Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents tell commissioners a former golf course was 'completely wiped out,' urge review of clearing approvals
Summary
Several Hatteras Island residents told the Dare County Board of Commissioners they saw wholesale clearing of trees, dunes and ponds at a former golf course converted to a large campground, asked the board to review permit approvals and compliance with ordinance 160.27(A), and warned of flood, traffic and wildlife impacts.
At the board’s public‑comment period, a string of Hatteras Island residents pressed county officials to investigate a recent large‑scale clearing at the site of the former golf course on Robin Lane that is being developed as a campground.
Wes Lasser, who identified himself as a longtime resident of Hatteras Island and the Outer Banks, said the site’s trees and dunes had been removed and asked the board to explain what approvals authorized the clearing and how the county has evaluated compliance with ordinance 160.27(A), which requires preservation of natural terrain, drainage, topsoil, trees and vegetation. “It’s completely wiped out,” Lasser said, urging commissioners to review topographical and drone photos and to consider the clearing’s possible effects on flooding and property values.
Other speakers described the same scene. Victoria Phelps, who lives on Robin Lane, said the changes appeared to differ from what had been proposed and expressed concern about increased road flooding and pressure on narrow intersections if the campground draws larger vehicles. Joanie Jackson said the two on‑site ponds had been filled and that she had observed wildlife displaced and sea‑oats removed. “They just pushed dirt down — I don’t know where the turtles went,” Jackson said.
Susan Meyers, an attendee who identified a background in environmental engineering and nursing, urged the county to consider revoking permits until the developer demonstrates compliance. She raised both shoreline‑protection and public‑safety concerns and told the board she believed federal rules protect some dune vegetation, saying local removal may also violate state or federal law.
Commissioners did not take immediate action during the public‑comment period; staff later moved into other agenda items. The speakers asked the board to explain which approvals authorized the clearing, what inspections or compliance checks had been made, and whether permits had been conditioned on preserving dunes, sea‑oats and natural drainage.
What happens next: Several residents asked the board to investigate and report back. Commissioners did not announce a specific follow‑up at the meeting, but county staff later raised related land‑use and shoreline topics during the agenda; residents can expect to receive staff responses as the county reviews permits and any enforcement history.
Why it matters: The complaints highlight tensions that often follow conversion of sensitive coastal parcels to higher‑density recreational uses—issues that combine permitting, shoreline protection, public‑safety planning and traffic engineering. The public explicitly asked for documentation of approvals and an assessment of whether the work complied with the county code provision they cited.
