Congressman Walter Jones introduces bill to protect Corolla Wild Horses

Below is an article from the Outer Banks Sentinel regarding a House Bill to proetect the wild horses. Great to see some proactive efforts.

Last week U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (NC-3) introduced H.R. 4867, the Corolla Wild Horse Protection Act.

The bill would require the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State of North Carolina, the County of Currituck and the non-profit Corolla Wild Horse Fund to craft a new herd management plan that would allow for a herd of no less than 100 horses.

That is the minimum number of horses that a preliminary report from renowned equine geneticist Dr. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University says is necessary to maintain the herd's genetic viability. The current management plan allows for a herd of 60 horses. H.R. 4867 is similar to a bill that Congressman Jones authored to protect the wild horses of Shackleford Banks in the Cape Lookout National Seashore. That legislation, which became law in 1998, has provided a successful statutory framework for management of the Shackleford horses.

The lineage of the Corolla horses can be traced back to the arrival of Spanish explorers on the Outer Banks in the 16th century. These hardy horses have survived in the wild for over four centuries. They currently roam across over 7,500 acres of public and private land in coastal Currituck County, North Carolina.

"These beautiful horses are an essential piece of Eastern North Carolina's heritage," said Congressman Jones. "This bill will help protect the viability of the Corolla herd so people can enjoy them for years to come."

"The critically endangered wild horses of North Carolina have a champion in Congressman Jones," said Karen McCalpin, executive director of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund.

"These horses are an integral part of the history and culture of our state as well as our country. They are a symbol of American, strength, perseverance, and freedom. Congressman Jones has taken action to ensure that the wild horses of the Currituck Outer Banks will remain here not only for the thousands of national and international visitors who now travel here to see them, but for future generations as well. The depth of our gratitude is immeasurable."

Mid-County Bridge Draft EIS Report Completed

Released on the NC Turnpike Authority's website is a Committee report from a meeting on Wednesday. In the powerpoint document are timelines and locations for presentation of the EIS report as well as an updated timeline for construction of the Bridge should all approvals be met. Copies are at the printer but will be available for review at several location in Dare & Currituck County as well as online. You know you'll find the link here when it is ready. This project has come quite a long way in 25 years!

Currituck County Commissioners considering eliminating use of sandbags and beach push options on Beaches

At a recent Board of Commissioners meeting, the Commissioners tabled a discussion until a later work session regarding prohibiting the use of sandbags and/or a beach push as a means of protecting beach front property in Currituck County. This could have a major impact on available options for homeowners if major storm cause significant damage to frontal dunes. Here are the pdf documents (starting pg 42) from the agenda package at the March 15th meeting. You can also watch the video of that discussion which was initiated by staff originally. Be sure to "Jump to" item #8 on the video menu to see just this topic.

Fozzie the Seal heads back home

The Harbour Seal, Fozzie, who was rescued out in front of Twiddy's 4x4 Wash Woods Office has recovered and was released back home on Thursday. Having spent the day with Fozzie when he washed up, he seemed to be a resilient little guy. The Virginia Pilot's Cindy Clayton provided the follow up story below (Photos taken by Todd Spencer) and there is a great video showing Fozzie's release....complete with a new hairdo.

By Cindy Clayton
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 12, 2010
VIRGINIA BEACH

A harbor seal rescued after it was found stranded in January in Carova, N.C., was released Thursday into the ocean from Virginia Beach.

Fozzie the seal had been undergoing treatment for severe pneumonia at the Virginia Aquarium Marine Animal Care Center since being rescued Jan. 19, according to the aquarium. The seal also had a healing fractured rib.

The seal was released Thursday afternoon from First Landing State Park.

Fozzie weighed 42 pounds on arrival in Virginia Beach and now weighs 70 pounds, a news release said.

The stranding team warns residents that seals and other marine wildlife can be aggressive and dangerous if approached by people.

Those who see stranded animals are urged to keep their distance and report the animals on the team’s 24-hour hotline, (757) 437-6159.

Click HERE for my post when Fozzie originally washed up in January

USA Today Article about the Outer Banks

Just saw this article fro the USA Today. It is a nice summation for the Outer Banks though it understates the 4WD area (which is probably good for those that love it to keep it a secret!) Couldn't keep them from using the photo below in the article:

OUTER BANKS, N.C.

Best for: Laid-back beach lovers who enjoy watching the sunset from their decks.

Claim to fame: The birthplace of powered flight, where the Wright Brothers took off at Kitty Hawk.

Don't miss: The Lost Colony by Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Green is the nation's longest-running outdoor drama and has been performed on Roanoke Island since 1937.

Getting there: The closest major airport is in Norfolk, Va., about 90 miles from the Northern beaches.

Tourism information: outerbanks.org, visitcurrituck.com

The Outer Banks have long attracted visitors who march to a slightly different drummer, from the pirate Blackbeard to pioneering aviators Orville and Wilbur Wright to modern-day second-home owners miles from the nearest road. You don't have to be a rebel to love these barrier islands off North Carolina, but a flair for escapism helps.
The East Coast is lined with beach resort communities that share such traits as thick condo and high-rise developments, amusement parks, souvenir shops and sometimes even strip bars. Not the Outer Banks, which are sleepy and underdeveloped.

"Planning has been very good, and compared to most beach towns, there is very limited development, with no high-rises," says Melanie Day, a broker for Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales in Duck, N.C. "There are some condos, but the vast majority are single-family homes."

Starting at the Virginia border, the Outer Banks span three counties and run south for about 130 miles. The most populated section is about 90 miles long, from the town of Corolla south through Nags Head. One reason for the limited development is that much of the Outer Banks is razor-thin, and many homes are waterfront or within walking distance of either the Atlantic Ocean or the Albemarle, Currituck, Pamlico and Roanoke sounds. Not coincidentally, the widest area, in Kill Devil Hills, is the most developed, with more year-round residents and what locals call "french fry alley" for its fast-food eateries.

The towns popular with second-home owners are small, and there is also a huge rental market. "Corolla has maybe 500 full-time residents, but in summer, there are thousands, between renters and second-home owners," Day says. "You can stay in towns like Duck and Corolla and never leave (because) they are self-contained, with restaurants and shops."

Besides the beach, inshore and offshore fishing and windsurfing are the biggest activities, and large portions of the Outer Banks, including the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, are protected for recreational uses. The region is also famous for its historic lighthouses and wild horses descended from shipwrecked Spanish mustangs.

A look at three Outer Banks neighborhoods

• Northern beaches: This area includes the towns of Duck, Corolla, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills. "Favorites include Duck and Corolla, and it's mostly single-family homes, though at the low end you can get a one-bedroom waterfront condo for under $200,000. Most homes are in the $400,000-$800,000 range, though Corolla is known for larger oceanfront homes up to $5 million," realtor Day says. North of Corolla, where Highway 12 ends, nearly 15 miles of dunes stretch to the Virginia border, dotted with vacation homes accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles: "That's a whole different buyer seeking remote privacy."

• Southern beaches: "Hatteras Island is even less developed," Day says, and it's more known for its excellent fishing and windsurfing. It is also at least another 30 minutes farther from the mainland bridges and includes more protected lands. Avon, Hatteras Village and Rodanthe, where the Richard Gere romance Nights in Rodanthe was set, are the most popular towns, and prices are lower than farther north. "Low-end one-bedroom condos start around $100,000, and the high end would be a seven-bedroom oceanfront home for about $2.5 million," Day says.

• Mainland: The main bridge from the Outer Banks connects to a peninsula jutting into Albemarle Sound, including the town of Powell's Point 4 miles from the bridge. "We consider it part of the Outer Banks even though it's on the mainland," says Day, who notes that the Kilmarlic Club here is popular with second-home owners. A master planned golf community with amenities like tennis and health club "started less than 10 years ago. All are single-family homes, from the mid-$300,000s to the $600,000s."

4WD Commercial Development rejected by planning board, goes up for BOC approval in May

Commercial Development has always been a wildly unpopular idea in the 4WD off-road area of the Outer Banks. The most recent (and most ridiculous) proposal came before the planning board on Feb 12th, and fetched a resounding NO. Below I am pulling the minutes from the planning board meeting for accuracy on this subject.

PB 10-03 Swan Beach Corolla: Request to rezone 37.36 acres from Outer
Banks Limited Access Residential (RO2) to Conditional District-General Business
(CD-GB). The property is located in Swan Beach, Tax Map, 101 and 101A,
Parcels A,B,C,D,1A,M1 and M2, Fruitville Township.
Brian Plumlee, Mark Bissell, Elizabeth White, Debra Lanucci, Lillie Daniels, Bob
Albrecht, Michael Cherry and Greg Lampy appeared before the board.
Ms. Voliva presented the following case analysis to the board.
Link for case analysis for PB 10-03 Swan Beach Corolla
DISCUSSION
Mr. Plumlee stated they are asking for conditional zoning meaning they would be
required to follow the conditions set by the county. Mr. Plumlee stated his client
has been paying taxes on this property since 1969 as a business parcel. What
his client is proposing to build is a private beach resort for weekly rentals and
special events. It would include a chapel, fire and rescue station, wellness center
and commercial for neighborhood services. At the south end there would be a
fishing pier. Mr. Plumlee addressed staff recommendations for denial.
• The proposed request is not consistent with the Carova Sub-area Policy:
What they are proposing is an old beach village style development and
clearly these plans can be tailorrd by the county. They will be very small
structures, 900 to 1200 sq. ft. They are looking into the potential of shuttle
service for people using the resort.
• The proposed uses and development plan does not promote compatibility
between the subject property: Having smaller structures is going to be a
better development.
• The intensity of the proposed uses and development plan will encourage
commercial services in the off-road area: The pier will be at the southern end
of the property and the Inn will be at the northern end. The Inn will not
encourage adjoining commercial structures because of shuttling people in.
Currituck County Planning Department
February 9, 2010
Page 11
The fishing pier is to encourage fishing. Mr. Plumlee stated to consider these
two items separately, the Inn and the pier. His client is mostly focused on the
resort.
• Vehicular access: Mr. Plumlee stated he hopes they have addressed this
with the shuttle services and they would have to buy their own private
insurance.
Mr. Bissell provided an overview of the project, addressed the community
meeting comments, and examples of the building styles.
Ms. Taylor asked where in Corolla are the cars are going to be parked.
Mr. Bissell stated the developer has a special use permit for a remote parking
site.
Mr. Wright asked how vehicles or emergency vehicles will pass under the pier
when the water comes up and the height of the pier will decrease as it gets
closer to the dune line?
Mr. Bissell stated this will have to be addressed in the design.
The Board was concerned with more traffic being routed from the beach to the
local roads.
Mr. West asked for clarification on the Inn and individual cottages.
Mr. Bissell stated it is an Inn in multiple structures. Two buildings will have 8000
sq. ft. on each floor with 12 units per floor. It will be operated under single
management. Mr. Bissell stated each unit will have their own individual septic
system.
Ms. Wilson stated that Mr. Plumlee stated that Mr. Friedman is doing this for the
community. She lives in the community and from the community meeting that
was held the community is not asking for this. Ms. Wilson stated that
architecturally it is nice but it is still a commercial development. Ms. Wilson stated
it is setting a precedent because other properties that are currently zoned
residential could put in a request for conditional rezoning for commercial.
Mr. Clark asked if the beach would be open in front of the development so the
public to drive down the beach.
Mr. Bissell stated yes.
Ms. White stated she is a resident of Swan Beach and the president of the Swan
Beach Property Association. The members of the Swan Beach Property
Association are against the conditional rezoning request and are in agreement
with staff recommendations for denial. Ms. White stated this request will lead to
Currituck County Planning Department
February 9, 2010
Page 12
incompatible and disruptive activity and will be detrimental to the general welfare,
safety, health and well-being of their community. The community is not
requesting any of the services in this proposal. The Swan Beach Property
Association is asking that the board deny this request.
Ms. Lanucci stated she is property owner in Swan Beach and is against the
rezoning request because it is a drastic change in the landscape of Swan Beach.
Ms. Daniels stated she hopes the board will deny this request and leave it like it
is. It has worked in the past and hopefully will work in the future.
Mr. Albrecht stated he is against the rezoning request because of the lack of an
adequate infrastructure, septic systems, and not in harmony with residential
nature of the community.
Mr. Cherry stated he is the former president of the Swan Beach Property
Association. Mr. Cherry stated he lives in a house that had been moved and if
the pier was built this would eliminate the ability to do this. Mr. Cherry stated this
project is not in harmony with the residential nature of the community and asking
that the board deny the request.
Mr. Lampy asked the board to deny this request.
Mr. Plumlee stated what is popular is not always right and what is unpopular is
not always wrong. They do believe this project would reduce impacts compared
to the results of residential developments at this location. The pier is not the main
part of the project. This development will not decrease the value of adjoining
properties. This is a lower impact plan. If it is the concern to lessen impacts then
you would adopt this plan, if it is the issue of controlling what is happening at all
times around you then you would reject it, it is as simple as that.
Ms. Wilson stated she has a letter from the North Swan Beach Property Owners
Association, a statement from the C.O.A.S.T. environmental group and the
Corolla Wild Horse Fund in opposition to this rezoning request.
ACTION
Ms. Wilson recommended denial with staff recommendations and LUP Policies,
OB6, CD5, ES8, ES7, and ES6 to rezone 37.36 acres from Outer Banks Limited
Access Residential (RO2) to Conditional District- General Business (CD-GB).
Ms. Taylor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

The final say will be on May 3rd when the Board of Commissioners vote to approve or deny. I cannot see how the BOC will approve so close to an election and without planning board approval in the midst of rewriting the Unified Development Ordinance. Nonetheless, if you have an opinion, it is important to be heard. There are two websites to visit depending on your stance on this issue. If you oppose commercial develpment, you should go here. If you are for commercial development, you should visit here.

Currituck County to develop another Unified Development Ordinance

It seems like just yesterday we decided to rewrite the UDO for Currituck County, but with a new election and a new direction we might as well rewrite the rules too. If I sound a little jaded it is because I am in the 98% of the population that is still trying to understand the rules of the current UDO (I have given up on predicting how the county actually interprets them). Historically, counties start off this process with gusto, setting out with the re-election popular buzz words such as "higher stantards, low impact, improved quality of life, preserving cultural integrity, etc.... I am hoping Currituck can finish with the same resolve they are starting. Citizen input is critical, so if you have an opinion, take the easy online survey and also sign up for email alerts at the county's Code website. This is important people, please participate. Below is an article from the Daily Advance's Toby Tate:

Currituck embarks on UDO rewrite
By Toby Tate
Staff Writer
Friday, February 19, 2010
CURRITUCK — What do Currituck County and Key West, Fla. have in common?

More than you’d think, says Chad Meadows, senior associate for Clarion Associates, a Chapel Hill-based consulting firm hired to help county officials rewrite Currituck’s book of planning and zoning rules.

For one thing, there’s the shared problem of having only one major highway that splits the county.

“You’ve got one main road and that’s your highway,” he said. “That’s got a whole realm of problems wrapped up in it.”

The biggest difference? Key West doesn’t have agriculture, Meadows said.

“That’s really unique to have a coastal component and an agricultural component together,” Meadows said. “We’re excited about the project because it’s such a cool place to work.”

The “project” to which Meadows was referring is the updating of Currituck’s Unified Development Ordinance.

Earlier this week, Meadows facilitated the first of two meetings to provide county residents an opportunity to weigh in on what the revised UDO should look like.

About 30 county residents attended the meeting, held Tuesday at the county’s Cooperative Extension Service building.

Participants were given keypads and asked a series of 35 questions mostly geared toward how developments should look and how eco-friendly they should be. The questions were broken down into two geographic areas: the Currituck Outer Banks and the county mainland.

The assessment of most of those in attendance was that Currituck should pursue low-impact, eco-friendly development with high standards.

Meadows said the survey wasn’t designed to be scientifically representative. However, it is a helpful tool for finding out what residents think about what Currituck’s future should look like.

“We found it very helpful, especially when you’re getting results consistently, when 80 or 90 respondents favor one preference over another,” he said.

The main objectives for the UDO rewrite, according to Clarion Associates, is to ensure the environment is protected, agriculture remains viable, and county residents’ quality of life isn’t negatively affected. The updates are also designed to make the county’s planning codes more user friendly.

The revised UDO also seeks to encourage high-quality development, provide more housing choices and better neighborhoods and to incorporate “sustainable” development practices.

Meadows said his team will be able to show the cost of various development scenarios as a way to help county residents determine which direction should be pursued.

Clarion Associates held a second meeting with citizens Wednesday in Corolla. This week’s meetings won’t be the last, however.

“We’ll be back many times in the future to meet with you guys over various steps in the process as we go,” Meadows said.

“We’ll be back to present what we call a code assessment where we’ll wrap all this stuff up and present it to the community. (It’s) kind of our thoughts on the current code, the plans you want to do, and the differences between the two.”

Meanwhile, Meadows said there are a few problems with the current UDO that need to be addressed.

“We talked a lot about stormwater, we talked about open space and we talked about density,” he said.

“These are big issues in this county. You guys have some serious challenges.”

Meadows said the UDO updating process takes time.

“We’re a year and a half away from having a new code,” he said.

Currituck County Planning Director Ben Woody said the county staff also plan to hold additional meetings with the community.

“Particularly once the code assessment is out there, to review that ...,” he said.

“We want everybody to have the opportunity to participate, or at least be aware of what’s moving forward.”

Woody said residents can follow the progress of the UDO on the Currituck County website

Groups begin applying for permits to conduct Wild Horse Tours

Now that the county is requiring permits for Wild Horse Tour Operators, businesses have to apply and adhere to a set of conduct and ground rules. Hopefully this will improve certain operations that have to date been more destructive than low-impact, and given more responsible tour operators black eyes by association. Below is an article from the Virginia-Pilot's Jeff Hampton:

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 21, 2010
For the first time, tours to see the Corolla wild horses this summer must have permits, include a guide and must have signs on the vehicles.

Last week, two applicants, including the nonprofit that oversees the herd of about 110 wild horses, were issued the first special-use permits to drive visitors through the four-wheel drive area of the Currituck Outer Banks.

Four others have applied, said Ben Woody, director of the Currituck County planning department.

Commissioners approved the requirement in September.

It's the latest effort to promote safety and good manners on a beach that can become a mix of wild horses, anglers and families playing near the surf.

Meanwhile, horse tours, visitors, locals and construction crews drive through the crowds.

Residents in the four-wheel-drive communities have reported trespassing and reckless driving.

As a membership benefit, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund plans to offer a private tour in one vehicle driven by herd manager Wesley Stal-lings, said Karen McCalpin, director of the nonprofit.

"You're going with the guy who sees these horses on a daily basis," McCalpin said. "It's almost like a National Geographic experience."

The second approved applicant was Wild Horse Adventure Tours.

For-profit companies typically have several vehicles but now are limited according to the amount of parking available at their base.

Once approved by commissioners, permits will have to be renewed by the planning staff in subsequent years. Violators will be subject to a fine up to $500. "It puts everybody on a level playing field," said Jay Bender, owner of Corolla Outback Adventures. "I think it's very positive."

Bender's permit request goes before the planning board before going to the commissioners.

The Corolla Wild Horse Fund holds classes for guides that include instruction on the horses, their habits and rules about keeping their distance. Often ignored is a long-time rule on the beach that people should stay at least 50 feet from the horses.

Horse found dead near Carova Fire Station

In an email from Wild Horse Fund Executive Director, Karen McCalpin, a Stallion was found dead off of Ocean Pearl Road, apparently NOT from natural causes. Below is the early email sent out by Karen, more information will be provided as it becomes available.

A deceased stallion was found about 20 feet off Ocean Pearl Road about a ¼ mile north of the fire station. The horse had been dead for at least three days and was visible from the road. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund is consulting with veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture in Ivor, VA as well as veterinarians from NCSU in Raleigh. No cause of death was obvious but the state of horse and the location of the body did not indicate that it died of natural causes. We will continue to gather information.



Karen H. McCalpin

Executive Director

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

P.O. Box 361

1126 Schoolhouse Lane

Corolla, NC 27927

252-453-8002

www.corollawildhorses.org

Much Anticipation for the EIS report for the Bridge

While a number of Chicken Little's have been crying "the bridge is coming, the bridge is coming!" for a year now, I have never joined the ranks because I have been waiting for, among other things, the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). We are not far away and it consider it the fulcrum point of the entire project. Below is an article from the Daily Advance's Toby Tate on the report and it's impact.

The long-awaited environmental impact statement for the Currituck Mid-County Bridge is expected to be released in the next couple of weeks, representing a major milestone for the $660 million project.

The Federal Highway Administration is currently reviewing the study, known as an EIS, and after then, it should be released to the N.C. Turnpike Authority, spokesman Beau Memory said.

Turnpike engineer Jennifer Harris said the EIS will be posted on the agency’s Web site, and that will be followed by a series of hearings for public input.

Harris said the bridge study is being prepared differently from a traditional EIS.

“We discuss alternatives that we will evaluate to see how they meet the purpose of need, what kind of impact they would have on the environment and we investigate and quantify the costs for the alternatives,” she said.

Alternatives would include several different bridge designs or no bridge at all, as well as ferry and transit systems.

Harris said there are many technical reports in the EIS that are summarized and referenced so readers can get additional information.

“(The reports) will be used in addition to maps at hearings to facilitate getting comments from the public and environmental agencies, which will all be considered” in deciding which bridge option to pursue, she said.

The mid-county bridge will span 7 miles across Currituck Sound from the Currituck County mainland to Corolla on the Currituck Outer Banks.

According to project engineers, the bridge will improve traffic flow between N.C. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 158, reduce travel time for those traveling between the mainland to the Outer Banks and speed up evacuations before hurricanes make landfall.

A bridge toll ranging from $6 to $30 per crossing has been proposed but nothing has been finalized. The range of tolls was compiled during a recent online survey of Currituck, Dare, Camden and Pasquotank county residents.

According to the Turnpike Authority, the final environmental impact statement is scheduled for release in the second quarter of this year.

It was originally set to be released last summer. But Turnpike engineers asked for more time to investigate modifications to the bridge’s design and introduce a new option, called “Option B.” The option was unveiled to Currituck residents last October.

“We’ve been studying this project for a few years and doing the engineering work under a few parameters and a few assumptions,” Harris explained in a previous interview. “(This idea) ... could save the project a considerable amount of money and help the project be more financially feasible as well as from a natural environment standpoint provide some improvements.”

The Option B plan includes relocating the bridge’s toll collection booths and moving Aydlett Road traffic on the new bridge highway. All but a small portion of Aydlett Road would then be removed.

“Aydlett Road is essentially a dam in between two parts of Maple Swamp,” Harris explained. “It keeps the swamp from being a continuous natural feature.”

But many Currituck residents, including the Board of Commissioners, have voiced opposition to Option B, saying that it addresses environmental concerns at the expense of residents.

Jennifer Symonds, a resident of Aydlett, the community where the bridge crossing will start, said she’s pleased with commissioners’ opposition to Plan B.

“The fact is, any popular vacation spot is going to have traffic,” Symonds said during a commissioners meeting earlier this week. “The northern Outer Banks is limited by land mass — it’s a very narrow strip of land. The bridge will not affect that traffic one bit. It will only create more choke points and more traffic.”

Because the proposed bridge will only be a two-lane crossing, Symonds said the potential for traffic snarls won’t be decreased.

“What happens when there’s an accident on the bridge?” she asked. “The traffic will back up to Barco and beyond and no one will be getting anywhere soon.”

The latest schedule calls for the bridge to open to traffic in 2013.

Another Nor'Easter to hit this weekend

This is a heads up from our friends from the National Weather Service Long Range Forecast Department. More info will be provided as it is received and more definitive local forecast developed. However, as this is a weekend event any pre-planning for this weather event should begin now.


>A significant winter storm will be tracking eastward across the Gulf
>coast reforming off the SC coast Saturday and moving seaward Sunday
>followed by cold high pressure. This is a very wet system which will
>leave heavy rains across the Gulf coastal states into GA/SC and
>southern NC. Cold high pressure to the north provides a strong thermal
>clash setting up a broad area of overrunning type of precipitation
>which appears most likely to be of the frozen type. At this time a
>heavy snow seems likely across eastern KY/southern WV/ most of VA
>including the Hampton Roads area/ lower Delmarva and northeast NC into
>Currituck county. Details of this may change either northward or
>southward and will most likely...typically not be known until later
>tomorrow or even Friday.
>
> There is a coastal tidal flood threat for the Delmarva/Chesapeake
> Bay/NC Outer Banks. Strong NE onshore flow ahead of the reforming low
> will be followed by a strong shift to North and then Northwest later
> Saturday and into Sunday. This will be enhanced by a perigean full
> moon which will be the second closest to the earth in the next 6
> years. Pamlico sound side flooding threat Sat night and Sunday with a
> strong cold N-NW flow. While this is not that deep or strong a storm
> and it is progressive the lunar set up may well bring a greater
> flooding threat than would be normally expected.
>
> Snow threat across southern VA down to and including Norfolk at this
> time is in the 6-10 inch range. Would not be surprised to see some
> significant snow as far south as Manteo/Wanchese and Nags Head.

Commercial Proposed in Swan Beach....Again.

This time the proposal even includes a fishing pier! Due up at the next planning board meeting on Feb 9, 2010 is a request to receive Conditional Zoning for a new development ironically named the "Swan Beach Preserve" for the North and South Business districts in Swan Beach. Plans and renderings include a hotel, bungalows, a chapel, bait shop, gym, and even a fishing pier out into the Atlantic Ocean. While this is not the first attempt at commercial ventures in Swan Beach, this is certainly the farthest reaching to date. I have included renderings and also have included the description here. Stay tuned, this ought to be interesting. Here is also an article in the Virginia Pilot

Professional Fisherman visits the Wash Woods Life Saving Station

Putting out the flag this morning I was greeted with a friendly face down by the beach. Tired and in search of some sun, this seal swam ashore for a nap. I promptly called N.E.S.T. to have someone monitor the seal and roped off a perimeter so vehicles could see the seal...but I did manage to grab a few select photos.

DOT soliciting bids for legal services for Public/Private Partnership of Mid-Currituck Bridge

The DOT has released a solicitation for a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) from legal firms capable and willing to provide councel and help facilitate the Public/Private Partnership between NCDOT and NCTA for the construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. The document, available here offers some timelines and information that seem to indicate things are moving forward. Thanks to Tony for catching this one.

Carova Beach rated #2 Secluded Beach by Sherman's Travel

Thought this was interesting though publicity of seclusion is a double-edged sword. Hope all had a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving. See the link

BOC changes UDO to prohibit Domestic Horses in 4X4 area

In an email from Karen McCalpin, Director of the Wild Horse Fund, she explains that domestic horses are now prohibited from being on the 4x4 beaches in an effort to protect the Corolla Wild Horses. Below is her email:

At last night’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting, the Board voted to change the Unified Development Ordinance to prohibit domestic horses from the RO2 district. There was also a majority vote to have language written to make it a criminal offense to house domestic horses or ride them in the RO2 district. Wesley, Kimberlee Hoey, Mike Hoff, Bo Dame, and I had an opportunity to meet with the Commissioners at their work session prior to the meeting and we also testified at the Public Hearing.



This is incredibly good news for the wild horses. We were able to acquire written expert testimony from the following: Dr. Rachel Cachero, Dominion Equine Clinic, Suffolk, VA; Dr. Charles Issel, Chair of Equine Infectious Diseases, University of Kentucky; Dr. Philip Sponenberg, VMR College of Veterinary Medicine, VA Tech University; Karen Sussman, President of the International Society for the Protection of Wild Horses and Burros, Landry, SD; and Mike Yoder, Coordinator, Regional Equine Information Network System, Animal Science Extension, North Carolina State University. All the experts, including Carolyn Mason of the Shackleford Banks Foundation strongly recommended that domestic horses be prohibited from the entire area inhabited by the wild horses. Very briefly, their reasons included the strong possibility of transmission of disease to the wild horses from the domestic horses; the disruption of wild horse social structure; safety of mares and foals as stallions violently confront the domestic newcomers in an attempt to protect their harems, as well as the safety of the public.



If you would like to view the testimony and resulting vote, go to the video for Nov. 17 under Archived Videos. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund commends the Board of Commissioners for taking this critical step to protect the health and longevity of the wild herd as well as protecting the public.




Karen H. McCalpin

Executive Director

Corolla Wild Horse Fund

November NorEaster Articles and Photos

Here are some articles and photos of the area after the storm. All things considered the 4x4 area faired considerably better from a damage perspective than the Norfolk area and Nags Head/Hatteras Island.



http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/currituck-declares-state-of-emergency-964276.html

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/11/nc-governor-assess-dare-county-storm-damage

NCTA Answers County's Assumptions

A follow-up article has been printed in the Daily Advance addressing some of the County Commissioners assumption that the NCTA is caving to environmental pressures. Below is the article for the Daily Advance's Toby Tate:

Engineer: No deal on span plan

By Toby Tate
Staff Writer

Saturday, October 24, 2009

While the negative public reaction to an option for the Mid-Currituck Bridge project wasn’t unexpected, a state official says it’s not true the option represents a “deal” to appease environmentalists’ concerns about the bridge project.

Jennifer Harris, an engineer with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, in fact says the plan, referred to as “Option B,” is not being pushed by environmentalists, even though it addresses an existing environmental issue — the division of Maple Swamp.

“We meet with environmentalists very regularly,” Harris said. “The idea about us striking a deal — I don’t know where that came from. We met with resource and regulatory environmental agencies and discussed the benefits and disadvantages of this opportunity and they didn’t object to us studying it.”

Harris was responding to a recent news report that the Turnpike Authority had struck a deal with environmentalists by proposing Option B for the mid-county bridge project.

In addition, Currituck Commissioner Barry Nelms said at a recent Currituck commissioners meeting that Option B was proposed to “appease” environmentalists. Nelms and the other six members of the Board of Commissioners have adopted a resolution formally opposing the option because they say it will negatively affect the Aydlett community.

Under Option B — one of three options for the bridge project — most of the existing Aydlett Road that now serves the Aydlett community would be removed. A new road north of the community would be constructed. Traffic bound for both Aydlett and the mid-county bridge would use the new road, which would include exits for Aydlett residents. The new road would also contain toll booths for the bridge.

Turnpike officials have touted Option B, saying it would both save money — taking $60 million off the bridge’s $660 million cost — and make improvements to the natural environment in Aydlett.

“We’ve been studying this project for a few years and doing the engineering work under a few parameters and a few assumptions,” Harris said at an Oct. 12 meeting in Currituck. “(This option) could save the project a considerable amount of money and help the project be more financially feasible as well as from a natural environment standpoint provide some improvements.”

The chief improvement removing Aydlett Road would make is that it would reconnect Maple Swamp, Harris said.

“Aydlett Road is essentially a dam in between two parts of Maple Swamp,” she said during the Oct. 12 meeting. “It keeps the swamp from being a continuous natural feature.”

Many Aydlett residents, however, oppose the option because they say it will increase traffic in their community and disrupt their rural quality of life. In their resolution, Currituck commissioners endorsed a plan that keeps Aydlett Road and puts the toll booths for the bridge closer to U.S. Highway 158.

Harris said the reaction from Currituck residents and officials wasn’t entirely unexpected.

“I can’t say that I didn’t expect that reaction,” she said. “(Option B) does have different effects on the community. How that (option) relates to the community is different from (how) ‘Option A’ (affects the community) and that’s why we went” to the Oct. 12 meeting.

Harris said no final decisions have been made about which option will be selected for the bridge plan. And despite commissioners and residents’ opposition, she believes Option B is a viable plan that should be considered.

“I think the component that preserves a large portion of Maple Swamp is a key component” of the bridge plan, Harris said. “We’re looking at trying to minimize the impact with something that is financially feasible. You can do a project that avoids and minimizes impacts at a cost or you can minimize cost at an impact to the human and natural environment. We’re looking at a plan that doesn’t have detrimental effects but is also financially feasible.”

The purpose for the new bridge, according to the Turnpike Authority, is to improve traffic flow between U.S. 158 and N.C. Highway 12, reduce the travel time for those traveling between the Currituck mainland and the Outer Banks and speed up evacuation of the Outer Banks during hurricanes.

The Turnpike Authority is currently studying the proposed bridge’s impact on the environment. Once that study is complete, the Turnpike Authority will release it for comment to federal and state agencies as well as the public.

Regardless of which option is chosen, Harris believes the bridge project will go forward. Not building the bridge won’t solve the problem of ever-increasing traffic headed to the Outer Banks.

“The alternative to do nothing is an option that wouldn’t address transportation needs,” she said. “You have different users and you have to listen to all perspectives. We have to have an understanding that there are some people there all year long and some who visit, so it’s a unique dynamic.”

Currituck Commissioners Oppose Two Bridge Proposals

From the County's website, the Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing the bridge landing options on the mainland. Below is from the County's e-newsletter and the resolution link is below:

Commissioners Adopt Mid-Currituck Bridge Resolution
Board United in Opposition to NCDOT's Aydlett Proposal

The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on October 19, 2009 to oppose two aspects of the state's plan for the Mid-Currituck Bridge after a significant number of citizens spoke against items in the state's proposal.

The document outlines the county's opposition to Option B for the Aydlett interchange, which would involve removing the current Aydlett Rd. and placing a toll booth plaza in close proximity to the Aydlett community. The resolution also states the board's opposition to the proposed placement of a barrier wall at the intersection of Waterlily Rd. and U.S. 158. If built, the wall would force motorists from Waterlily Rd. wishing to travel south on U.S. 158 to first travel north on U.S, 158 over the Coinjock Bridge and then make a maneuver into the southbound lanes.

Click here for a full copy of the resolution

More affirmative talk about the Currituck Bridge to the Outer Banks

I was trying to figure out why my phone was going crazy this morning with people wanting to put in offers or "get serious" about real estate. I then realized I should have read the paper this morning. It appears the Virginia-Pilot's Jeff Hampton is confident on the bridge to the Outer Banks. Below is the article:

Shortcut to paradise: Toll bridge to the Outer Banks

What’s ahead
An environmental assessment is due before year’s end. Construction could begin early next year and completion is projected for 2013.

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 19, 2009
Corolla has long been one of Currituck County's favorite - and most remote - Outer Banks travel havens.

Getting there requires making what is essentially a giant U-turn that can add more than a hour's drive.

Those familiar with the jaunt know that first you must drive south almost to Kitty Hawk before crossing the Currituck Sound. Then you flip around on N.C. 12 and head north toward Corolla, land of wild horses, a lighthouse and isolated beaches.

After about 20 years of debate, state and local officials and environmentalists are near agreement on a $659 million shortcut: a 5-mile bridge over the sound that would link Corolla to a small town about a 40-minute drive from the Virginia-North Carolina line.

State engineers have partnered with a private construction group that will lead the design, construction and operation, including toll collection, estimated to be $8 each way during the peak season and $6 during offseason.

A 2007 study estimated the bridge would draw an average of 13,500 vehicles daily on peak-season weekends, with revenues of $7 million in its first year.

By 2025, traffic counts are expected to average 19,200 daily on summer weekends, with tolls at $12 and annual revenue of $24.9 million. The state budget includes $15 million annually in public money to help finance the project.

A draft environmental impact statement is due out before the end of the year. By February or March, construction could begin on the bridge, with completion expected in 2013.

Proponents say the bridge will relieve congestion on U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 through Duck, hasten hurricane evacuation, lower costs of construction in Corolla and expedite county services there.

Most elected officials - including North Carolina state Sen. Marc Basnight - and residents in Dare and Currituck counties have supported the project even before it was first put on a state highway plan in 1989.

"We need that bridge bad," said Gene Gregory, a Currituck commissioner who has pushed for construction more than 20 years. "We've been on the verge two or three times before something has popped up to delay the thing again."

Since the project's inception, state and federal environmental agencies weighed its value versus its effects on the environment.

In 2004, after a multiyear study, the state determined that widening U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 would relieve traffic better than a bridge.

But a local grass roots group, Build the Bridge - Preserve Our Roads, paid for a study that determined the bridge would be better and cheaper.

In Aydlett, a community of about 1,000 people without a traffic light or a gas station, residents opposed the intrusion to their quiet neighborhood. Aydlett sits on the shore of the Currituck Sound and is about 25 miles from the Virginia border.

Last week, state officials announced another option for the Aydlett side that renewed opposition. To save $60 million, the new road would be on the ground through the swamp with culverts to allow passage of water and animals.

Toll booths would be in Aydlett. Local traffic could use the new road to get to the highway. Aydlett Road, the existing road, would be removed to allow better water flow.

"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard," resident Mike Doxey said. "I am strongly against it."

Residents plan to file a petition against the latest option, Doxey said.

Penny Leary-Smith, an Aydlett property owner, also opposed the new option.

"When you have people leaving that meeting in tears, that's wrong," she said.

Even local officials who have supported the project all along don't like this idea.

"The Board of Commissioners does not support putting that traffic in Aydlett," said Paul O'Neal, a Currituck County commissioner. "That community would never be the same."

Others warn about traffic and crime flowing into Corolla as access becomes more convenient.

"People come to the Currituck Outer Banks because of its remote, pristine nature," Corolla resident Barry Richman said.

Large highway projects usually increase crime nearby, he said. Corolla already has problems with break-ins during the off-season, but now criminals will have easier access and more than one way out of town, he said.

Basnight still supports the bridge even with the cost-saving measures, said Schorr Johnson, a Basnight spokesman.

Public hearings will be held on the options, said Jennifer Harris, an engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

But these objections are not expected to slow construction, Gregory said.

"I feel strongly that it's going to happen this time," he said.

After the earlier setbacks, the project nearly died in 2005 when the North Carolina General Assembly assigned it to the state Turnpike Authority to use tolls and a private-public partnership to speed up construction.

The Turnpike Authority agreed in December to partner with a private group headed by ACS Infrastructure Development, a subsidiary of a firm based in Spain.

The ACS partners, collectively known as Currituck Development Group LLC, are also investors, following a pattern used in Europe.

Traditionally in North Carolina, contractors bid on projects already designed by the state and make no financial investment.

Two years ago, Basnight asked that the bridge include such Earth-friendly designs as solar powered lighting, a bicycle and walking path made from recycled plastics and a look that better blends with the Currituck Sound environment. Those features remain options, Johnson said.

Once completed, a new road would intersect with U.S. 158 about a mile south of Coinjock, travel east around two miles through a swamp, pass through Aydlett where the bridge would begin and go about five miles over the Currituck Sound to Corolla. Toll booths would be placed near U.S. 158.

On both sides, the bridge follows generally vacant areas and would displace about 11 residences.

In Corolla, plans include two terminus options, one near the TimBuck II shopping center and the other about 1.5 miles north near the Corolla Bay subdivision.

In contrast, the four-lane Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge from Mann's Harbor to Roanoke Island was approved by the state in 1996 to replace the 43-year-old William B. Umstead Bridge, which was previously the only crossing over the Croatan Sound.

By 1998, Balfour Beatty Construction, Inc. of Atlanta was awarded the contract for the 5.2 mile bridge, the longest in the state.

Costing $89 million, the bridge opened in August 2002, taking seven years from start to finish.


Here's the timeline to date:

Timeline

■1989 Bridge first placed on a state highway plan after years of discussion.
■1996 State purchases land in Corolla for bridge landing. Bridge cost estimates range from $47 million to $71 million.
■1998 Bridge plans and possible landing sites presented at public hearings. Aydlett residents oppose the project. Cost estimate is now $87 million.
■2001 Bridge project stalls after state officials announce study that could take years. Officials say bridge’s environmental impact may not be worth its e ffect on traffic flow. Cost estimate is now $97 million.
■2002 North Carolina Turnpike Authority created to expedite construction of several state road projects.
■2004 State unveils traffic study that says widening U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 would relieve traffic flow better than a mid-county bridge. Currituck and Duck officials and residents disagree with conclusions. Bridge cost estimate is $103 million.
■2005 General Assembly passes bill authorizing Turnpike Authority to plan and build a toll bridge over Currituck Sound using private financing and construction. Cost estimate is $118 million.
■2006 A study by a transportation institute at North Carolina State University estimat es the cost at $156 million.
■2007 Turnpike Authority releases study that shows tolls could be $8 to $12. Bridge costs estimates are adjusted to better reflect inflation and design to $296 to $795 million.
■2009 ACS Infrastructure Development, a private company, to lead construction and operation of toll bridge. Estimate firmed up to $659 million.
■Oct. 12, 2009 State puts forth option to let the bridge land in Aydlett rather than go overhead all the way to U.S. 158. Revision could save $60 million. Aydlett residents and Currituck commissioners oppose that option.