Reminder: Public Hearing set for Avon Beach Nourishment Project on June 7
The Dare County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. on June 7, 2021, to consider the proposed county service districts related to the Avon Beach Nourishment Project.
In recent years, N.C. Highway 12 in Avon is often closed from ocean overwash, sometimes for extended periods of time, creating severe disruptions to the life, health, safety, and welfare of the residents and visitors on Hatteras Island. In addition, homes and infrastructure on the oceanside of Highway 12 are often flooded, damaged, and at risk of destruction.
As a result, and in order to minimize future road closures in Avon, the Dare County Board of Commissioners enlisted Coastal Science and Engineering to perform a study in 2020 to determine the feasibility of a beach nourishment project in Avon. The study found the project to be feasible, and the county began the process to design and permit the project.
The project cost is an estimated $12,684,358, which equates to $12.68 per cubic yard of sand. The project will be funded from a combination of funds from the Dare County Beach Nourishment Fund, and from revenues generated by two county service districts: Service District A will include all properties in Avon on the oceanside of Highway 12, from Due East Road to Avon’s northern border. Service District B will include all properties in Avon.
For legal reasons, the service district alignment is slightly different than what was discussed at the previous public hearings, but will result in the same revenue generation and the same net cost to the taxpayer.
The proposed tax would be a total of 25 cents per $100 dollars, or 5 cents per $100 dollars of the property’s Dare County tax value, based on where the property is located in Avon.
So, for example, using the rates set out in the original proposal, (25 cents for properties east of Highway 12 and south of Due East Road, and 5 cents for properties west of Highway 12), under the new service district alignment, the properties east of Highway 12 and south of Due East Road would now pay 20 cents as the Service District A tax. Every property on either side of Highway 12 in Avon would pay the Service District B tax of 5 cents.
The result is the properties east of Highway 12 and south of Due East Road would be members of both service districts and their tax rate would be 20 cents for District A + 5 cents for District B, totaling 25 cents, as previously discussed. Avon properties west of Highway 12 would be members of District B only, and their rate would remain at 5 cents, just as before.
Per North Carolina General Statutes, in order to establish the service districts, the Dare County Board of Commissioners must hold a public hearing on the proposed districts. Prior to the public hearing, a report must be prepared containing: (1) a map of the proposed districts, showing their proposed boundaries; (2) a statement showing that the districts meet the standards set out in Section 153A-302 (a); and (3) a plan for providing the services.
As such, the Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed county service districts related to the Avon beach nourishment project on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 954 Marshall Collins Dr., Manteo, NC 27954
In compliance with Section 153A-302(b) and prior to the public hearing, Dare County has also provided the following information:
- Maps of the proposed districts, showing their proposed boundaries are attached as Exhibits A and B
- A statement showing the districts meet the standards set out in Section 153A-302(a).
Public comments may be presented to the Board in person. The meeting is available on the County’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/darecounty.
The project will cost a lot more than what is being disclosed because the tax % based on property values in Avon (which are surging), the % can be raised by the BOC at anytime once the MSD is established and its duration is set till the end of time. Bobby Outtan (who nets 200k+ a year annually) has found a new revenue source for Dare at the expense of Avon that is being disguised by this short term beach nourishment project for a small stretch of land. Southern Shores stopped the maddness that hectried to establish there with the voice of its people standing up against this crazy illegal and unconstitutional tax. Write the BOC b-4 June 7th w/ a clear vote against Beach Nourishment in Avon and you can stop this insane tax too.
Why are we subsidizing the oceanfront owners who get to give up a pittance ($2500/million in value). For those homes that might be 1/2 or 1/3 of a week of revenue. The only fair options are to let them fall or let the oceanfront homeowners foot all of the bill.
When the road becomes a serious issue the state will address it. By doing this Dare County is accepting responsibility for the road, which could set precedence or allow the state to shuffle priorities knowing the county will pay.
Taxation of a few that supports the many? I seriously doubt the majority of land owners voted for this. Even as just a visitor of the Outer Banks, I know this to be wrong. I’m more than willing to see a fair way to pay my share of the support of keeping 12 open. If the main reason of the beach nourishment tax is to truly keep 12 open, then tax those traveling on 12. I’m all for a toll road! Or does that too much sense? Sigh…
** Or does that make too much sense?**