Dare County OKs special-use permit for 22-site travel-trailer park in East Lake with storm, occupancy and lease conditions

The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a special-use permit Tuesday for a 22-site travel-trailer park on U.S. Highway 64 in East Lake, subject to added conditions requiring highway-ready trailers, limits on consecutive stays, no subleasing and a written storm-evacuation plan.

The permit, filed as SUP 7-2024 for property owned by Jimmy and Dana Summerall at 19143 Highway 64, covers 2.74 acres and proposes 22 travel-trailer sites with on-site septic systems, a bathhouse, parking and a pond designated for firefighting. Planning staff told the board the parcel meets the Dare County travel-trailer park ordinance minimum lot size and that three existing on-site septic systems will be used with one new system to be installed.

County planning staff presented the site plan and required state permits, noting that the site will trigger state stormwater and sedimentation controls and that the Dare County Fire Marshal and Public Works reviewed the layout. County staff also said a recombination plat will be required to separate the existing single-family dwelling from the park property.

Commissioners explored operational and safety details during the quasi-judicial hearing. Board members asked how the county would ensure trailers remained “highway ready” — wheels, tongue and license tag intact — so they could be evacuated quickly; whether occupants could sign up for consecutive years; how occupancy limits would be enforced; whether short-term rentals (for example through VRBO) would be allowed; and how driveway access to U.S. 64 would be handled.

The applicant and their representative said trailer leases would be required, the operator would be responsible for enforcing conditions and removing noncompliant trailers, and a NCDOT driveway permit would be obtained to address ingress and egress. The board added explicit conditions during the hearing requiring: (1) no subleasing of sites; (2) a lease provision requiring compliance with the park’s storm-evacuation procedures and that trailers be removed when an evacuation order is issued; (3) trailers must remain highway ready while sited year-round; (4) a 90-consecutive-day limit on stays so units are not used as permanent dwellings; (5) no additional decks or appurtenances except a 100-square-foot entrance landing; (6) a 6-foot privacy fence or, where possible, a vegetative buffer agreed with staff; (7) a storm-response/evacuation plan prepared by the park owner and made part of tenant agreements; and (8) compliance with Dare County’s travel-trailer park ordinance and the site plan as submitted.

Chairman Bob Woodard and other commissioners also pressed the applicant on safety at the highway frontage and the width of access drives to prevent jackknifed trailers on the public road; the applicant said site layout and septic siting were designed to keep trailer parking back from the right of way and that NCDOT driveway review would govern final driveway geometry.

After discussing the added conditions and receiving the applicant’s consent to include them in the permit, Vice Chair Steve House moved to approve the SUP and a second was recorded. The board voted unanimously to approve SUP 7-2024 with the conditions attached to the permit.

The permit approval requires the applicant to submit a recombination plat, obtain required state permits for stormwater and sediment control, secure NCDOT driveway approval, and construct the bathhouse with an additional on-site wastewater system. The board’s action does not authorize construction beyond those conditions and permits; further permits and inspections remain required.

Speakers at the hearing who were recorded in the transcript included Planning Director Noah (planning staff), property owners Jimmy and Dana Summerall (applicants), Vice Chair Steve House (mover), Commissioner Michael Bateman (second and questioner), and Chairman Bob Woodard. The file was entered into evidence with applicant consent during the quasi-judicial proceeding.

The board’s formal motion and unanimous vote place enforceable conditions on the special-use permit; compliance will be enforced through building, health and zoning reviews and through the lease and operational responsibilities placed on the park operator.

Notes: The SUP approval was recorded as unanimous; the applicant agreed to the conditions and to provide required plans and permits. The permit includes provisions intended to preserve evacuation ability and to prevent the site from becoming permanent residential housing.