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Wrightsville Beach
Friday, March 29, 2024

Joint board meets, raises fresh set of issues

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The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen and the Wrightsville Beach Planning Board held a joint workshop Oct. 28 to discuss improvements to crosswalks on Waynick Boulevard and the initial phases of appealing FEMA’s preliminary flood zone maps, among other issues.

Town manager Tim Owens presented an image illustrating changes to several crosswalks on Waynick Boulevard to make them more visible to motorists. The improvements included yield signs on either side of the crosswalk.

Alderwomen Lisa Weeks and Elizabeth King voiced concerns about crosswalks at the intersection of Waynick Boulevard and Causeway Drive. Weeks said there is a blind spot where motorists making a right turn onto Waynick Boulevard could not see pedestrians crossing the street.

“I’ve seen so many people almost get hit there,” Weeks said.

Owens said vegetation has been removed in that area, helping to improve visibility.

Board members also discussed the future of the mixed-use properties located in the central business district. Sue Bullock, representing the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce, addressed board members’ concerning the future of the district in the event of a catastrophic occurence.

“There are many issues that could face us with that downtown area if we’re not proactive,” Bulluck said. “We’re not ready as a town to act on the request of the people who own those buildings. … If you really look at those conditional-use permits and how they all exist you will find a mish-mash of parking requirements and building materials.”

Bullock suggested a committee be formed, made up of residents, planning board members, aldermen and business owners to develop a master plan for the downtown district.

Fishing off the public docks at Wynn Plaza was an issue brought to aldermen’s attention by planning board members. Owens pointed out there were competing interests at the docks, with people trying to fish and others attempting to dock their boats to visit town businesses.

Mayor Bill Blair asked the planning board to look carefully at the issue and come up with a solution that was, most importantly, consistent town-wide.

Board members once again addressed FEMA’s preliminary flood zone maps, proceeding cautiously in what Owens referred to as phase one of appealing the maps.

“I’ve talked with some people in Maine and Massachusetts who have actually appealed these flood zone maps,” Owens said. “I’d like you guys to consider just sending out this RFP . . . just to see if we have an appeal here.”

Owens said he should receive the RFP (request for proposals) by Nov. 24 and by December have recommendations. The initial phases of challenging FEMA’s data and appealing the maps would cost around $15,000, Owens said.

“$15,000 could be one resident’s savings if they went from VE to AE,” Weeks pointed out.

The board voted unanimously to send out the RFP.

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