A public hearing on a Zoning Text Amendment submitted by the Southern Shores Civic Assn. to increase the maximum allowable height of fences around “community recreational facilities” from 6 feet to 10 feet will be held at the Town Council’s first meeting of the year tomorrow at 10 a.m., in the Kern Pitts Center behind Town Hall.
See the meeting agenda and packet here:
ZTA 25-06 seeks to amend Town Code section 36-97, an ordinance regulating walls and fences, not only to increase the maximum height of fences around community recreational facilities, but to require such fences to be constructed only of “see-through chain-link fabrication.”
“Community recreational facilities” are defined in Town Code section 36-57 as recreational facilities owned and operated by not-for-profit entities, that “are constructed for, open to, and available for use by members, property owners, and their guests.”
According to Planning Director/Deputy Town Manager Wes Haskett’s summary of the ZTA, which can be found in the Council’s meeting packet, the SSCA currently owns and operates nine community recreational facilities in town.
The SSCA is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting the interests and welfare of its members and their community and environment.
The Town Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of ZTA 25-06 at its Dec. 15 meeting.
This ZTA would seem to be an improvement at SSCA’s recreational facilities. If any resident thinks otherwise, we would appreciate hearing from you. Thank you.
PLEASE NOTE: Since last March, the Town Council has permitted only one public-comment period in its meetings, eliminating the long-held second public-comment period scheduled after all business has been heard and before its adjournment. The only public-comment period on the Council’s agenda now comes after special presentations and staff reports, but before the Council conducts “old” and “new” business.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS on Tuesday’s meeting agenda include:
- Introductions of the new staff at the Southern Shores Fire Dept. and members of the Fire Auxiliary Board;
- An overview of the events planned for the Outer Banks “A250 Initiative,” commemorating the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by Katelin Kight from the Dare County public relations department;
- An update on the 2027 beach nourishment project, to which the Town Council has yet to commit officially, by Town Manager Cliff Ogburn; and
- A quarterly financial report by Mr. Ogburn.
CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL
You may place your undecorated Christmas trees (no tinsel!) in your “limb and branch” pile in the public right-of-way for pickup during your regularly scheduled sector pickup. Wreaths are excluded from this collection.
In case you did not know, the Town is divided into four sectors. Each sector’s limb and branch collection lasts a week, and chippers alternate among the sectors from week-to-week. (In our experience, collection usually occurs on the first day of a sector’s week.)
To find out which sector your property is in, and when its next collection is scheduled, see the limb/branch collection calendar at https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/media/12991.
Happy New Year, everyone.
The Beacon will continue on indefinite hiatus in 2026, posting news updates when time permits.
By Ann G. Sjoerdsma, The Southern Shores Beacon, 1/5/26
The Southern Shores Beacon 