THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512100091
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DUCK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
A plan to build a convenience store, gas station and restaurant complex in the heart of this north beach village will be on the agenda when the Dare County Planning Board meets Monday night.
Some Duck residents say that if the proposal wins approval, it will destroy the traditional look of the upscale community.
But the county planner said that if the plan is approved, the county will work to make sure Duck's ambience is not damaged.
The board will review a preliminary plat of the planned business at Monday's 7:30 p.m. session in commissioners meeting room in Manteo.
Known as Duck Station, the proposed business would be located across North Carolina Route 12 from Duck United Methodist Church. The business would be near a centuries-old oak tree.
Neighbors in Duck say they plan to fight the proposed operation.
``We think this is just horrendous,'' said Duck resident Martha McKeon. ``It's ruining the integrity of the community. A lot of the entrepreneurs who have been here said that this is not consistent with what Duck is.''
McKeon said Duck Station would aggravate what she described as a terrible traffic problem. Tourists flock to Duck in the summer, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic in winding stretches of NC 12.
``If you've ever been here in the summer, you know what the traffic is like. This will make it worse,'' she said.
There is a concern, she said, that a fast-food franchise, such as McDonald's or Burger King, will be part of the new facility.
``We've got enough restaurants here in Duck,'' McKeon said. ``We don't need another one.''
But Dare County Planner Ray Sturza said that a restaurant is consistent with land use in a commercially zoned area. There is some question over how much of the tract is zoned commercial and how much is residential.
``There is a question as far as the zoning lines are concerned,'' Sturza said. ``Our zoning maps show about 30 percent of this tract is residential. But on our tax maps, the parcel doesn't appear to be subdivided.
``It doesn't matter if the restaurant is Burger King or the Duck Deli. If it's consistent with the zoning ordinance, we have to allow it.''
Sturza said maintaining the atmosphere in Duck is the major concern for the planning board.
``It's a concern for us if a franchise goes in there. Because it doesn't matter where you put a McDonald's. If you've seen one, you've seen them all. They're almost plastic,'' he said.
``If this is approved and a franchise goes in, we don't want it to look like another corporate entity. The goal is to have something that's consistent with the rest of the community.''
Sturza was quick to point out that if the go-ahead is given for Duck Station, the ancient oak will not be disturbed.
``That tree will stay where it is,'' Sturza said.
Monday's meeting will be the first step in the approval process. Duck Station was on the November agenda, but was tabled because the plan had not received a go-ahead from the Dare County Health Board. With that hurdle cleared, the planning board will now consider the request. by CNB