THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170289
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 51 lines
About four acres of land on the Manteo business strip that has been owned by the Collins family for generations was rezoned Monday to the most commercial class, C-3.
Zoning of the tract, near the state ABC store off the U.S. 64 midway intersection, was inconsistent with adjacent properties that had 700 feet of commercial depth. The board's action added 300 feet to the commercial depth of the land.
Naomi Hester, a principal owner of the property along with her brother, Rudolph Collins, appealed to the board during a public hearing to allow the rezoning out of fairness.
After a July 8 public hearing, the Dare County Planning Board had recommended approval of the zoning change.
The seven lots and the remnant land running to the sound belong to the Collins family.
Although there has been little opposition to the change, commissioners acknowledged that there was some concern in the community about what the family is planning to do with the land.
The parcel, which is undeveloped, is situated between Cypress Bay Campground and the county water plant.
``Our responsibility is to vote on the merits of the zoning change,'' said Commissioner Geneva Perry, ``not on any rumors we might hear, whether we have a personal feeling on that rumor or not.''
Commissoner Shirley Hassell, saying her previous questions about wetlands impact and spot zoning have been addressed, agreed with Perry.
``I'd like to amen that,'' she said. ``I have been contacted by a number of people who have a different idea what our responsibility was.''
In other business Monday, the board:
Authorized the sheriff to apply for a $4,600 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for a church arson prevention program. The money would be used to pay overtime for police officers to increase their patrol and surveillance of churches.
Adopted a loss plan as part of the floodplain management program. In his presentation giving an update on the plan, Planning Department director Ray Sturza said federal flood managers recently reduced the county's hazard rating, resulting in a considerable reduction in insurance fees.
Asked the county attorney to draw up a resolution opposing a reduction in the bluefin fishing season, proposed by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The board also agreed to attend a meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Hatteras Community Center to listen to the concerns of local residents and anglers on the bluefin proposal. Dr. William Hogarth, acting chief of the National Marine Fisheries' Highly Migratory Species Division, will be in attendance. by CNB