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Dare County Board of Commissioners approved a renewal of Special Use Permit #7-2008 and added new procedures for special use permit review and approval.

The first action comes from I.G. Holdings LLC, and Albemarle & Associates LTD about renewing a special use permit for a group development.

The property is located at 40494 NC 12 in Avon. In 2008, I.G. Holding constructed an 11,533 square foot building for a Wings store and a residential house with 2,048 square feet for employee housing. Two four-bedroom houses were initially approved. One residential house was built. The applicant asked for approval to build the second house. The Dare County Planning Board found the site plan and request appropriate, as did the Dare commissioners.

The second planning action was requested by the Board of Commissioners and worked on by the county’s planning staff and the Planning Board.

“Adopting guiding standards will allow the Board of Commissioners to consider all admissible evidence when deliberating on passing or denying a special use permit,” writes Noah Gillam, Dare County’s planning director.

The new text amendment reads as follows:

(e) Quasi-judicial Hearing Standards of Review: The Board of Commissioners shall not approve a special use permit unless it makes written findings that the regulations of this Section that set forth specific standards for the use have been met. The board may consider the type of use, size of the use, size of the property and other relevant factors in evaluating the permit application. The applicant will not bear the burden of proving that all of the site standards (as listed below) have been met; however, the applicant will be required to present evidence sufficient to rebut any evidence presented that the site standards would not be met or that a condition is necessary. The applicant may be required in his/her rebuttal, to show that the proposed use will:

1. Not materially endanger the public health, safety, or welfare
2. Not substantially injure the value of adjoining property; or [if so, is] a public necessity
3. Will be in harmony with the area in which it is located and in general conformity with the Land Use Plan
4. Meet all required conditions and specifications

At the Feb. 3, 2025 hearing, no one came forward to speak. The hearing was closed. The commissioners unanimously agreed with the proposed language.

During public comment at the beginning of the Feb. 3 meeting, several people addressed the land use issue in Wanchese, which has previously been reported.

Jeanine Emery, of Manteo, commented on the Jan. 27, 2025, order from the Federal Office of Management and Budget to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance, …”

Emery listed some of the programs affected such as school breakfast and lunch, Medicaid, childcare, Head Start and more.

Emery stated “I feel it will be imperative to at least begin discussing how we can assist with the needs of our community members who rely on all these essential programs, if the need should arise.”

Speaking from Buxton, Jay Phillips from Avon called attention to his effort to start a high school sailing team. Hatteras Sailing is located at the Buxton Harbor.

Dare County commissioners made the following appointments:

– Aging Advisory Council for the Albemarle Commission: reappointed Lara Lewis and Jenna Wienert

– Older Adult Services Advisory Council: appointed Elizabeth Smith to fill a vacancy

– Planning Board: reappointed James R. “Buddy” Shelton (District 1) and Terry Gore II (at-large)

– Senior Tar Heel Legislative delegates: Jennifer Tolbert was appointed to replace Kaye White and Maggie Dennis was appointed to replace Susanne Kelly.

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