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Two April 4 actions by Dare County’s Board of Commissioners addressed housing concerns.

A special use permit was granted to build seven dwellings under the cluster home group development ordinance and a change in accessory dwelling unit rules expands the permitted area for such units in unincorporated Dare County.

Also, the commissioners authorized the filing of a Scenic Byway letter of intent and application for a pathway project in Frisco and Buxton. The commissioners also agreed to forward a request to the county’s state representative and senator for a referendum about creating a special tax district to pay for constructing and maintain built pathways.

In the first housing action, Sea Glass Cottages LLC submitted a special use permit application to construct a cluster home group development at 27242 Sand Street in Salvo village.

An existing structure will be moved and seven 900-square foot, two-bedroom houses will be built. Two parking spaces – one paved, the other graveled – are provided for each structure. Under the rules, the houses must be rented out long-term, which is longer than 31 days.

Conditions include providing a residential sprinkler system in each structure, which has been agreed to. Each structure must stay within a dwelling footprint, which must be depicted in the final site plan filed with the register of deeds. The developer has three years to secure building permits. Driveway permits or approvals from NCDOT must be secured before building permits are issued. No staging of equipment or materials is allowed in or along right-to-way on Sand Street.

The commissioners unanimously approved the Sea Glass Cottages request.

In January, Dare’s commissioners asked that the Planning Board and planning staff revisit the 2018 ordinance creating accessory dwelling units.

On April 4, planning director Noah Gillam reported on Planning Board discussion and new conditions to add the R-1 zoning district to the list along with the East Lake Natural Historic District.

In the R-1 district, the Planning Board recommended adding a provision that all accessory dwelling units “shall be accessed from a state-maintained road, private road, publicly dedicated road and/or 20’ easement.”

The East Lake Natural Historic zoning district amendment adds the following conditions: an accessory dwelling unit may be attached or detached from the primary structure; the unit must meet setback requirements; one additional off-street parking space required; no travel trailers and recreational vehicles can be used as an accessory dwelling unit; home occupations under Section 22-2 of the county’s Zoning Ordinance are permitted.

A hearing on these zoning changes will be scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

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