During its Feb. 14 retreat, the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen will review and discuss its policy regulating dogs on the beach in response to a request by resident Tom Thompson in May 2014. Currently, dogs are prohibited on the beach strand between April 1 and Sept. 1 and required to be on a leash during the off-season.
Thompson researched dog regulations in nearby beach towns and found Wrightsville Beach’s rules to be restrictive in comparison. Only New Hanover County’s Kure Beach had a policy as strict as the one enforced by Wrightsville Beach, he told the planning board last May.
When Thompson presented his findings during that meeting, a major concern raised was the potential risk to bird and sea turtle nests. Wrightsville Beach Park Ranger Shannon Slocum said if a dog disturbs a sea turtle nest, the owner receives a $10,000 fine.
The aldermen will consider four options: leaving the ordinance as is, allowing dogs on a leash year round, allowing dogs on a leash during the mornings and evenings of summer months or allowing dogs off a leash during the off-season.
Public works director Mike Vukelich will update the board on the ongoing study by Groundwater Management Associates (GMA) that, together with input from an ad hoc committee of residents, will determine a long-term solution to the town’s water and sewer needs.
Vukelich will also provide new information on trihalomethane (THM) levels in the town’s water. The THM average levels in the third quarter, ending in September, caused a drinking water violation from the Environmental Protection Agency. As expected, THM levels remained in violation for the fourth quarter, but the first reading taken in January 2015 indicated levels were dropping.
“There’s two sites we’ve been focusing on because the state told us to focus on those areas,” town manager Tim Owens said during a Feb. 10 phone interview. “We’re flushing more now … hopefully we can correct the problem here shortly.”
The board will continue to discuss allocation of funds from a $292,000 Surface Transportation Project-Direct Apportionment (STP-DA) grant. The grant was originally intended to create a dual left turn from Waynick Boulevard to Causeway Drive, but when that plan was deemed impractical, the town explored the possibility of using part of the money to construct a sidewalk along Coral Drive. During a Nov. 13 public hearing, residents spoke on both sides of the issue. While the sidewalk would increase safety for children walking to Wrightsville Beach School, it would intrude into North Carolina Department of Transportation right-of-way that Coral Drive residents have come to consider part of their yards.
The board will discuss town staff’s recommendation to reallocate the STP-DA grant for a Coral Drive sidewalk and either return the remaining portion to the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization or use it for relatively minor pedestrian improvements in the downtown district.
Town staff’s recommendation states major improvements to the commercial districts should be a part of a long-term master development streetscape plan.
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