Town manager updates projects; developer outlines Sea Witch site timeline

Town Manager Bruce Oakley gave a brief project update to the Carolina Beach Town Council, reporting delays on bollard procurement for Canal Drive, a planned October 7 bid date for the Saint Joseph Street multiuse path (pending NCDOT review), and a postponement of certain bridge and bathroom demo work until after the summer season.

Oakley said the AMI (automated meter-reading) contract has been finalized and installation of meters is expected to begin in September. "The contract's finalized... and then we should be, that should be underway in September," Oakley said when summarizing infrastructure work the town expects to start this fall.

Council members also followed up on a social-media post about the Sea Witch site. A council member (speaker 8) read a statement from Harmony Hospitality that described the development plan for a new hotel and pavilion. The statement noted demolition after the season and said construction documents were out for bid; it added that the developer's goal is to complete major construction phases to coincide with the start of the 2027 summer season to minimize disruption during peak tourism periods. The statement named Zachary Bridal as the general manager of Harmony Hospitality.

Council members and staff asked for a clear timeline and committed to sharing the developer's statement with residents. No formal action was taken; the report was informational and staff said they would continue to track permitting, encroachment agreements and construction schedules.