Nags Head shows schematic designs for estuarine shoreline pilots, schedules stakeholder meetings

Deputy Planning Director Joe Costello updated the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 6 on the Estuarine Shoreline Management Plan, saying the town has received preliminary schematic designs and a base design report for pilot sites and has completed modeling and data collection.

Costello said July work focused on data collection for pilot sites one and two (Nags Head Woods and Southside Road), and that staff would hold a stakeholder meeting at 1:00 p.m. the next day for affected property owners to review designs and provide feedback. He said the team will hold follow-up site visits and meet with permit agencies in a pre-application process to incorporate regulatory input.

Costello also reported the Harvey site (pilot site three) received full grant funding for construction; he said that parcel is owned by a federal agency and the county tourism board, which he said limits the public-process requirements for that site. When commissioners asked about construction timing, Costello estimated work at the Harvey site could proceed as early as next summer pending final contract and approvals.

What happens next: Staff will present stakeholder feedback and revised designs to the board after the meetings, pursue necessary permits and easements, and continue grant-seeking and design completion for sites one and two.

Provenance: The update and follow-up meeting details were presented by Joe Costello at the Aug. 6 meeting.