THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9501260387
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTIC BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Those eight-foot-tall walls of black sandbags stacked along sections of the Dare County coast could become a thing of the past under rule changes scheduled for debate this afternoon.
But some oceanfront property owners who have been prohibited from installing sandbags may be allowed to do so under a provision in the proposed rule changes. If passed, that provision would allow property owners to protect their septic tanks with sandbags.
Meeting today in Atlantic Beach, the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission could vote as early as this afternoon to change state rules. But most coastal observers expect the debate to spill over to the panel's March meeting.
The issues - whether to impose additional restrictions on the use of sandbags along beaches and whether to weaken the state's stance against hardened structures to protect beaches from erosion - have attracted more attention than any other coastal issues, according to some state coastal regulators.
Most coastal residents and others who have written the Division of Coastal Management about the proposals have said sandbags should be allowed to stay in place along the coast to prevent homes from tumbling into the ocean.
But most who have written also oppose weakening the state's ban on bulkheads, jetties and the like which are said to help protect the beach from erosion.
Property owners at three oceanfront condominium developments in Dare County are among about three dozen people who have written the division opposing the rule change.
``The idea of `letting nature take its course' is irrelevant and has been so since the first development began,'' wrote Ronald T. Moore, a member of the Wellington By the Sea Condominium Association. ``Many people are especially sensitive over the fact that a government agency is trying to tell them when and if they can protect their property.''
But one Wilmington resident was among about a dozen people writing the division who disagrees with that idea and supports the proposed rules.
``I think that control of sandbags is very important and I very much support limiting the length of time that they can remain in use,'' wrote Dean Weber of Wilmington.
The proposed changes in the rules governing the use of sandbags were intended to clarify the length of time and conditions under which they could be used to protect beachfront property.
While current regulations prohibit the use of sandbags to protect septic tanks and drainage fields, the proposed rules would allow such sandbag protection - if the tanks cannot be moved.
Current rules say sandbags are intended to afford temporary protection to give property owners time to move endangered buildings. The rules do not, however, specify a length of time that the sandbags can remain in place.
The proposed rules would allow sandbags to remain in front of single-family homes or buildings smaller than 5,000 square feet for two years. Sandbags would be allowed to remain for five years in front of larger buildings.
If the commission approves the changes, they would take effect April 1.
Clifford G. Blakely III, president of the Sea Rand Hotel, wrote that if the commission adopts a proposed five-year, one-time limit on the use of sandbags, local governments should be instructed to offer tax relief to affected property owners.
``If this is adopted, I would strongly suggest that the board offer guidelines to county and municipal governments as to how they should reduce the tax rolls of the (a)ffected properties in subsequent years,'' Blakely wrote.
But other coastal residents say owners of beachfront property should be prepared to take their chances with Mother Nature.
``An `old timer' told me many years ago to never purchase oceanfront property unless you are prepared to lose it,'' wrote Walter Bridges Jr., who lives on North Carolina's southern coast. ``Sandbags are temporary, ugly and at times actually cause damage to adjacent property.
``These bags should be a `one time' effort,'' Bridges wrote.
The proposed rule changes are the result of a year-long study.
In recent years, as the surf has crept closer to beachfront property, sandbags have become a familiar sight along the northeastern North Carolina coast.
Last year, many residents along the northeastern North Carolina coast, including one surfing organization, objected to the long-term use of sandbags along the beach. And Division of Coastal Management staff members said much of the state's policy on the use of sandbags was too vague to be enforced. by CNB