Letter to the Editor: An open letter to Currituck County commissioners on beach erosion

Published 9:03 am Thursday, June 3, 2021

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Dear Commissioners,

I have been following the status of Currituck’s economy since 2009 when Owen Etheridge and then Kevin McCord nominated me to serve two terms on the County’s Economic Development Advisory Board. I also served on the Land Use Steering Group for three years. I published my consulting work for you on the website: www.Currituck2030.com.

The recent CPE beach erosion report has shocked many Corolla property owners. They have asked me to communicate this to you.

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The report indicates that over the past ten years the measured beach erosion rate of more than 6 feet per year is 2 to 3 times higher than previously reported. The public beach is less than half its width with in some areas with no dry sand left at high tide. Today thirty-five homes’ foundations could be undermined by the next major storm. At this high erosion rate 200 more Corolla homes could be impacted by a major storm over the next decade.

Mainland property taxes have already gone up by $5 M per year as Beach property values are not even keeping up with inflation.

To learn more please watch the attached YouTube video summary [link below] of the measurements and their implications for our tourists, our natural wildlife, our property values and the County’s entire economy.

The process to restore the beach is a long one. Currituck County needs to start now.

At the end of the video we present a reasonable plan for the County to begin now, before it’s too late.

https://youtu.be/owSoQ0tgWrs

Edward Cornet, PhD
Corolla homeowner since 1993
www.SaveOurBeach.net

FOR MORE COLUMNS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CHECK OUT OUR OPINION SECTION HERE.