The Town of Southern Shores is seeking residents and property owners who are interested in serving on the Bike & Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee that is being formed to help develop a plan for a walking and bicycling network in town.
If you are interested in applying for one of the four community member positions on the committee, which may have as many as 16 members, you must fill out the form at:
and either return it in person to Town Hall or send it to Town Hall by email at info@southernshores.nc-gov or mail at Town of Southern Shores, 5375 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Southern Shores, NC 27949. The deadline for submission is Nov. 20.
As The Beacon explained on 11/1/26, the N.C. Dept. of Transportation’s Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) has awarded the Town a grant of between $50,000 and $60,000 to develop a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian network plan.
The IMD has advised all municipalities receiving such a planning grant to establish a steering committee “to guide development of the plan, provide local knowledge, and assist with public engagement and project prioritization.” (See our report on 11/1/26 for more details.)
One of the members of the committee will be an IMD representative who will serve as a consultant.
According to a release posted on the Town website today, “The plan will focus on creating a safe, connected, accessible and resilient network for walking and bicycling throughout Southern Shores. The goal is to improve connections [among] neighborhoods, schools, parks, commercial areas, beach access points and regional trails. The planning process will identify potential infrastructure improvements, policy recommendations, programs and implementation strategies to make walking and bicycling safer and more convenient while supporting public health, tourism and quality of life.”
Town Manager Cliff Ogburn has said previously that the steering committee will likely meet about four times.
To repeat, you will find the one-page application at https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1524/Town-of-Southern-Shores-Bicycle-and-Pedestrian-Committee. The deadline for submitting a completed form to Town Hall is Nov. 20.
TOWN COUNCIL, PLANNING BOARD APPROVE ENTRY CORRIDOR PLAN
In a related item, the Town Council and Town Planning Board unanimously approved last Wednesday (Nov. 4) the Entry Corridor Enhancement Committee’s Phase Two Plan, which consists of recommendations and implementation strategy for improving the appearance, safety, environment, and business interests of the 1.6-mile “corridor” along U.S. Hwy. 158 and N.C. Hwy. 12 into town.
According to Mayor Pro Tem Matt Neal, who chaired the Entry Corridor Enhancement Committee and presented the Phase Two Plan last week, the corridor consists of 30 parcels of land and 3 percent of the total real property in Southern Shores.
The Town is not a significant property owner; it only owns the land at the Town Hall complex.
Interestingly, Mr. Neal advised, the right-of-way running along U.S. Hwy. 158 on the Southern Shores “side,” where the Marketplace is, is owned by the Town of Kitty Hawk. That means the multiuse pathways on the north side are under Kitty Hawk’s jurisdiction.
Thus far, meetings with Kitty Hawk representatives about corridor enhancement have been favorable, according to Mr. Neal and Mayor Elizabeth Morey.
You may access the Phase Two Plan at: https://www.southernshores-nc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1511/10-26-2026-TOSS-Entry-Corridor-Enhancement-Plan.
(We apologize if we provided a link to an older version of the plan in our 11/1/26 post. We posted the only plan link we could find on the Town website at the time.)
Among the quick changes to the corridor that members of the Entry Corridor Committee, the Town Council, and the Planning Board discussed making were the installation of banners “introducing the town” on the north side of U.S. 158 (subject to the permission of Kitty Hawk and Dominion Power) and the creation of a “pocket park” between the entry to Duck Woods Drive and a nearby pond or elsewhere.
The Southern Shores Civic Assn. owns the land on either side of the entry to Duck Woods Drive, so it would have to consent to this use and be involved in the park’s maintenance, unless it made other contractual arrangements with the Town.
The Entry Corridor Enhancement Committee’s plan is quite comprehensive. The Committee organized its recommendations around seven goals:
- Unified building and sign standards
- More landscaping and green space
- Housing choices that fit the Town’s character
- Stronger community engagement
- Economic development that reflects local values
- Better sidewalks and bike access
- Ongoing yearly reviews so the plan stays active
We refer you to pages 43-44 for an “Implementation Matrix” of recommended actions. The actions are distinguished as short-term (six to 12 months); mid-term (one to three years); and long-term (three or more years).
The plan is non-binding. Any actions proposed for implementation would have to be approved by the Town Council.
SOUTHERN SHORES BY THE NUMBERS
A new videotape, featuring Town Councilman Rob Neilson and Town Manager Ogburn, has just premiered that explores the Town’s budgetary process.
Titled “Southern Shores by the Numbers,” you can watch it on You Tube at:
or find it on the Town website at:
You can find the numbers for the fiscal year 2026-27 in a still shot at:
The town reportedly has a population of 3090 people.
By Ann G. Sjoerdsma, The Southern Shores Beacon, 11/10/26
