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The Kitty Hawk Town Council approved a site plan modification for the CRT Sales and Service building located at 3600 N. Croatan Highway on Monday night. The proposal consisted of a 4,194 sq. ft. storage addition to the 11,005 sq. ft. commercial structure. The council heard from a concerned neighboring property owner in regard to the modification.

The structure at 3600 N Croatan Highway was originally constructed as a bank. Once the building was purchased and converted to CRT Sales and Service, an addition was constructed to close off the drive-through and convert it into a work space. The applicant has now requested approval for a 4,194 sq. ft. addition that would be used as storage space. The proposed site plan indicated that much of the requested addition would go over an existing asphalt drive-aisle, with a portion of the drive-aisle that loops behind the building being removed.

Curtis Baskette, who lives at 3605 Rabbit Hollow in Kitty Hawk, approached town council during public comment. He explained that back of his property borders 3600 N Croatan Highway, and while he had no problem with the expansion, he was worried about stormwater runoff, drainage and a vegetative buffer.

“We don’t need more water back there,” Baskette noted in regard to stormwater runoff that could feed into his property if not properly addressed. With the new addition increasing the size of the building by one-third, Baskette assumed the drainage field would grow to accommodate modifications. He asked that if this is the case, that the drainage field extend north or south, not west towards his property. Additionally, he reported that there was a prior vegetative buffer between his property and the CRT sales property. Having been removed, Baskette inquired about a new vegetative buffer being put back in, to help with limiting noise and visibility.

During discussions, council observed that the department of Health and Human Services would make the final call in regard to drainage fields, but in approving the modifications, they agreed to have a vegetative buffer included with site plans and that stormwater runoff be addressed prior to construction.

The evening’s agenda also called for a public hearing regarding placement of digital message boards by, or on behalf of a governmental body, in addition to standard signage on public property within the Town of Kitty Hawk. The intent of such signs, as noted in the text amendment proposal, would be to rapidly disperse public messages and information that could include public safety information, public notices and alerts, etc. The amendment included language that does not allow such signs to impede line of sight at any intersection. In a 5-0 vote, the amendment was unanimously approved.

Town council also approved revisions to text amendments regarding outdoor uses, specifically temporary outdoor art markets and outdoor events and gatherings. After August’s public hearing on the matter, council had directed staff to include language relating to public safety within the amendment. After doing so, the planning board approved the revised amendments which define temporary outdoor markets and how they can be used, and address specific public safety measures in regard to outdoor events. The council members were all in favor of the amendment with the new changes and approved it 5-0.

At their November 6 council meeting, the board will hold a public hearing to determine whether mini-warehouse storage facilities will be allowed as a special use in the Planned Commercial Development overlay districts. The meeting will start at 5 p.m. due to next day elections.

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