The Virginian-Pilot
©
COROLLA, N.C.
Currituck County could become the only local government in North Carolina to ban sandbags and homemade dunes used to protect beachfront property.
The use of sandbags and the practice of pushing up sand to make dunes are common methods of deterring beach erosion permitted by the state along the North Carolina coast.
But sandbags have become obstacles to traffic, including ambulances and fire trucks on the beach road north of Corolla.
During the summer, thousands of vehicles travel the beach.
"This is the road home for the local people," said Currituck County Manager Dan Scanlon. "This is a road of commerce."
Winter storms washed away a portion of the beach near the Swan Beach community,
leaving two homes sitting in the public domain. Both homes have had sandbags in place for years. At high tide, the surf washes up to the bags, making the beach impassable by traffic.
County officials cite an incident on Feb. 12 in which parents driving south on the beach with their sick child could not pass the pile of sandbags during high tide.
The child was transferred to an ambulance waiting on the other side of the sandbags.
"That is just a real-life
illustration of the challenges we're facing," Scanlon said.
A work session on the proposed ordinance to ban sandbags and homemade dunes is scheduled for April 19.
Using an existing nuisance ordinance, county attorney Ike McRee has notified property owners at 1557 Sandfi ddler Road the house and sandbags must go, according to the letter dated Feb. 22. Kitty Hawk house movers, Stormont & Co., responded March 4 the house would be moved as soon as another lot could be purchased and the permits issued.
The county plans to require 1159 Sandfiddler be moved also, said Ben Woody, director of the Currituck County Planning Department.
The two homes and a third home were condemned in 2004 after storms unearthed their septic systems. One home was moved. The other two remained after the owners were able to get permits to move the septic systems farther from the beach.
Even though the houses once sat entirely on private property, beach erosion has placed them partially within the public domain and by state law the county can force them to be moved, McRee said.
Located at the southern end of Sandfiddler Road, the homes are among only a few where the dunes have worn away. Sandbag barriers approved by the state have not stopped the encroaching surf. The bags, about 10 feet long and three feet wide, each hold several tons of sand.
Sandbags and pushing up sand dunes with a bulldozer are common practices along the coast. Either the state or, in past years local governments, have issued 381 permits for sandbag structures, four on the Currituck Outer Banks, said Michele Walker, spokeswoman for the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management.
Permits are good for two years for homes under 5,000 square feet and are good for five years for homes more than 5,000 square feet.
Extensions were granted in some cases. Many sandbag walls have been in place well beyond the permit time limit, Walker said.
In 2008, the state began an effort to remove older sandbag walls. But last year, the General Assembly linked sandbags to a terminal groin study and delayed the state's enforcement of the time limits until September, Walker said.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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sand bags, etc
As a 30 year resident of Swan Beach who just needs to get down the beach every day to go to work in Corolla, let me just say "the beaches are moving!" - read your Orrin Pilkey - the man who wrote the book of the preceding quote. Between the natural progression of the outer banks sand bar to the west, and the fact that the oceans are rising, we need to just get used to the fact that oceanfront property, and in fact, all outer banks property is in jeopardy. I don't care how much money you throw at it, the ocean will prevail, and it certainly has done so this winter season since the middle of November. Those who choose to have oceanfront property assume the risk and liablilty of such an endeavor. As long as the beach is the road, Currituck county should do what it has to do to keep that "road" open and clear of obstacles, such as houses the tide is washing under, when there are no other alternatives for egress. Putting up artificial barriers like sand bags, or jettys, or groins, or even dunes, does nothing but contribute to beach erosion. Let's get real, accept facts, and do what's best for the beach we all love.
A question of taxation
Good conversation here. As usual, good arguments for and against action on the part of both property owners and the county. A good piece of the debate on this one includes taxation--the county does collect a good chunk a tax revenue in this area, and at least in my mind some of that collected "revenue" should go to actually protecting the public good.
Interesting to point out Mr. Scanlon's comment--"this is a road of commerce." His actions have never reflected that fact, either in thought or deed, but hey--accountability is the antithesis of Currituck government. Send in the clowns if he's involved.
Nice work on Mr. Hampton's part to put facts before agenda on this one.
The County Got Smart!
The "county" didn't sell the property or profit, but the county tax dollars are spent maintaining access and providing services so some developer can make thousands! I wish the city of Chesapeake would be half as wise as those in NC. We ants are getting tire of paying for the grasshoppers. Read Aesop's fables.
protect property rights
The county did not sell the land. Hopefully the county will protect owner's rights to access their homes in the 4 x 4 and to be able to drive up the beach without a sandbag barricade in the way.
Beach Front Property
The county had no problem selling the property to the home owners, how can they expect the owners not protect their investment? Maybe it should be the responsibility of the county to protect the beach front homes. build a seawall or something like that.
oh heck no
The county should have no role in protecting these properties. The individuals decided of their own accord to buy, so everything involved with homeownership is their responsibility.