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At its August 2024 meeting, the Dare Community Housing Task Force agreed to participate in an East Carolina University study titled “Community Attitudes on Workforce Housing.”

Making the presentation to the Task Force was Misun Hur, Ph.D., community and regional planning at East Carolina University. She said the study is “looking for ways to talk about affordable housing … and for tangible, workable solutions.”

In identifying effective strategies, the study will explore public positions on no change, high density residential housing, adding accessory dwelling units and using incentives.

The study timeline shows community research until December 2024. The study team will make site visits and focus group meetings from January through May 2025 and end the project in July 2025.

Task Force Chair Donna Creef commented on the community outreach portion of the study, which calls for an online survey, eight public meetings in the form of floating open houses and focus groups.

Task Force subcommittee reports were delivered by Creef.

Property or Land Committee. The committee now has a record of publically- and privately-owned lands in Dare County more than two acres in size. The Task Force will concentrate on publically-owned parcels. Creef reported that owners with privately-owned parcels of two or more acres who would consider building workforce and/or essential housing are invited to get in touch with the Task Force. Creef’s email address is dvcreef@gmail.com.

Creef also reported that the General Assembly language creating the Dare County Education Foundation indicates that the foundation can build housing for local government employees. The language also indicates building housing in three areas of the county. Only Roanoke Island does not have foundation-built teacher housing.

The Non-Profit Committee recognizes the need for a public sector non-profit organization as certain programs are available to non-profits.

Task Force Vice Chairman Malcolm Fearing described the Task Force as “thoughtfully patient.” He also said “a lot of people are reaching out to us to talk about solutions.”

In Task Force membership, Anthony Fletcher with Midgett Realty and from Hatteras Island is recently appointed.

The next Dare Community Housing Task Force meeting is set for Sept. 17, 2024 at 9 a.m. in Room 168, Dare County Administration Building, located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Dr. in Manteo.

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