Nags Head board reorganizes, adopts crowd-gathering changes and approves land-use items

The Town of Nags Head Board of Commissioners convened Dec. 3, 2025, sworn in newly elected members and reorganized leadership before taking several administrative and land-use actions.

The board began by administering oaths of office to newly elected officials, seating new commissioners and electing Commissioner Lambert as mayor pro tem. The board also adopted a resolution establishing a code of ethics for the commission dated Dec. 3, 2025.

In land-use business the board approved a text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance updating flood-damage prevention freeboard requirements after a staff presentation that described the change as a technical correction. Planning Director Kelly Wyatt recommended approval "as it's been presented," saying staff and the planning board reviewed the proposal and found it aligned with town standards. The board approved the amendment by voice vote.

In a quasi-judicial hearing the board approved a vested-right special-use/site-plan amendment for the Nags Head Church at 105 West Soundside Road. Wyatt said staff recommended approval and that the application provides 42 additional parking spaces while complying with lot-cover, permeable-surface and landscaping requirements. An Albemarle & Associates representative said the plan is the same as the plan approved in May 2023, and the board moved to approve "with the findings of fact" incorporated into the motion.

The board also adopted revisions to the crowd-gathering and group-demonstration ordinance after staff outreach to parade organizers, political groups and tourism stakeholders. Key changes the board approved in a motion include reduced notice windows for small group demonstrations, a waiver of the insurance requirement for group demonstrations as defined in the ordinance, and a reduction of the group-demonstration permit fee to $25. The board amended the Dowdy Park policy to cap non-town off-season events at three per month. Staff emphasized the changes were intended to balance public safety, equity of park access and free-speech considerations; Andy, the staff presenter, said, "We said it last month that it's hard to write a perfect ordinance the first time, and we found that out." The motion adopting the ordinance as amended passed by voice vote.

On finance and capital matters Deputy Manager/Finance Officer Miller provided a quarterly financial update; staff projected shared revenues about $70,000 over budget (land-transfer tax up 14% year-over-year, occupancy tax down about 2%) and described a $3 million balance in the capital investment fund. Public-works staff and the planning team reviewed capital-improvement projects that are underway or planned across town.

Beach-nourishment bids and next steps were a major agenda item. Staff reported receipt of competitive bids for a large nourishment project and said the low bidder for a 2026 construction window was Weekes Marine. Staff noted the town will discuss the fall-survey results and financing at a mid-month workshop before any awarding decision in January.

The board authorized staff to pursue reimbursable agreements with NCDOT to design and install pedestrian/traffic signals at Lakeside and at the Soundside event-site entrance, conditioned on an agreement from the visitors bureau on a proposed cost-share. The board also approved appointments to the planning board and confirmed nominations to county boards. A $200 holiday bonus for full-time employees and $100 for part-time employees was approved by motion.

The board met in closed session on confidential personnel and litigation matters, including Cherry Incorporated litigation, and returned to open session with a summary statement from the town attorney that some actions were taken in closed session.

Votes at a glance (voice votes unless noted): - Code of ethics resolution: adopted (motion, second; voice vote). - Flood-damage prevention UDO text amendment: approved (motion, second; voice vote). - Nags Head Church vested-right special-use/site-plan amendment: approved (motion to approve with findings of fact; voice vote). - Crowd-gathering and group-demonstration ordinance (amendments): adopted as amended (motion to waive insurance for group demonstrations, reduce fee to $25, and cap three off-season non-town events at Dowdy Park; voice vote). - Employee holiday bonus: approved (motion, second; voice vote).

The board scheduled a mid-month meeting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 17 for additional briefing on beach-nourishment financing and survey results.