THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150425
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
A Roanoke Island auto repair shop owner is violating county zoning ordinances by having his shop in a residential area, a county board has affirmed.
The Dare County Board of Adjustment upheld, 9-1, a decision by the county zoning administrator, Ray Sturza.
Sturza had ruled that Phillip C. Sawyer was illegally operating the Island Auto Body Shop, on Steve Basnight Road. The neighborhood is zoned as a residential area.
Sawyer could appeal his case to Dare County Superior Court. If he doesn't appeal, he would have to close the shop.
Almost a dozen Basnight Road residents attended Monday night's meeting about the repair shop, which has been the center of a lingering controversy.
Sturza presented eight pieces of evidence at the hearing. Sawyer, who was at the hearing, did not testify.
Board member Ken Whittington cast the lone dissenting vote.
Also Monday night, the DareCounty Planning Board tabled action on a sketch plan submitted by Wallace Harvey for a campground on the north end of Roanoke Island.
Board members plan to tour the 46-acre tract where Harvey wants to build a destination-style campground. The sketch plan submitted at Monday night's meeting provided for more than 250 sites. However, Harvey said the first phase of the development will include 125 campsites, and that the 258 indicated on the sketch plan represents a long-range plan.
Sturza called for more scrutiny of the campground plan, which has divided neighbors on Roanoke Island. Actor and island resident Andy Griffith has spoken out against the plan.
In December, the Dare County Commission narrowly approved the creation of a conditional use called Conservation Public Recreation. The change was approved 4-3.
``I respect your opinions,'' Sturza told the board. ``But there is a lot more that can be done. There's a lot more that needs to be done before he can say `Let's just put 250 sites in there.' ''
He added, ``I have a responsibility to the board, but I also have a responsibility to the number of people who don't advocate this land use.''
Board Chairman Elmer Midgett said he also wanted to give the plan further study. by CNB