Comments on: County seeks sand consensus http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/ Outer Banks news, discussion and opinion, OBX news, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Hatteras Island news. Thu, 17 May 2012 12:38:51 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rick http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-371 Rick Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:22:07 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-371 What is the pushback in regard to rock jetties? See them up and down the South Carolina coast. What is the pushback in regard to rock jetties? See them up and down the South Carolina coast.

]]> By: Ray http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-369 Ray Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:43:03 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-369 I'll tell you what hasn't been discussed or researched in any meaningful way by anyone in political power here in the county. And, that is . . . whether or not the majority of Outer Banks residents really feel that beach nourishment, (1) will work, (2) will be cost-effective. Proponents want everyone to believe that the only reason it keeps getting voted down is because no one wants to be "taxed" for it. They refuse to acknowledge that the majority don't believe it is worth the money because they know it cannot be successful on the high energy Outer Banks beaches. Proponents have blinders on when it comes to this. All they want to keep shouting is "without our beaches, we would be nothing!" . . . They refuse to acknowledge we cannot fight Mother Nature in this fashion. Why? Because every single one of them has a greater financial interest in the matter than the average citizen who makes up the majority here in the county. Try getting them to take a survey along this line and see if you can get them to do it. Of course not. They already know the answer. I’ll tell you what hasn’t been discussed or researched in any meaningful way by anyone in political power here in the county.
And, that is . . . whether or not the majority of Outer Banks residents really feel that beach nourishment, (1) will work, (2) will be cost-effective.
Proponents want everyone to believe that the only reason it keeps getting voted down is because no one wants to be “taxed” for it. They refuse to acknowledge that the majority don’t believe it is worth the money because they know it cannot be successful on the high energy Outer Banks beaches. Proponents have blinders on when it comes to this. All they want to keep shouting is “without our beaches, we would be nothing!” . . . They refuse to acknowledge we cannot fight Mother Nature in this fashion. Why? Because every single one of them has a greater financial interest in the matter than the average citizen who makes up the majority here in the county.
Try getting them to take a survey along this line and see if you can get them to do it. Of course not. They already know the answer.

]]> By: newjake http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-353 newjake Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:35:17 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-353 Ralph is right. How about if the Outer Banks Voice does a story on the main proponents and lays out their RE interests? It's not like anyone has anything to hide. It's time for some transparency, and none of our other media outlets will do it. Go Mr. Morris! Ralph is right. How about if the Outer Banks Voice does a story on the main proponents and lays out their RE interests? It’s not like anyone has anything to hide.

It’s time for some transparency, and none of our other media outlets will do it.

Go Mr. Morris!

]]> By: Ralph http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-347 Ralph Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:05:43 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-347 Look hard at the people who are commissioners and whose property they are trying to save. Wake up! They want you to spend your money to save their beachfront rentals and they just keep on making money at your expense. Sounds like our politicians are just taking advantage of us all to benefit themselves Look hard at the people who are commissioners and whose property they are trying to save. Wake up! They want you to spend your money to save their beachfront rentals and they just keep on making money at your expense. Sounds like our politicians are just taking advantage of us all to benefit themselves

]]> By: Louise http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-334 Louise Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:17:35 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-334 As a visitor, I learned the beach and dunes are constantly moving. Go see the display at the Aquarium. Beachfront owners accept the RISK when they build there. Now that I live here, I know their risk is NOT my risk. I don't want to pay to preserve their homes. The beach will always be there. As a visitor, I learned the beach and dunes are constantly moving. Go see the display at the Aquarium. Beachfront owners accept the RISK when they build there. Now that I live here, I know their risk is NOT my risk. I don’t want to pay to preserve their homes. The beach will always be there.

]]> By: Earl http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-331 Earl Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:30:14 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-331 I think that most would agree that the folks in favor of the current proposal sincerely believe that they are doing the right thing for the community. While their intent may be good, the current proposal is not good for economic and for environmental reasons. Economics -- Covering or "repaving" the beaches with non native sand, rocks and mud is not going to attract visitors. This will make bad photos (threatened houses, septic lines, etc) of troubled areas worse (threatened houses, septic lines, PLUS dredges, pipes, mud and rocks). Economics -- If the owners of Nags Head want to pay for the sand on their own, this debate would be different. Pine Island owners have an effective dune building program that works and they do not ask for public money or want to increase taxes. Economics -- Occupancy and sales taxes unfairly burden the poor in our county and owners and guests who chose safer locations to rent or own. Despite what others say, 1% does make a difference into our guests. The Outer Banks' affordability is key to our success and many of our guests have a budget. An additional 1% can affect how much a guest is willing to pay in rent, where they stay, or whether or not they go out to eat while here. It's not free money and raising the tax makes other resorts more attractive to guests with a budget. Economics -- Nourishing a beach that is eroding at 10 feet plus per year will not work and will waste precious tax dollars. Environment -- There are more than a few examples of other beaches that have been degraded by pumping dredged sand. Disrupting natural systems -- plants, animals, and geologic processes -- will have negative impacts, and none of us can predict with certainty how much damage will be done. Environment -- Building dunes is more cos- effective, more likely to work, and less damaging to the environment. This is not a new technology and it can continue to work in some areas. Environment -- It's a challenge, but if we could look at offshore reefs, they hold more promise to actually "save" the beaches with fewer negative impacts on the experience of our visitors. Reefs are currently illegal, but if we are ever going to change that rule and look into this technology, now would be the time. In some spots of the beach, shipwrecks seem to be keeping erosion at bay. I think that most would agree that the folks in favor of the current proposal sincerely believe that they are doing the right thing for the community.
While their intent may be good, the current proposal is not good for economic and for environmental reasons.
Economics — Covering or “repaving” the beaches with non native sand, rocks and mud is not going to attract visitors. This will make bad photos (threatened houses, septic lines, etc) of troubled areas worse (threatened houses, septic lines, PLUS dredges, pipes, mud and rocks).
Economics — If the owners of Nags Head want to pay for the sand on their own, this debate would be different. Pine Island owners have an effective dune building program that works and they do not ask for public money or want to increase taxes.
Economics — Occupancy and sales taxes unfairly burden the poor in our county and owners and guests who chose safer locations to rent or own. Despite what others say, 1% does make a difference into our guests. The Outer Banks’ affordability is key to our success and many of our guests have a budget. An additional 1% can affect how much a guest is willing to pay in rent, where they stay, or whether or not they go out to eat while here. It’s not free money and raising the tax makes other resorts more attractive to guests with a budget.
Economics — Nourishing a beach that is eroding at 10 feet plus per year will not work and will waste precious tax dollars.
Environment — There are more than a few examples of other beaches that have been degraded by pumping dredged sand. Disrupting natural systems — plants, animals, and geologic processes — will have negative impacts, and none of us can predict with certainty how much damage will be done.
Environment — Building dunes is more cos- effective, more likely to work, and less damaging to the environment. This is not a new technology and it can continue to work in some areas.
Environment — It’s a challenge, but if we could look at offshore reefs, they hold more promise to actually “save” the beaches with fewer negative impacts on the experience of our visitors. Reefs are currently illegal, but if we are ever going to change that rule and look into this technology, now would be the time. In some spots of the beach, shipwrecks seem to be keeping erosion at bay.

]]> By: Tim http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-330 Tim Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:30:21 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-330 Buying property and ripping houses down is much more expensive than beach nourishment. I agree with you Bobby. We have to maintain the beaches. Great job Bob and Anna! Buying property and ripping houses down is much more expensive than beach nourishment. I agree with you Bobby. We have to maintain the beaches. Great job Bob and Anna!

]]> By: Ray http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-329 Ray Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:02:47 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-329 Here is a simple, no-cost solution to the problem. Require the homeowners with cottages sitting on public beach to remove them at their own cost. Then, allow the beach to heal itself. I promise you, we will have a beach long after that is done. And, it won't cost $36 million. (wonder how long it would take for those old cottages to generate a $36 million 'revenue stream'. It's kinda like blowing $36 million on next week's lottery, in my opinion. If you had $36 million, would you take that chance? Here is a simple, no-cost solution to the problem.
Require the homeowners with cottages sitting on public beach to remove them at their own cost. Then, allow the beach to heal itself. I promise you, we will have a beach long after that is done. And, it won’t cost $36 million. (wonder how long it would take for those old cottages to generate a $36 million ‘revenue stream’.
It’s kinda like blowing $36 million on next week’s lottery, in my opinion. If you had $36 million, would you take that chance?

]]> By: Katie http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-328 Katie Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:12:33 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-328 Does anyone have definitive evidence why artificial reefs are not an option? I've seen brief mention of them in discussions, but have never heard why this is not even a possibility for Dare county. Will it not work in this area? Are the current regulations preventing it? Is it cost prohibitive? Could it do permanent harm to the shoreline? And aren't all of these concerns also true for beach nourishment? Does anyone have definitive evidence why artificial reefs are not an option? I’ve seen brief mention of them in discussions, but have never heard why this is not even a possibility for Dare county.
Will it not work in this area? Are the current regulations preventing it? Is it cost prohibitive? Could it do permanent harm to the shoreline?
And aren’t all of these concerns also true for beach nourishment?

]]> By: Bobby http://outerbanksvoice.com/2010/02/15/coming-up-a-mayors-pitch-for-beach-nourishment/#comment-327 Bobby Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:20:45 +0000 http://outerbanksvoice.com/?p=3631#comment-327 Personally I don't think that Bob or Anna or any of the NH BOC care about anything other than preserving our beaches and restoring our economy. The politics simply do not matter, only the salvation of our beaches and our town. I am proud of them and support them. The naysayers leave out one important aspect of "repaving" our beaches. And that is the visitors who come here for the BEACHES! And the abundant businesses that benefit from their stay and passion for our homeland. They skew the benefactors to support their cause. Almost like their own lobbyist group. Such behavior has placed our entire nation in peril. We must overcome and move forward. Bravo Bob and Anna, although I vote with Bob on the taxation issue and take a business approach to the situation. Involve the home and landowners some way to ensure success as they are ready to speak! Personally I don’t think that Bob or Anna or any of the NH BOC care about anything other than preserving our beaches and restoring our economy. The politics simply do not matter, only the salvation of our beaches and our town. I am proud of them and support them. The naysayers leave out one important aspect of “repaving” our beaches. And that is the visitors who come here for the BEACHES! And the abundant businesses that benefit from their stay and passion for our homeland. They skew the benefactors to support their cause. Almost like their own lobbyist group. Such behavior has placed our entire nation in peril. We must overcome and move forward. Bravo Bob and Anna, although I vote with Bob on the taxation issue and take a business approach to the situation. Involve the home and landowners some way to ensure success as they are ready to speak!

]]>