4WD Access to Currituck Beaches in Jeopardy

[emorth]

Greetings!


ACCESS ALERT *** RESPOND TODAY *** URGENT


Once again, we are being threatened with access restrictions to the beaches of North Carolina.


Currituck County is planning to adopt an ordinance that will require all non-residents to purchase a permit to park on the beaches north of Corolla. The 10-day permit will cost $50.00 and an Annual Permit will cost $150.00, as it stands at this date.


There is a State Right-of-Way north of Corolla for Route 12 across the beach to the Virginia Line. Currituck County has acknowledged this in previous attempts to close the beaches to visitors.


They are now trying to restrict access by requiring a Parking Permit for those who want to stop along this State Right-of-Way. There is also the possibility that Currituck County will exempt ALL Currituck County Residents from this permit requirement, as they have in other regulations, such as 4-wheeler restrictions.


There has been little disclosure of this proposed action which could take place as early as the Board of Commissioners Meeting on February 19, 2018.


The media has been the only source of information about this action.


Under North Carolina law, a county can set their meeting schedule in January and not put it on their public calendar for the rest of the year, with the exception of special or called meetings which require public notice.


Since this proposed ordinance is classified as a "police matter" it does not require a public hearing.


Because of this, the Currituck County staff and the Commissioners are fine tuning this ordinance behind closed doors as I write this.


The only input you will have is to email your concerns to:

• the County Commissioners at: commissioners@currituckcounty.gov
• the State Representative in the House for District 1 at: Bob.Steinburg@ncleg.net
• and to the State Senator for District 1 at: Bill.Cook@ncleg.net

I urge you to question the right of the county to restrict access, especially along a State Right-of-Way for Route 12 and their right to restrict parking on state property.


You do not have to be a resident of Currituck or North Carolina to address this issue!


You may address it as a visitor and how it may affect your future visits and expenditures for goods and services in Currituck County. Remember to point out that this area's economy is based on tourism.

Please get involved! Send your comments by email today to the addresses listed above!


Thank you!

Bill Smith, NCBBA President

Thank You for your support!




Sincerely,
Janice Regan
North Carolina Beach Buggy Association

 

[stevezero]

Wonder how many cancelled vacations it will take before that $50.00 or $150.00 fee is deemed bad juju. Wonder how many residents will remember that at the polls next election day? Thats a potential huge hit to the county's economy, and if/when it backfires, its gonna backfire bigtime

 

[k3pack]

Just look at what it has done to Ocracoke and Hatteras. While I know there are studies that have been conducted to provide factual data, I can tell you that anecdotally we have reduced the amount of trips we take there per year because of the added cost and hassle from permits, closures and unnecessarily large buffers to nesting birds.

 

[erymer]

Wonder how many cancelled vacations it will take before that $50.00 or $150.00 fee is deemed bad juju. Wonder how many residents will remember that at the polls next election day? Thats a potential huge hit to the county's economy, and if/when it backfires, its gonna backfire bigtime

well I know I don't go to the southern beaches for a couple reasons and this is one of them. My annual spring break trip is in the northern end of Carova near the VA border. Being able to drive to a less busy spot and park is part of the draw to going.

 

[stevezero]

and how would they patrol the right of way to enforce this? Now youre talking vehicles, staff, computers, radios, fuel, etc etc etc. How many "permits" and "tickets" will it take to pay for itself?

 

[k3pack]

and how would they patrol the right of way to enforce this? Now youre talking vehicles, staff, computers, radios, fuel, etc etc etc. How many "permits" and "tickets" will it take to pay for itself?

Again, I am in no way an expert on this, but in the early years of of the permits I was told by a parks employee that most if not all of the revenue generated from the permits were spent on implementing and enforcement. They had to set up new trailers, staff employees, signage, etc.

Perhaps this has changed now that most of the upfront costs are accounted for, and it is essentially just enforcing the law. Who knows, but I will tell you I was hot when I found that out.

 

[erymer]

and how would they patrol the right of way to enforce this? Now youre talking vehicles, staff, computers, radios, fuel, etc etc etc. How many "permits" and "tickets" will it take to pay for itself?

exactly. Curious as a renter of a house up there if we would be alloted passes. Otherwise the 5 family have to pay $250 combined. $50 is not a big deal but when you factor in the cost of the house it definitely needs to be considered. Granted I would not complain about less traffic up there. I would just like to see an educational course to train the folks who have no clue how to drive on the sand. But that's probably off topic.

 

[RedHeadedStepChild]

You are all assuming the town fathers are concerned about revenue.
They may just want to keep the beaches to themselves. I grew up in a place where a few towns only allowed beach access to town residents.

 

[stevezero]

The problem with educational courses is people either have to watch a video, or they have to attend a class in person. Imagine taking an hour out of your drive to your vacation destination to attend a scheduled course, BEFORE you can get your permit to drive on the beach. How many of us bolt after work on friday and arrive late at night? Unless its an online course, you have to schedule to be there during hours for the course.


But here is where its different for Currituck. The beach/road is the north end of Hwy 12, a state hwy. I would think there would be a legal challenge on how a county can restrict access on a state hwy.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

exactly. Curious as a renter of a house up there if we would be alloted passes. Otherwise the 5 family have to pay $250 combined. $50 is not a big deal but when you factor in the cost of the house it definitely needs to be considered. Granted I would not complain about less traffic up there. I would just like to see an educational course to train the folks who have no clue how to drive on the sand. But that's probably off topic.

You mean like this?

Casualties of war

 

[erymer]

You mean like this?

Casualties of war

Such fond memories. Lol

 

[JohnVee]

You are all assuming the town fathers are concerned about revenue.
They may just want to keep the beaches to themselves. I grew up in a place where a few towns only allowed beach access to town residents.

That was my first thought. I'm not the only greedy person around. Nobody wants outsiders spoiling their good thing. 80's movies taught me nothing if not that.

 

[S4Cruiser]

You are all assuming the town fathers are concerned about revenue.
They may just want to keep the beaches to themselves. I grew up in a place where a few towns only allowed beach access to town residents.

That was my first thought. I'm not the only greedy person around. Nobody wants outsiders spoiling their good thing. 80's movies taught me nothing if not that.

I was also leaning toward thinking this as being the real motivation...however, the residents have forgotten that access to their beach houses is via a state road. It's not a private beach / island so either suck it up and enjoy it for what makes it what it is or move your ass to figure 8 island or some other gated ritzy place filled with superdouches .

 

[onemanarmy]

wow. that article is super vague.

parking on the beach? So that means anyone that owns or rents a house up there is not affected? Or even if you do, you can't stop or park while on the way to your house? can only park once over the dunes? What if I want to just drive, not stop/park?

I'd be fine with 'no parking'...lots of idiots up there stopping in the middle of what really is a road..can't just stop for a picnic on I95.

However, this is another super small cut, that will eventually result in even more restrictive access.

thanks for posting @emorth

 

[Trollhole]

Something tells me the access fee will be included in the rental fee. I agree it’s a state road but it is also an area that requires a lot of maintenance. One good storm and the beach will be gone with no access to the houses. I agree it sucks to have a fee but if it means better access and service I’m down. I’m glad we still have the beach. I’d like to hear more about The whole plan before I say nay nay to our senators.