Hyde County to hold hearing on Ocracoke ordinance

April 30, 2020 | Local News | From The: Ocracoke Observer

A proposed amendment to the Ocracoke Development Ordinance would allow for the steeple of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church to exceed the building height maximum. Photo: C. Leinbach

The Hyde County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday (May 4) on two proposed amendments to the Ocracoke Development Ordinance.

The Ocracoke Advisory Planning Board had approved two amendments at their Feb. 11 meeting.

The first amendment would add church steeples to the list of accessory structures on buildings (antennae; weather vanes) so that the United Methodist Church does not violate the ODO when the church building is raised. Hurricane Dorian flooded the church, which, is being rebuilt as well as being raised.

The planning board also approved extending the rebuild time to 365 days for nonconforming village structures from the time of removal or demolition. Currently, the ordinance says six months from removal, but Wilson argued that it should be extended in light of the slow pace of rebuilding happening on the island.

Ocracoke’s county commissioner Tom Pahl said Wednesday that this hearing is a redo because proper public notice hadn’t been given about it, according to the Hyde County solicitor.

The hearing will be held prior to the monthly county commissioners’ meeting in the Hyde County Government Center and in the Ocracoke Community Center following social distancing guidelines.

Comments may be directed now until the meeting to Lois Stotesberry at lstotesberry@hydecountync.gov or 252-926-4178.

The Ocracoke Development Ordinance can be viewed here.