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Holding a video conference meeting on Zoom, Kill Devil Hills Planning Board members logged in for a December 15 meeting that saw approval of two site plan requests, a 2021 meeting schedule and discussion on changes to several town parking requirements.

Satisfied that all loose ends have been taken care of, board members gave a vote of approval for changes to a Bermuda Bay P.U.D. site plan.

In November, Sumit Gupta, chief executive officer for SAGA Realty and Construction, appeared before the board with a request to modify development plans to have two four story apartment style one or two bedroom units, making it 112 units with 192 overall bedrooms and 232 parking spaces. That section is to be designated “Southampton Mews.”

Before allowing the plan to move forward, staff said in November that an overall phasing plan for completion of the entire Bermuda Bay P.U.D. was needed, as was a Bermuda Bay HOA authorization or approval for the changes since some of the common area site amenities will be shared.

A response from SAGA included in last Tuesday’s package of information provided a copy of a water meter agreement and completion timeline showing Somerset, Cambridge Cove and Hamilton Cay are expected to be completed in five, seven and 15 years respectively. There was also a note indicating that completion dates are subject to change if needed.

SAGA also provided documentation that HOA authorization was not needed for roadway access, only town approval. Written comments from the town attorney agree that when a property abuts a platted road, that owner has an irrevocable right to use that road for ingress and egress to his/her property and HOA approval was not required.

A second site plan review, also by SAGA Realty and Construction, was for a cluster home development at 709 North Virginia Dare Trail.

Proposed plans show 14 detached single-family dwellings of no more than 2,500 square feet each, shared driveways, a dune walkover and an open and covered deck. Each proposed dwelling will be designed as either four or five bedrooms, with a pool and parking beneath the structure.

Held over from the November meeting so SAGA could provide floor plans and elevations along with meeting specific landscaping requirements, the only significant comments before approving the project Tuesday were on a fire suppression sprinkler system required by North Carolina fire code.

Although fire suppression lines were added to the utility plan, a note was also included that the applicant’s position is that the building code does not require these cottages to have fire suppression.

According to town planner Cameron Ray, because a fire apparatus access road for the development does not meet state guidelines, in this instance, code does require fire suppression for each building.

“We can follow up with the applicant on the fire code section that applies and have them comment before the board meeting,” Ray advised.

A motion to approve the North Virginia Dare Trail site plan passed with an added condition that the fire code comment be addressed.

Planning Board approval for the two site plan reviews sends both to the Board of Commissioners with a favorable recommendation for approval.

Another business item for the evening included approving a 2021 meeting schedule with only one regularly scheduled meeting per month.

With the October meeting a week earlier than normal due to 2021 elections, the December meeting was also given an earlier date to move it away from Christmas with the understanding that it could be pushed back to the third Tuesday if needed. With little other discussion, the 2021 Planning Board meetings were set for:
– January 19, 2021
– February 16, 2021
– March 16, 2021
– April 20, 2021
– May 18, 2021
– June 15,2021
– July 20, 2021
– August 17, 2021
– September 21, 2021
– October 12, 2021
– November 16, 2021
– December 14, 2021

Other business for the evening included approval of the November 17 meeting minutes and a discussion on off street parking requirements with a look at possible changes at the January 19 meeting.

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