THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996 TAG: 9610250740
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COLINGTON ISLAND LENGTH: 37 lines
A development in the Baum Bay neighborhood of Colington Island, dormant for nearly 10 years, has been given new life.
Pirates Moor Town Homes was recently granted conditional site approval by the Dare County Planning Department. Director Ray Sturza said the proposed complex will consist of 12 townhouses with a total of 44 two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. Rentals on each apartment will range $450 to $600.
Sturza said one building with several apartments had been completed in 1986 before the project was suspended.
``In 1986, there were no rules whatsoever,'' Sturza said. ``Dare County had no planning department. You just had to get a building permit and approval from the Health Department.''
The proposed site is in a portion of unincorporated Dare County. It is zoned S-1, which permits virtually all use.
The planning director was unclear who the owner of the original project was, or why he or she lost interest.
The decade-old approval is still legally valid, Sturza said. Planners reviewed the proposal Oct. 14. The panel told developers they can start building once the water and septic systems are upgraded to meet county standards.
Sturza said Laurel Run Development Corp., of Morehead, Ky., purchased the 30-plus acre site. Because of the wetlands on the property, only 14.66 acres will be actually used in the project.
Chief Planner Donna Creef said the project space ratio is three units per acre, which she said is considered a low density.
Residents of the subdivision will use the existing entrance to Baum Bay to access their homes. Sturza said he will ask developers to install a privacy fence to benefit a handful of residents in surrounding homes.
Construction is expected to begin within a month, he said. by CNB