THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 6, 1994 TAG: 9408060115
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: ABOUT THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: Chris Kidder
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
A series of columns last month covered the opposition against proposed street improvements for East Hayman Boulevard in Kill Devil Hills.
The town plans to build a 44-car parking island in the middle of boulevard - now a quiet, unpaved road - to increase beach access. The street's homeowners, most of them out-of-towners call the plan a threat to their peaceful setting.
The series prompted letters from two of the street's 13 homeowners.
Margaret Lesner, a Norfolk resident who has owned property on East Hayman Boulevard for 24 years, wrote:
``Since 1989 the property owners have tried to work with the Board of Commissioners to come up with a more equitable solution. . . .
``Five years ago we suggested that they widen Hayman Boulevard and allow parallel parking on both sides. This would have provided more than enough parking for a beach of this size.''
Because of erosion, the homeowner writes, ``it is a waste of grant money and tax money to hope to provide a beach for so many more people. . . . It would be like giving a party for a 100 people on a 10-by-10 deck!''
Gale Crisher, a Hayman Boulevard property owner from New York, wrote: ``The July 9th article you wrote failed to mention that this project is slated to cost over $205,000. . . . As property owners who have gone before the Board of Commissioners to no avail, we feel that this is a high price to pay.''
The owner went on to say, ``Out-of-area property owners have no vote. Maybe there would be some changes made if we had a vote.''
Taxpayers who can't vote because they claim residency in another place are a dilemma for governments everywhere. It's a dilemma as old as the American government itself: taxation without representation.
What solutions are there for out-of-towners who shell out thousands of dollars each year in taxes but have no say in how the money is spent? It's a question that bears scrutiny on the Outer Banks, where most taxpayers legally reside elsewhere.
Outer Banks town and county government officials are, in large part, sensitive to this issue, but there are no easy answers.
How hard should a government try to communicate with its taxpayers? Would it be prudent for a town to send first-class mailings to all property owners announcing every public meeting, every budget, every policy consideration?
In Kill Devil Hills, where the mailing list would exceed 6,500 names, the bill would be nearly $2,000 a pop.
The burden of staying in touch with area governments must rest with the property owner. While the out-of-area owner can't vote, there are several ways to keep informed about - and influence - policies and plans at both the town and county levels of government.
Ask to be put on your town's mailing list. Most Outer Banks towns and counties provide mailings to non-resident property owners for a small fee. Kill Devil Hills, for instance, sends out Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and other meeting notices to residents who sign up for its ``Sunshine List,'' at $10 a year. Copies of meeting minutes can be requested for an extra fee.
Subscribe to local newspapers for coverage of commissioners' meetings and other government business. Only proposed zoning changes require individual notices to be mailed to all affected property owners. A newspaper report tipped off East Hayman Boulevard homeowners in spring to the town's plans for their street.
Participate in your homeowners association. Make it responsible for keeping you informed of government affairs that affect your property and for representing your interests to local government officials. If your neighborhood lacks an association, form one.
Every government has citizen advisory committees. Volunteer for appointment to one in your town or county. Find local residents who share your concerns and ask them to serve. Encourage your local government to make sure that non-resident property owners are adequately represented.
All counties and towns are required by the state to develop five-year land-use plans and solicit public input for the plans. Find out when your municipality will update its plan and how you can participate.
Visit or call your town or county planning department once a year and ask what plans are in the works that might affect your property.
Two shooting clubs: On July 2, I wrote about a new golf course development in Currituck County, called the Currituck Club. It is being built on property owned by the old Currituck Shooting Club south of Corolla.
Carol Webb, an agent with Long & Foster Real Estate in Virginia Beach, said the story caused some confusion.
``I have the other Currituck Club for sale,'' she wrote. ``This one is further north.''
The property Webb represents is called the Currituck Gunning & Fishing Club. It is south of Virginia Beach at Knotts Island, N.C. The waterfront, seven-bedroom clubhouse, including three acres, is listed at $350,000. Also, 1,400 acres can be purchased with the clubhouse for $2.3 million.
Knotts Island is a curious place. It's not really an island, but as far as North Carolina is concerned, it might as well be. You can reach the community from the rest of the state only by boat - North Carolina provides a free ferry.
But Virginia Beach residents can drive through the countryside along Back Bay and be at Knotts Island in half the time the ferry takes to cross the Currituck Sound.
``We up here enjoy your articles,'' Webb wrote. ``They end up being like a bridge between the two states. For some reason, so much information seems to stop at the state line.'' MEMO: Chris Kidder covers Outer Banks real estate for Hampton Roads Real
Estate Weekly. Send comments and questions to her at P.O. Box 10, Nags
Head, N.C. 27959.
by CNB