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Town places stop‑work order after primary dune at 3405 Ocean Drive is leveled
Summary
After public complaints, town staff said they identified two violations at 3405 Ocean Drive — a local dunes and vegetation ordinance breach and a CAMA primary-dune violation — issued a stop‑work order, will withhold a certificate of occupancy until restoration is complete and expect to levy fines.
The Board of Commissioners heard multiple public comments about damage to the dune field at 3405 Ocean Drive and heard from town staff that the town has placed a stop‑work order and begun enforcement actions.
A resident, Joel Dunn, told the board the site had been ‘‘leveling the dunes in front of a house’’ and urged the town to adopt methods to prevent future damage. Dwayne McDougall said he was ‘‘livid’’ over the dune removal and asked the town to hire code officers to address such violations.
Frank Rush, a town staff member, told the board the town had identified two separate violations at the property: a clear violation of the town’s dunes and vegetation protection ordinance and a violation of CAMA regulations governing primary dunes. Rush said the affected area was roughly "about 50 by 75" and that the primary dune at that location had effectively been demolished.
"We placed a stop work order on the project," Rush said. "We indicated that we will not issue a certificate of occupancy until the dune is restored in that area." He said staff are coordinating with the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management on restoration standards and are discussing fines under both the town ordinance and CAMA.
Rush told the board the town acted after a concerned citizen alerted staff and that the process — investigation, stop work, and coordination with state officials — is underway. He urged patience, saying restoration would take time and that the owner would face fines and restoration requirements before occupancy is allowed.
Several commissioners and members of the public urged the town to strengthen on‑site enforcement and staffing so similar breaches are detected earlier. The board did not take additional formal action beyond directing staff to continue enforcement and pursue fines and restoration consistent with state and local rules.
The town said it will provide updates as the restoration plan and penalties are finalized.
