southern Shores Planning Board will review the Land Use Plan

annually and recommend changes to the Town Council in Octoberof each

year.

'POLICY SUMMART

RESOURCE PROTECTION

POLICY 1. The basi-c objective within the ocean erodible areas

is to maintain the line of oceanfront sand du.nes by protecting

the vegetation which stabilizes the dune system.

POLICY 2. Within the high hazard flood areas the Town will enforce

the standards prescribed by the Federal Insurance Administration.

,POLICY 3. The Town will work with the appropriate state and federal

agencies in protecting the integrity of public trust waters within

Southern Shores.

POLICY 4. The Town recognizes the importance of coastal wetlands
as a breeding ground for fish, shrimp and certain animals, birds

and plants. No specific development activity is currently permitted

within this AEC.

POLICY 5. The Town works closely with the County Health Department

and with the State Office of Coastal Management in managing estuarine

shorelines.

POLICY 6. It is the policy of the Town to identify a variety of

natural resources which do not qualify for AEC status under CAMA:

to encourage the retention of forest growth and natural plant

communities, including the protection of maritime forest areas.:

to maintain a suitable habitat for animals and birds indigenous to

the area: and to disturb the natural terrain as little as possible.

POLICY 7. Drinking water from wells and surface waters in the

area are believed to be' free of harmful contaminants. There has

been no indication that harmful water quality problems exist in the

community.

POLICY 8. Due to the large lots for residential development, the.

design of subdivisions which has left the more unfavorable soils in

open space, and the generally favorable soils for on-lot sewage

disposal, the Town will be able to accommodate future growth on septic

systems. It is not anticipated that a public sewer system will be

necessary.

POLICY 9. The Town will seek remedies to avert flooding such as

that which occurred during the Ash Wednesday storm.

POLICY 10. The Town will recommend that the county sponsor an

analytical evaluation of the Dare County emergency evacuation pro-

cedures.

RESOURCE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

POLI CY 11. The Town is primarily a residential community and'

therefore does not desire to.promote agriculture, forestry, mining,

fisheries, industry, energy facilities, or tourist-related recroa-

tion.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

POLICY 12. The Town will seek to acquire and manage all inland

waterways (lagoons) connecting with Currituck Sound and Ginguite

Bay for the purpose,of providing a single Town entity for their

management.

POLICY 13. The Town will enact appropriate ordinances regulating

specific matters pertinent to the control, management, and preserva-
tion of inland waterways and their use (or abuse) such as the'.con-

struction of piers, bulkheads, boat operations, noise, litter, and

pollutants.

POLICY 14. The Town in cooperation with all other int erested parties
(Southern Shores Civic Association, Chicahauk Improvement Association,
Kitty Hawk Land Company) will develop a long range policy regarding

the preservation, maintenance, and management of all properties border-

ing on all bodies of water - inland, sound, and ocean. Such policies

should consider contingencies-likely to.arise from emergency

.52

conditions such as-floods, hurricanes, and storms.

POLICY 15. The Town desires to maintain a mix of-,residential

zoning. Multi-family districts are acceptable as constituted

and will not be increased.

POLICY 16. The.commercial zone is acceptable as currently con.@

stituted and will not be increased. Uses permitted in the commercial

zone will only be those that serve the community of Southern Shores

and that the citizens desire.

POLICY 17. The Town will restrict motelsffiotel@ to.a separate

zone in the vicinity of the old Southern Shores Motor Lodge.

POLICY 18. Owners of property in the RS-1 district are entitled

to visual and noise buffers from commercial facilities.

POLICY 19. Maximum building height of thirty feet is more consistent

with community housing standards than the currently permitted thirty-

five feet.

POLICY 20. The Town will initiate planning for a new Town hall and

take action toacquire land for Town facilities in the vicinity of the

fire station.

POLICY 21. The Town will,start a capital improvement fund.

POLICY 22. The Town will continue to develop and study alterna-

tives to the current fire department organization.

POLICY 23. The Town will work with Dare County to develop a

policy on extension of the water system.

POLICY 24. The Outer Banks Medical Center renders a vital service

to-the community. The Town will provide full support to the Center

and its programs.

POLICY 25. The Town supports efforts to improve emergency evacuation

service and will monitor the qual.ity of service provided.

POLICY 26. The Town will work with the Utility companies to develop

a program to place all existing and future local service and transmis-

sion lines underground.

POLICY 27. The Town will consult and cooperate with state agencies

in the determination of necessary improvements and:safeguards'on

U.S. 158 bordering the Town arising out of probable increased1raffic

flow brought about by road improvements to U.S. 158 in Currituck

County and the steady growth of the entire Outer Banks area.

POLICY 28. The Town will consult with and seek state assistance in

efforts to mitigate the impacts of increased traffic on Duck Road

(S.R. 1200) caused by any possible state action extending S.Ri'

.1200 into the Currituck Banks.

POLICY 29. The Town will urge the state to proceed immediately
to implement its decision (following-a public hearing in July 1979)

to correct hazardous and bottleneck traffic conditions now exist-

ing at, the 6-way intersection of U.S. 158,.By-Pas,s 158, Skyline Road,
Pier Road, and S.R. 1200 access. (Project W-441)

POLICY 30. The Town will request that the state study traffic prob-

lems and hazards at intersections of Town roads with U.S. 158 with

particular attention to the Dogwood Trail intersection which also

serves the Kitty Hawk Elementary School and Duck Woods Golf Course.:

and that the state monitor, on a periodic basis, peak traffic,flows
through Southern Shores on the Duck Road (S.R. 1200).

POLICY 31. The Town will undertake, with the cooperation of the

developer, feasible means to provide an emergency access east/west

road through the northwestern sector of the Town connecting with

Dogwood Trail North.

POLICY 32. The Town supports a seasonal public transit bus Kitty

Hawk to Nags Head, without any commitment of Town revenues for its

operation. Residents however have overwhelmingly indicated lack of

interest for public transit within the Town.

POLICY 33. The Town will not advertise or o.therwi se promote the

community of Southern Shores in an attempt to increase year-round

or seasonal population.

POLICY 34. The Town will work with bare County to. insure that

zoning and development of properties adjacent to its boundaries

is compatible in land usage with that existing or planned for

adjacent areas of the Town.

POLICY 35. The Town will continue to coordinate and cooperate

with state, county and neighboring community governments on common

problems and other areas of interest.

POLICY 36. The Town will study the feasibility of annexing the

golf course and Martins Point.

POLICY 37. The Town will study the feasibility of constructing

bicycle, walking, jogging paths.

POLICY 38. The Town will work with the5outhern Shores Civic

Association to increase the ocean beach parking area for the near

term and study alternatives to provide additional beach parking for

the long term.

POLICY 39. The Southern Shores Land Use Plan will be reviewed and

updated annually. The public will be offered an opportunity to

participate in all phases of the update process.

LAND CLASSIFICATION 56

The Land Class System has been developed as a means of assistance
in the implementation of the plan. By delineation of land classes (see
Map B), the Town has indicated where and to'what densities they want

growth to occur and where they want to conserve natural and cultural

resources.

Although specific areas are outlined on the land classification

map, land classification is merely a tool to help implement policies

and is not a regulatory mechanism.

Community: The purpose of the community class is to provide for

clustered land development to help meet housing and public service

needs within the Town of Southern Shores. In addition, a limited

amount of commercial development is expected to meet only the needs of

Southern Shores residents (e.g. a motel near the fishing pier in Kitty

Hawk to accomodate Southern Shores visitors, professional offices in

the designated commercial area) Except for the conservation areas

designated below, all areas of the Town are within the community class.

Community Class Policy Planning for the Town involves,main-

taining the existing.low density residential use of the land and

providing for only limited and necessary services (e.g. public water,

police protection, fire protection, street maintenance). Due to large

lot development, careful subdivision which has left frag,ile areas in

open space, and generally favorable soils-,for'on-lot sewage disposal,

public sewer is neither needed nor desired. Most of the Town is

presently subdivided for single family residential use, and continued

enforcement of present regulations will insure existing development

patterns.

Conservation: The purpose of the conservation class is to provide

for effective long-term management of significant limited or irreplace-

able areas. Such management is needed because of its natural, cultural,

recreational, productive or scenic values. In Southern Shores, these

areas include the AECs (e.g. ocean hazard area, estuarine shoreline,

coastal wetland, and all surface waters). In addition, other areas

classified as conservation include open space areas in the Town under

the control of the Southern Shores Civic Association and/or the Kitty
Hawk Land Company (see map B-)."

Conservation Policy: The Town supports CAMA regulations in

applying standards for AEC areas. In the Southern Shores Ocean

Erodible Areas, the policy is to maintain the ocean-front sand dunes by

protecting the vegetation which stabilizes the dune system.

In the High Hazard Flood Areas, the Town enforces standards pre-

scribed by the Federal Insurance Administration.

In the Public Trust Waters, the Town will work with the appropriate

State and Federal agencies in protecting the integrity of the,Publ.ic

Trust Waters within Southern Shores.

In the Coastal Wetlands, the Town allows no specific development

activity and implements this policy through the CAMA permitting process.

On the Estaurine Shoreline, the Town policy is to work closely

with the County Health Department and the State Office of Coastal

Management in managi.ng these areas.

It is the policy of the Town to identify a variety of natural

resources which do not qualify for AEC status under CAMA; to encourage

the retention of forest growth and natural plant communities, including

the, protection of maritime forest areas; to maintain a suitable habitat

for animals and birds indigenous to the area; and to disturb the

natural terrain as little as possible.

The Town in cooperation with all other interested parties (Southern

Shores Civic Association, Chicahauk Improvement Association, Kitty Hawk

58,

Land Company) will develop a long range policy regarding the preserva-

tion,,ma intenance and management of all properties bordering on all

bodies of water-inland, sound, and ocean. The Town will continue to

work out plans for use and management of open space areas in the Town.

REFERENCES

1. Historical Sketch of Southern Shores.. David Stick, 19801, 4pp.

2. Population Analysis (Southern Shores). Coastal Consulta'nts, Ltd.,
1980, 4pp.

3. Analysis of Housing Mix (Southern Shores). Coastal Consultants,
Ltd., 19809' 4pp.

4. CommunitZ Facilities and Services.. George McIntosh, 1980, 5pp.

5. Administrative Facilities. Robert Andrews, 1980, 3pp.

6. Transportation.. Coastal Consultants, Ltd., 1980, 4pp.

7. Environment and Growth. Coastal Consultants, Ltd., 1980, 7pp.

8. Anal d For A Public Wastewater Facijjt
ysis of Nee Arthur V
Peterson, 1980, 4pp,

9. Lagoons. Coastal Consultants, Ltd., 1980,.4pp.

10. Addendum - Lagoons and Related Water Bodies. Nelson Bortz, 1980,
-pp -

11. Recreation. -Homer Althouse, 1980, 12pp.

12. Ecology. Virginia Ross, 1980, llpp.

13. Annexation Issues. Coastal Consultants, Ltd., 1980, 3po.

14. Soil Interpretations. Coastal Consultants, Ltd., 1980, 36pp.
15. Land Use Questionnairet Responses; and;'Summary. 1 980, l4pp.

References are on file at the Southern Shores Town Office..

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCES
ADOPTED BY SOUTHERN SHORES TOWN COUNCIL

The following ordinances have been enacted by the Town Council of

Southern Shores since its inception, April 1975.
4/3/79 - Adoption of Apglicable County Ordinances - This was an

interim measure to make all Dare County Ordinances that apply to Southern

Sho.res applicable in the new municipality until specific new ordinances

could be considered and adopted. (#79-0001)

5/l/79 - "Bob-Tail Budget Ordinance" Thi.s was the budget for the

period from incorporation of the Town to the end of the fiscal year June
30j 1979, made possible with a $5*000 donation from the Southern Shores

Civic Association.

5/23/79 - "Southern Shores Planning Board" Thi-s ordinance
established a Planning Board and spelled out its duties. (#79-0002)

5/23/79 - "Land Subdivision Ordinance" - This basic ordinance con-

trolling subdivision of land was essentially the same as the county
ordinance which had been developed with heavy ippui@from Southern Shores
citizens. (#79-0003)

5/23/79 - "Zoning Ordinance" - The effect of this ordinance was to

.adopt a zoning map and those parts of the Dare County Zoning Ordinance

applicable to Southern Shores. In the process,,the county ordinance,

which had been developed in large part by Southern Shores citizens, was
reviewed and updated by the Town Planning Board. (#79-0004)

6/5/79 "1979-mV Budget Ordinance" Provided the first tax rate

for the Town and set forth in detail the revenue and expenditure esti-

mates for the operation of the Town. (#79-0005)

8/7/79 - "Extraterritorial Jurisdiction" - This ordinance esta-

blished zoning jurisdiction of the Town over the OBRA property and

Martin Point, or.CATCO. (#79-0006)

8/7/79 - "Amendment to Zoning Ordinance" - Corrected an error i-n,

the composition of the Board of Adjustment as originally established in

the Zoning Ordinance. (#79-0007)

8/7/79 - "Building Code and Inspocti6h'Pfttedures" This exten-

sive ordinance made effective the N.C. Building Code, set up a Building

Inspection Department, appointment of a Building Inspector and procedures

in issuing building permits. (#79-0008)

8/7/79 - "Schedule of Building Permit Fees" This established a

simplified schedule of fees for building permits, in the median range

as compared with those of the county and other municipalities in the

area. (#79-0009)

9/4/79 - "State of Emergeng Ordinance" - Adoption of those parts

of the Dare County Civil Defense Plan applicable to Southern.S.hores.

(#79-0010)

9/4/79 - "Establishment of a Police Department" - This ordinance

provided the framework enabling the Town to proceed with establishing

its own law enforcement program. (#79-0011)

9/4/79 - "An Ordinance f6r'the Regulation and Control of Motor

Vehicles & Traffic" - A detailed ordinance, incorporating those parts

0 ordinances in effect in nearby municipalities applicable to the

residential community of Southern Shores. (#79-0012)

10/2/79 "An Ordinance Dealin2 with Offehget,'Attifts &'Other
Mattefs Declared Inimical to Health, SafeU'& Welfare" - An extensive
ordinance covering Disorderly Conduct, Noise and Firearms, Nuisances,

Garbage and Litter, and Camping and Use of Vehicles for Living, Residing,

and Sleeping. (#79-0013)

11/27/79 - "Flood Dama2e Prevention Ordinance" - A detailed
ordinance for the regulation, control, and construction of buildings in

flood hazard areas as required by State law and the Federal Emergency

Management Agency,.to be administered by the Town Building Inspector.

(#79-0014)

2/5/80 - Amends Ordinance #79-0013 to effect more specific require-

ments and controls regarding garbage and litter, open burning, beach

fires for which a permit must be secured. (#80-0015)

2/5/80 'Bird Sanctuary" - Town corporate limits declared a bird

sanctuary. (#80-001'6)

4/29/80 - "CAMA Local Implementation and Enforcement" - Sets forth

the conditions and requirements for issuance of minor development

permits by the designated local official (Building Inspector) of the

CAMA permit management plan and procedures for appeal, etc. (#80-0017)

4/29/80 - Amends Subdivision Ordinance - Establishes revised

procedural steps in plat review and approvals and requires certain bond,

letter of credit, or cash deposits to assure completion of work. (#80-

0018)

7/l/80 -'Budget Ordinance, 1980-81". (#80-0020)

ENFORCEMENT OF LAND-USE'REGULATIONS

Town enforcement measures affecting 16nd/use/classification

reside in the first instance primarily with the Town Building Inspector

who also serves as zoning administrator, flood insurance officer and

local CAMA permit officer. On certain matters, e.g. beach/dune motor

vehicle driving, hunting, use of firearms, etc., enforcement authority

is vested in Town police officers.

Other aspects, e.g. camp fires an the beach, burning trash, are

administered by the Fire Chief, Southern Shores Fire Station.,@ "Mo-

Wake" speed on the lagoons is enforced by the local agent of the N.C.

Wildlife Commission. Issuance of septic tank permits is a function of

the County Environmental Health Services.

SELECTED PERTINENT RESOLUTIONS
ADOPTED BY SOUTHERN'SHORES'TOWN COUNCIL

The following resolutions relate to matters of interest or concern

applicable to subjects covered by the Land Use Plan.

5/23/79 - "Extraterritotial'Represehtation" - Requests the Dare

County Board of Commissioners to name extraterritorial representatives

to the Planning Board from Martins Point and Outer Banks Recreational

Association (OBRA). (#002-79)

5/23/79 "Dare County Land Use Plan" - Adopts May 6, 1976, Dare

County CAMA and Land Use Plans which pertain to Southern Shores.

(#003-79)

7/3/79 - "Currit uck Outer Banks" - Expresses concern over, increasing

vehicular traffic north into Currituck County and urges the State to

provide a northern access route and terminal points to avoid creating an

open,passageway or "loop" thereby generating a further flow o,f'traffic

through the Town. (#005-79)

10/2/79 - Commends Gov&,hoP Hunt for ordering a comprehensive

environmental impact study of Currituck Outer Banks prior to any State

action creating a public highway or "loop" funneling excessive.Vehicular

traffic through Southern Shores. (#007-79)

11/12/79 - "Land Use Plan Contract" - Authorizes the Town to

execute contract with N.C. Department of Natural Resources and Community
Development relative to a land use planning project. (#0018-79)

11/27/79 "Flood1psurance" Formal resolution.applying for

approval' of Town as administrator of flood insurance program under pro-
visions of National Flood Insurance Program Regulations. (#0010-79)

11/27/79 - "llo-Wake Spted" Applicatioii to, N.C. Wildlife Resources

Commission to establish a "No-Wake Speed" with canals and Tagoons

(#0011-79)

1/8/80 "Standardized Traffic.Signs' Resolution stating coopera-

tion with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in a program for the
provision and maintenance of standard traffic signs. (#0012- 80)

7/l/80 - "Mutual Law Assistance" - Establishes policy and au.thori-.
zation to Ienter -into agreements with ot@er local law enforcement agencies,.

on a reciprocal basis, for cooperation in certain routine matters and

emergency situations. (#0013w8O)

Beach But Service" Leiter of Augus,t'12, 1.980 from Mayor Kern,

Pitts of Southern Shores to Mayor Don Byran of Nags Head expressing

support and endorsement of seasonal beach but service without commi't-1

ment of any financial obligation by the Town,,,.,o.f Southern Shores.

STATE LICENSES AND PERMITS

Agency Licenses and Permits

Department of Natural Resources and Perm its to discharge to surface
Community Development waters or operate waste water
Division of Environmental Management. treatment plants or oil discharge
permits; NPDES Permits, (G.S.143-
215).

Permits for septic tanks with a
capacity over 3000 gallons/day
(G.S. 143-215.3).

Permits for withdrawal of sur-
face or ground waters in capacity
use areas (G.S. 143-215.15).

Permits for air pollution abate-
ment facilities and sources
(G@S. 143-215.108).

Permits for construction.of
complex sources; e.g. parking
lots, subdivisions, stadiums,
etc. (G.S. 143-215.109).

Permits for construction of a
well over 10.0,000 gallons/day
(G.S.' 87-88).

Department of Natural Resources and Permits to dredge and/or fill in
Community Development estuarine waters, tidel.ands, etc.
Office of Coastal Management (G.S. 113-229).

Permits to undertake development
in Areas of Environmental Con-
cern (G.S. 113A-118).
NOTE: Minor development permits
are issued by the local
government.

Department of Natural Resources and Permits to alter or construct a
Community Development dam (G.S. 143-215.66).
Division of Earth Resources
Permits to mine (G.S. 74-51).

Permits to drill an exploratory
oil or gas well (G.S. 113-381).

- Permits to conduct geographical.,,
exploration (G.S. 11.3-391).

- Sedimentation erosion control
plans for any land disturbing
activity of over one contiguous
acre (G.S. 113A-54),.

Department of Natural Resources and - Permits to construct an oil
Community Development refinery.
Secretary of NRCD

Department of Administration Easements to fill where lands.
are proposed to be raised above
the normal high water mark of
navigable waters by,filling
(G.S. 146.6(c)

Department of Human Resources Approval to. operate a solid
waste disposal site or facility
(G.t. 130-166.16).

Approval for construction of
any public water supply facility
that serves at least'15 connec-
tions for year round residences
or 25 or more year round
residents.

FEDERAL LICENSES AND PERMITS

Agency Licenses and Permits

Army Corps of Engineers Permits required under Section
(Department of Defense) 9 and 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors of 1899; permits to
construct in navigable waters.

Permits required under Section
103 of the Marine Protection,
Research and Sanctuaries Act of
1972.

Permits required under Section
404 of the Federal Water Pollu-
tion Control Act of 1972; permits
to undertake dredging and/or
filling activities.

Coast Guard Permits for bridges, causeways,
(Department of Transportation) pipelines over navigable waters;
required under the General
Bridge Act of 1946 and the
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

Deep water port permits.

Geologi-cal Survey Permits required for off-shore
Bureau of Land Management drilling.
(Department of Interior)
Approvals of OCS pipeline cord-
dor right's-of-way.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licenses for siting, construc-
tion and operation of nuclear
power plants; required under the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954.and
Title II of the Energy Reorgani-,
zation Act of 1974.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Permits for construction, opera-
tion and maintenance of inter-
state pipelines facilities
,required under the Natural Gas
Act,of 1938.

Orders. of interconnection of
electric transmission facili-
ties under Section 202(b) of
the Federal Power Act.

Permission required for
abandonment of natural gas
pipeline and associated
facilities under Section
70(b) of the Natural Gas Act
of.1938.

Licenses for non-federal
hydro-electric projects and
associated transmissi,on li-nes
under Sections 4 and 15 of
the Federal Power Acti

MONITORING OF LAND USE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

The Town will monitor its futu re development to determine if

management tools are directing development and protecting the environ-

ment as,specified in the Land Use Plan.

A map showing environmental features and significant development

areas will be placed in the Town Office. The Town will develop a system

by which land use changes can be noted. This map will be revi-ewed peri-

odically by the Planning Board in order to determine if adjustments to
the management system are necessary to insure: consistency with the Land

Use Plan.

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DATE DUE

GAYLORD No. 2333 PRIWED IN U.S.A,

3 6668 14108 3347