DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 1997         TAG: 9709240605

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: KILL DEVIL HILLS                  LENGTH:   48 lines

ZONING LAWS MAY PUT BRAKES ON SKATEBOARD PARK

An indoor skateboarding park may have hit the skids for good unless a local business owner can generate enough money to pay for improvements needed to comply with local zoning laws.

Last month, the town ordered Backdoor Skateboards to shut down its operation at the old Olympia Cabinets building on Fresh Pond Road.

Town Planner Greg Loy said Backdoor never submitted a site plan for the business. Also, there are problems with parking and wastewater disposal.

Steve Blaisdell, owner of Backdoor Skateboards, readily acknowledges that he is in violation of town ordinances but contends that's not the real issue.

``I know I'm not in compliance,'' Blaisdell said Tuesday. ``But I don't see anyone else stepping forward to help these kids. I'm making a sacrifice, but the kids are having a ball. It all comes down to money. I had hoped to be able to raise enough money from drink sales and donations from the Outer Banks Skateboarding Association to do a little bit at a time until we were able to bring it into compliance.

``But unless someone comes along and provides the money for us, I'm going to have to move out of this place.''

Loy said at least two notices of noncompliance have been served on Backdoor since it opened last March - one in April, another in August.

``It would have been different if he had moved into the building and sold cabinets,'' he said. ``To us, we view it as a change of use for the occupants of the building. There has to be a site plan.''

In recent years, skateboarders have appeared before local governing boards asking for help in building a public skateboard park. Blaisdell said as many as 210 youngsters have used his 4,000-square-foot complex in a week. He plans to stay open at least one more week in hopes of a financial miracle. Without one, he will shut down, and move his skateboard shop to a U.S. 158 bypass location.

``I feel like the county and the towns need to do something for the sport,'' Blaisdell said. ``Kids see the `X Games' on ESPN and all that, and they want to get to that level. We have a couple of kids who go to Virginia and finish first or second in some big competitions. I'm trying to do something for the kids.''

Loy, however, said that while Blaisdell's goals are honorable, he's still in violation of local laws.

``I see a benefit to it,'' Loy said. ``But he's got to get into compliance.''

Blaisdell could face court costs if hit with a civil citation. Loy, however, said the town will seek no additional civil fines.

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