A request to increase fence height in the C-1 Central Business District in downtown Wrightsville Beach was unanimously denied by the Wrightsville Beach Planning Board.
Interpreted by Chairman Thomas “Ace” Cofer during the planning board’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting Tuesday, July 1, parking lot owners may be permitted increased fence heights in areas where there is no ingress and egress. As written, the ordinance already allows operators of private parking lots to increase fence heights along the Channel Avenue corridor that runs parallel to North Lumina Avenue.
Four members of the seven-member board comprised the voting quorum.
In discussion, Cofer, Susan Snider, David Culp and Ken Dull concurred approval of increased fence heights could result in enclosures that would in turn encourage debris accumulation and crime. Increased fence heights would not block views of conditions for residents of adjacent properties who have complained of unsightly conditions in recent weeks and would diminish aesthetics in the CBD.
The request for the text amendment was submitted by Jerry Allen Lachman, owner of Jerry Allen’s and co-owner of Roberts Market as a result of citizen-driven complaints about the condition of the fence and the degradation of the maintenance agreement conditional to the special use permit that allows Lachman and other downtown merchants to operate private lots.
In a 3-1 vote, Cofer was the lone supporter of a conditional use request for a mixed-use project proposed for 100 West Salisbury Street on Lees Cut and Kenan Creek. Town staff supports the project that complies with the 2005 CAMA Land Use Plan and the town’s Unified Development Ordinance.
Applicant Jay Short representing M&M Developers, Inc., site planner Cindee Wolf of Dezign Solutions and Realtor Mark Bodford of Intracoastal Realty presented the proposal for the 9,100-square-foot project of which 49 percent is reserved for three 1,500-square-foot residential units and 51 percent for three custom retail/office spaces. To move forward, an exception for 10 parking spaces requiring the additional burden of parking falling on the availability of public parking spaces on Pelican Drive. The distance, 400 feet, is allowable as the ordinance is written, however, Culp noted the parking exception granted to another mixed use project resulted in the overlap of permissible public parking spaces at the Middle of the Island and Mellow Mushroom locations on Old Causeway Drive.
Wolf pointed to the drivability and walkability of the site plan. Bodford suggested possible tenants would operate low-impact satellite offices on the first floor level. No mention was made regarding the remediation or removal of underground fuel storage tanks at the site of the former Scotchman gas station and convenience store.
Dull moved for an unfavorable recommendation.
“We only have so many more opportunities at the beach to do something exceptional and this is not it,” Dull said.
Culp moved a second. Snider was reluctant to pass on a favorable recommendation without the additional review of absentee members Janice Clark, Andy Hall and Vivian “Zeke” Partin. The planning board’s unfavorable recommendation will pass to the board of aldermen for a final review.
Tom Thompson presented a proposal to relax restrictions for dogs on the beach. Planning and parks director Tony Wilson said the BOA would determine if it wished to assemble an ad hoc committee to look into Thompson’s request which was supported by beach resident and parks and recreation advisory committee member Charlotte Murchison.
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