Dare’s commissioners vote to send housing money back to the state

Published 12:18 pm Thursday, April 11, 2024

: People jammed the Robert V. “Bobby” Owens Meeting Room for a Dare County Board of Commissioners special meeting to discuss housing. Thirty citizens spoke to the commissioners, most for five minutes. The board decided to return the $35 million to the State of North Carolina. Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy photo

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Dare County commissioner Danny Couch’s voice boomed out.

“Send the money back.”

At a specially called Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting held Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the commissioners listened to 30 citizens voice opposition to housing projects tied to Coastal Affordable Housing, LLC. No one spoke in support, though several offered suggestions about solving the “housing issue.”

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Commissioner Steve House made the only motion of the session: Halt the project. Grant the county manager authority to unwind the project. Return the money. Commissioner Bea Basnight seconded the motion. All commissioners voted in favor.
The “money” is the $35 million granted by North Carolina to Dare County for affordable housing. County manager Robert L. Outten said he would contact the North Carolina Office of Management and Budget about what to do.

This is an initial report; additional information will be available in upcoming articles.

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