Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On the Manteo commissioners agenda for a regularly scheduled May 7, 2025 meeting were a series of actions concerning an overlay district for breweries.

Presentations on a zoning map and text amendments were to be followed by consideration of those items.

That did not happen.

Commissioner Tod Clissold told the board that the property at the site of the first brewery in North Carolina was under contract. Townhouses are slated to be built. The proposed brewery owner walked away, said Clissold.

The text and map amendments for an overlay district were tabled unanimously.

However, discussion continued on the capacity of the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Christopher Petree with Timmons Group told the board that the 4,000 gallons per day of strong wastewater was “way outside the range” for which the treatment plant was designed. The plant is capable of treating that amount but Petree warned “in the future, you’ll have to pay.” He said there is “a potential for future loss of revenue.”

Under old business, the board considered an alternative to sidewalk material for the development called The Quarters Subdivision. Development rules permit only exposed aggregate or brick sidewalks or alternatives approved by the board. The subdivision owner Malcolm Fearing showed convincing photographs of surrounding properties with brushed concrete sidewalks. Commissioner Edward Mann made the motion to permit brushed concrete sidewalks for the subdivision and it passed unanimously.

Town manager Melissa Dickerson delivered a report in brief:

Lighthouse redecking – A diver inspected the pilings. Several need replacing. The engineer is using the 1959 plans, discovered while cleaning out the attic at town hall. The plans provide an accurate drawing of what’s there. The deck boards are screwed down, making removal easier.

Student work – About 40 people came to North Carolina State students’ presentation at the old PNC building and soon-to-be town hall. The plan presentations will be made available. The students will present their coursework on May 17 at the Coastal Studies Institute Open House.

Frankie Woodley, the town’s public works director, completed a seven-month municipal and
county administration course offered at the School of Government and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The town has a goal of all department heads taking the course.

Sailing Camp starts June 16, 2025.

The town’s water and sewer department completed its regional water quality inspections with the state’s Department of Environmental Quality.

The public works department cleaned up the town’s cemetery. An outstanding decision about screening along property lines will be considered by the cemetery board with recommendations coming to the commissioners. Public works employees also cleaned the statue of Richard Etheridge.

The Manteo Police Department was recognized by Naval Criminal Investigative Service for its partnership in fraud and identity theft cases.

The Main Street Advisory Board met in April and discussed the Dare Arts mural project and budget priorities for wayfinding, special events and beautification initiatives.

During public comment, Stuart Wescott said he had been struggling with parking for years. He operates the Captain Johnny’s Dolphin Watch. He reported no one sees the signs for Festival Park parking. He suggested painting the roadway over the bridge to Festival Park with “Parking” and an arrow pointing over the bridge. He also said he had grounded in the boat channel while towing a boat with a five-foot draft. He asked for a letter to the Oregon Inlet Task Force from the town asking for dredging.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!