Comments on: Lowe’s unveils plans for store at Landing Drive

By: Sally

Sally — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:24:41 +0000

I say NO to this project. I am a visitor to this area, I would be horrified to see a Lowes at that sight. Keep the trees and wildlife. NO TO LOWES!

By: JW

JW — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:52:04 +0000

If you are going to develop, build something useful. I vote Target and Barnes and Noble. That would at least fulfill a need in the community.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:41:02 +0000

Enough of the big chains! Ripping out all those trees will kill any deer that live there, create light pollution, raising the tract for the building and garden shop will cause enviromental runoff issues, & what kind of damage will the immediate neighbors receive from a hurricane or noreaster without the tree buffer? As taxpayers we should have more of a voice and not the man with the big pocketbook! We moved here to get away from such political poop.

By: CQ

CQ — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:56:34 +0000

Born,raised and still currently living in KDH,right off of First Street. I believe it’s a bad idea. It isn’t going to create a ton of new jobs or drop prices. Has Foodlion dropped theirs or hired more locals because we now have several Harris Teeters? Or how about the chain restaurants and Wings? It’s going to be another eyesore. Our uniqueness is almost gone. Can we please stop destroying what so many of you moved here for and why so many still visit. I thought that’s why people moved here because we weren’t like everyplace else and everybody was trying to get away from the rat race. How many more chains do we need? Seriously people. Turning us into Va Beach or Myrtle Beach isn’t going to keep our visitors coming here…it’s just another nail in our coffin.

By: charlie

charlie — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:48:02 +0000

Hey. Let’s hold off on any building on the land bought up by Ngs Head and the Tourism Bureau. If Lowes or HD packs it in and scampers way because the sales are not there they’ll leave a building that can seat even more than a thousand or two. They’ll fork over the building for a song. Now that’s progress.

By: Quantum Mechanic

Quantum Mechanic — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:43:42 +0000

Glad it’s coming. Wish it were further south, but it will help.

By: Russ Lay

Russ Lay — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:05:55 +0000

@Virginia–I suspect there are two parts to those stories. It is true that if zoning is tight it takes one big box store to succeed in order to allow others in. More importantly however is that all of these chains are driven by growth and growth comes from new stores as older ones mature or even decline. These companies use a lot of demographic data to choose new locations, so its a sure bet if one of them had found a new location, its competitors are also discovering the same thing. In big towns this is not much of a problem. In small areas, like ours, a problem can occur if too many of them come to the same conclusion, build their stores and discover the market can’t support that much retail space. Then you get vacant big boxes.

By: Virginia Tadrzynski

Virginia Tadrzynski — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:18:44 +0000

Up here in PA, whenever a Lowes goes in, lo and behold, a Walmart is soon to follow in the same developement. I think they have a devil’s agreement….one breaks down the zoning and the other rides the coat-tails in.

By: Bill Holt

Bill Holt — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:42:23 +0000

BTW, Thank you – The Outer Banks Voice – We Love Your Open Forum!

By: Bill Holt

Bill Holt — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:41:18 +0000

I have read carefully all of the input shared above, so far. Many things come to mind. A lot of points taken in context are true. The Town does have a Big Stick when it comes to swinging cooperation from Lowe’s in this situation. Kitty Hawk used theirs significantly to the community’s benefit. Hence they quickly became a community part – through use of a big stick. They contributed, to many things when asked and continue their community support.

Kill Devil Hills certainly is known for swinging its stick the ‘way they want’ or are lead. The Planning Department certainly has time ‘NOW’ to give it effective focus. Given their miscellaneous approach in recent years, depending on which hot button someone has fired up…, they need effective guidance to manage this one!!! Many a private “quote quote” unofficial meeting has taken place to bring this proposed project to this point. In this man’s not so humble view… the Town powers do need serious input and guidance to bring about a working solution that benefits the community and manages concerns that most have (the valid ones… not so much the NIMBY’s – not in my back yard folks) if you will.
Surface and ‘run off’ water control (irrigation and on-site management, recycling some for the gardening and toilet facilities?) is one key. A sufficient buffer to adjacent residential and arrival and delivery restriction hours are a good start. The design to fit the community certainly in that size building is critical. Low-level lighting requirements and particularly timed to accommodate the neighboring region and certainly conservation… and signage (kind of a Hilton Head Island approach maybe?)
Traffic control is critical, and my understanding is an ingress and egress (in-from the north / out- to the south) will certainly cover some, but not, all traffic. A light at Landing is inevitable.
A commitment from your representatives at the Town and to press them is vital. When they are asking for lot coverage over code and parking WAY under present code – THAT – my friends is a BIG stick.
But the community has to voice at the meeting. For people to obtain jobs… they must pass the testing – something that 450 out of 600 failed at Home Depot when they began hiring. Yea… many of you know what I mean. As was said… a management team will likely have to come here initially from outside. Corporate world – for those who relocated here from other worlds… think you know that.
You cannot stop someone from obtaining their due when they are ready to move on… hence, commercial is commercial – a use by right – if codes are met. Can hate the Coastland Times family for their choice… hell we have the “Outer Banks Voice now!!!!!
How many of us would have been published in that or the Sentinel? Keep your thoughts coming right up till meeting time where you NEED to BE to give them to the town!!!

Encourage your Mayor (Yes You Ray!) and the other Officials to give their best, listen to valid concerns and implement a good plan with the community good in mind… Not just Lowes and the Tax Collector!!!

Your jobs are at hand… give your Voice here, at the town and to the officails, privately and publically in an appropriate manner! Your input is welcome and should be… AND

Remember… YOu got to openly speak your voice here for all to read… go on… go to the Town and speak as well!!