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Nags Head commissioners took action at their July 3 meeting to approve an amended site plan for the Inn at Whalebone, an 87-unit hotel located 6632 W. Pheasant Avenue (W. Lakeside Street), despite some residents’ concerns over traffic.

Town code states that when there is double frontage, or a corner lot, planning staff encourages access on a side street (in this case, Lakeside Street) and not from Hwy 158.

Residents were apprehensive about traffic generated from the hotel in addition to the estimated 1200 vehicles that pull into the gas station at the corner of Hwy-158/W. Lakeside Street, and the regular residential traffic from about 35 houses.

“The addition of more traffic will confuse, congest, and ultimately combust that entrance,” said resident Kelly Green. “So if no light will be added I sincerely ask the commissioners and the hotel to rethink their ingress and egress plan, taking into account the safety of the residents, their hotel staff and patrons, and the Duck Thru staff and patrons.”

Though residents expressed concern about the safety of the intersection and the traffic that would be generated, that was not the issue before the board. The site plan had already been approved in October 2023.

When commissioners approved the site plan they requested that the applicant, MacConnell and Associates, P.C., widen W. Lakeside Street to accommodate three lanes of traffic, from the most westward entrance of the hotel off Lakeside Street.

However, town engineer David Ryan recommended a reduced widening plan because the original concept could have potentially caused stormwater runoff issues for neighboring residential properties.

A traffic impact analysis was completed in September 2022 as part of the initial application process for Inn at Whalebone. According to Ryan, the report was prepared by an engineering consultant and then peer reviewed by DOT.

“The recommendations of that report indicated no improvements were necessary. There was no need for a traffic light. It didn’t meet the warrants for a traffic light nor did it meet the warrant for any roadway widening to accommodate a left and right-and turn lane out,” Ryan said.

Installation of traffic lights are under the jurisdiction of NC Department of Transportation, and not local municipalities.

Commissioners took issue with the time of year the traffic analysis was conducted.

“Having a traffic study done at this site in September and not in July or August to me is not worth the paper it’s written on,” said commissioner Kevin Brinkley. The board agreed to request another traffic analysis in peak tourism season.

So while Nags Head commissioners cannot promise a traffic light, they can make adjustments to the road that would put it in a good position for a light in the future. The partial widening of the road to include a three-lane configuration, said Ryan, will put the town in a good position to have a traffic signal when DOT deems it necessary.

The amended site plan was approved, with Megan Lambert opposing.

Commissioners then approved a beach nourishment master plan, a 152-page report by Moffatt & Nichol that outlines the town’s 50-year strategy for beach nourishment.

The report discusses nourishment strategy, scheduling and financing. The recommended plan is to nourish the beaches on a 6-year cycle. This is more cost effective than a 4- or 5-year cycle, and though more expensive than the 8-year nourishment cycle, it is believed that it will provide the best coverage.

Ryan said that over 50 years, it is estimated that the town will need 49 MCY (million cubic yards) of sand placement. This quantity of sand is available.

The next beach nourishment is scheduled for 2027 at a cost of $38.2 million.

One of the alternatives presented was no nourishment at all. If the town were to cease beach nourishment activities, Ryan said, the result would be “severe beach nourishment impacts, including $800 million in lost property value, up to $3.9 million in annual property tax losses and substantial losses to tourism revenues.”

The master plan was approved unanimously.

Residents will notice some changes around town, starting with a “10 mph” stencil on the multi-use path to keep speeds at a safe rate for pedestrians and other cyclists. The stencil was chosen as an alternative to signposts to eliminate visual clutter, and will be painted at half-mile increments along the path.

Pickleball enthusiasts can look forward to new tournament-style pickleball courts along the soundfront complex in Nags Head at the former Pamlico Jack’s location. The tourism board approved a request from the county to install the courts.

Finally, No Parking/Tow Away Zone signs will be installed on the southside of Bonnett Street, east of Wrightsville Avenue toward NC-12. Vehicles parking on the street from the Farmer’s Market and other Dowdy Park events were blocking the view for other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians traveling west on Bonnett Street.

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