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In mid-December, the Dare Community Housing Task Force approved its first year report and outlined priorities for work in the coming year.

The report offers a starting point for tackling housing issues.

“Housing is a complex issue and affects many aspects of our community – our workforce, our education and childcare system, our healthcare system, and our quality of life. These aspects affect the vitality and sustainability of our economy. Efforts to address our generational housing needs should continue if our economy is to remain robust and vibrant. Working together as a community is essential for these efforts to be successful,” write the task force co-chairs Donna Creef and Malcolm Fearing in the opening statement.

With the report now available, representatives of the task force will begin making presentations to local governments and interested organizations. The report will be presented to the Dare County Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 3, 2025 meeting. Dates are already scheduled for Nags Head and Manteo commissioners.

Task force work has moved and will move forward in subcommittees. Those committees are identified as subcommittees on the plan, a non-profit set-up, and outreach.

The report is cognizant of working with Dare County’s incorporated municipalities, representatives of which participated in the formation of the issued report, which was adopted unanimously.

Two sections of recommendations specifically address the task force and municipality relationship.

Ongoing work by local governments includes advocacy for property owners to secure flood insurance and presenting united and strong positions for “locally adopted zoning to manage density and promote quality of life in our communities rather than conceding this authority to the NC General Assembly,” states the report.

The report also has suggestions for local governments to consider, such as Nags Head’s adopted C-2 multifamily regulations for developing long-term housing options; the septic health program operating in Nags Head; and adoption of land use rules to allow an accessory dwelling unit on a single family lot; small scale multifamily structures by right; other employee workforce housing standards found in the report; and adding housing units at existing commercial development.

Plan Subcommittee

This committee has five assignments for the coming year:

(1) Ask for a study for housing units for teachers and county employees, especially on Roanoke Island.

(2) Investigate building housing on government-owned land. The report’s appendix serves as a starting point, showing a public property inventory with aerial photos of six publicly owned parcels on Roanoke Island, one in Manns Harbor, one in Kill Devil Hills and four on Hatteras Island. The task force subcommittee is charged with making sure zoning regulations are considered.

(3) Develop “a toolkit of house plans that shows desired architectural features so local governments can offer residents a cost-saving tool.”

(4) Develop a template of deed restrictions for use by local governments to ensure long-term occupancy. “Other options may include requirements for employment in Dare County or owner occupancy,” states the report. Waiving of recordation fees for such deeds should be considered.

(5) Seek funding for a carrying capacity study for all of Dare County. “This study could research insurance issues, wastewater practices, redevelopment scenarios, transportation alternatives, and use of government land for employee housing,” as stated in the report.

Non-Profit Subcommittee

(1) (a) Request funding from Dare County to contract with an agency to help task force members set up a housing non-profit agency. This contract could include “organizational and governing structure, fundraising options, the development of a community land trust, residency selection protocols, start-up funding options and implementation actions, and other options,” as contained in the report.

Identify start-up funding options for a full-time non-profit agency or department focusing on housing. “Partnerships with local governments are essential but there needs to be an independent non-profit agency that works with local governments but is not under the direct organizational structure of a local government,” states the report.

(1) (b) Identify a perpetual funding source for housing trust funds that can be used in conjunction with non-profit organizations.

(1) (c) Collaborate with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau on housing efforts as discussed in the 2023 Long-Range Tourism Management Plan. This job is specifically assigned to the task force chair and vice chair.

(2) “Investigate expansion/revision of the 2004 legislation to allow local governments to develop housing programs for their employees with incomes that exceed 80% of the Area Median Income,” states the report.

Outreach Subcommittee

(1) Implement outreach activities associated with the release of final plan.

(2) Participate with the East Carolina University Workforce Housing Community Attitudes Study, which is already underway.

And as stated in the report:

(3) “Develop outreach materials/program to make local workforce salaries and household incomes relatable to the local community.

(4) “Work with the Outer Banks Association of REALTORS® and other stakeholder groups to develop outreach programs about the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency first-time purchaser programs.”

(5) Develop “a one-page factsheet on zoning review processes that outline the various procedures involved in land use decisions.”

(6) “Collaborate with ECU-Coastal Studies Institute on education and outreach to Dare County property owners on innovative wastewater systems.”

In 2025, the Dare Community Housing Task Force will meet quarterly at 9 a.m. on the following dates: March 18, June 17, Sept. 16 and Dec. 16. The meetings are usually held in the first floor meeting room of Dare County’s Administration Building.

The full Housing Task Force report can be found on the Dare County website at darenc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/14949/638700363475230000.

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