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Currituck commissioners moved through a full agenda at their July 15 regular meeting, holding four public hearings and approving three resolutions.

Ashbrook Estates, LLC, a 52-lot residential conservation subdivision on the west side of Maple Road was approved by the board for a preliminary plat/special use permit after some clarification on the phasing of the project for the purposes of school capacity. The parcel is 103 acres zoned Agriculture.

The applicant, Stuart Innes, said he expects to build about six homes per year, with the first one sold no sooner than 18 months to allow Currituck County school construction projects to be completed.

Next, Norman Bibeau, owner of University Park, LLC in Powells Point was granted an amendment to his master plan to double the number of town homes on his property from the current 39 to 78.

Bibeau said that in 2013, “We built 39 town homes. There was a need for it and there’s even more of a need for it now.” He said University Park has housed teachers, police officers, and county employees, and has been a model to the county for this type of housing.

Commissioners agreed the development was run well, and approved his request for 39 additional town homes and a storage building. The owner will also connect Amherst Drive to West Mobile Road.

The evening continued with a request from Morris Farms owners Walton and Ginger Morris and their son Chet Morris to amend the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) allowing ten special events per parcel, per year. The current law is four events, though in prior years it was 14.

Chet Morris said there are many other events the farm would host like concerts, festivals or large weddings, but they do not because of the limited special events permits allowed.

“We are dreamers,” said Ginger Morris. “What we’ve created is what we have … We’ve created a destination, not just a place for business and revenue.”

Commissioners were in agreement to change the number to 10.

The final public hearing was for a special use permit for a 6-acre sand mine operation at 7831 Caratoke Highway in Powells Point from applicant Gary Thompson. Commissioners asked questions to verify that the wells from neighboring properties would be fully covered in the event that their wells malfunctioned due to sand mine operations. After satisfactorily confirming that neighbors would be protected, commissioners approved the request.

In new business, members of the board quickly approved three resolutions: one involving the Kroger Opioid Settlement, one to begin the process to add a one-quarter percent county sales and use tax levy, and one to authorize eminent domain for the property at 1559 Sandfiddler Road (Laughing Gull), to file action for the process to remove the structure.

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