Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Environment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge review after massive clearing at former golf course on Hatteras Island
Summary
Several Hatteras Island residents told the Dare County commissioners that a new campground developed on the former golf-course site on Robin Lane appears to have stripped dunes, trees and sea oats and may violate county ordinance 160.27(A). They asked the county to explain approvals and consider revoking permits until compliance is verified.
Longtime Outer Banks residents told the Dare County Board of Commissioners on June 9 that recent clearing on the former golf-course parcel near Robin Lane has left the site denuded and raised flood and wildlife-protection concerns.
"The whole place was completely wiped out," said Wes Lasser, a Hatteras Island resident who said the removal included trees and dune vegetation and has altered historic drainage. Lasser asked the board to explain what permits authorized the work and how compliance with ordinance 160.27(A) — which requires preservation of natural terrain, drainage, topsoil, trees and natural vegetation “to the maximum extent” — was evaluated.
Robin Lane residents said the impacts are already measurable. "They've ripped everything down," said Victoria Phelps, who said she and neighbors are worried about sea-turtle nesting, increased flooding and added traffic from what she described as an unexpectedly large campground build-out. Joanie Jackson, who said she has watched the view from her backyard for 50 years, told commissioners the developer had closed ponds and pushed dirt into wet areas, removing sea oats and other stabilizing vegetation.
Susan Meyers, who identified herself as an environmental engineer and nurse, urged the county to consider rescinding permits until the developer demonstrates compliance. "What are we going to do about this problem that has been permitted but not regulated?" she asked, citing sand migration onto private property and potential violations of federal protections for dune vegetation.
Commissioners did not take immediate action at the meeting but heard consistent calls during the public-comment period for county staff to inspect the site, explain approval documents, and report back. Staff have not released a formal enforcement action in the meeting transcript; residents asked the board to review approvals and provide clarity at a future agenda.
The comments will be included in the record for any subsequent planning- or enforcement review. The chair advised that the matter could be examined through established permitting and enforcement channels and that staff would follow up if violations were identified.
