2/23/24: PLANNING BOARD APPROVES TOWN’S ZTA 24-01, WITH SUGGESTED CHANGES; TOWN WITHDRAWS PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON TREE REMOVAL, WILL DRAFT NEW ZTA. Planning Board Has Vacancy for Alternate.

Proposed ZTA 24-01 mandates a 50-foot setback and a 20-foot vegetative buffer between a commercial or mixed-use development and a planned unit development (PUD) on an adjacent property. It applies generally throughout town, but is specifically designed to protect the Southern Shores Landing, which is a PUD, from SAGA’s development of its Ginguite Creek property (above).

The Planning Board unanimously approved Wednesday zoning code changes recently proposed by the Town of Southern Shores, with the exception of an ordinance that would regulate tree removal on an unimproved lot—which Deputy Town Manager/Planning Director Wes Haskett announced was being withdrawn and redrafted in a separate zoning text amendment that “hopefully” would be considered by the Board at its March meeting.

The Board suggested some amendments to the Town-proposed Zoning Text Amendment 24-01, in order to make the language more precise, but it essentially accepted the ZTA, as written.

Apart from making changes emanating from the Board’s wide-ranging hearings last fall on SAGA’s Special Use Permit Application for its Ginguite Creek project, ZTA 24-01 updates the Town’s development ordinances to conform with new Chapter 160D of the N.C. General Statutes. Chapter 160D consolidates previous State statutes governing local land use and “modernizes” land use regulation in North Carolina.

See The Beacon, 2/18/24, for details on ZTA 24-01.

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the final version of ZTA 24-01 before voting on its enactment. The Planning Board serves only as an advisory board to the Council.

VACANCY ON THE PLANNING BOARD

First Alternate Dan Fink has resigned from the Planning Board. If you would like to be considered for an appointment to the Board to serve out Mr. Fink’s term, you must file an application with the Town.

For information about the Planning Board and an application, go to https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/page/2485/10-14-16-board-volunteer-application.pdf.

Planning Board members serve for three years; and terms run with the fiscal year calendar.

According to the Town of Southern Shores website, the term for the seat held by Mr. Fink expires on June 30. Whoever is appointed to his seat would likely serve out the current term and serve a three-year term starting on July 1.

All appointments to the Planning Board are made by the Town Council.

THE SOUTHERN SHORES BEACON, 2/23/24