Sixty-room motel, miniature golf planned for Salvo
A 60-room motel is part of a three-phase project on 10 acres in Salvo that was approved for a conditional use permit Monday by the Dare County Board of Commissioners.
Original plans in 2004 were for 12 houses, but only one was built.
The first phase of the project by Sapphire LLC calls for construction of an 18-hole miniature golf course and converting a building into a 21-seat restaurant. A boat rental operation will also be set up at a marina at the site, which is on the sound side of N.C. 12
Moving the house is the second phase and the third phase is construction of the 30,632-square-foot hotel with six shops within three years. It is being billed as a Best Western.
The two main concerns raised by the Board of Commissioners were noise and light. The board was satisfied that the county noise ordinance would address music and public address systems. The developer says that measurable light would not extend beyond the boundaries of the property.
Closing for the miniature golf course was set at 10 p.m. — an hour earlier than the developer requested — with lights out at 11 p.m.
County Manager Bobby Outten said that the conditions would ensure that each phase could comply on its own in the event subsequent phases are not pursued. The board will also review plans for the motel before construction begins.
Numerous conditions were put on the project, addressing a range of specifics, including buffers, wastewater treatment, parking and signage. One limited the number of fishing or pontoon boats to six and personal watercraft to four.
Construction permits for the hotel and retail building would have to be obtained within 36 months.
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Prince of Peeps says:
How can they possibly do this without a partnership with the county? Maybe the county should buy the property first.
KDHer says:
I wonder who the developer is?? Anybody?
kmg says:
Please, please, please, no chain hotels on HI!
seabound says:
Sorry, pal – Buxton’s Comfort Inn has the most consistent occupancy rate on the island. Not to intentionally rain on your idea of Pleasantville, but liquor by the drink just washed up with the tide in Hatteras Township and now Kinnakeet Township (Avon & RWS) is imminent. Ironically, the idealistic intentions of activists just opened the Pandora’s Box that will pave the way for Hatteras to finally conform to Virginia Beach. “No good deed goes unpunished” my granddad used to say.
John Sir says:
I would like to know why anyone in their rigth mind would
okay a project like this. Do you people in Dare County realize what you have done to one of the last unspoiled havens on the east coast in a ten year span? You’ve RUINED it. Making it like everywhere else. The saddest part is you do not care. It’s all about the mighty dollar. It should not be this way..shame on you.
Allan says:
Hey, JohnS., “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no developer’s son!” The vast majority of year-round residents of Dare County have no liking for resort-type development, but also have no ability to direct events. This county is run by the realtors/developers/builders, for the benefit of the realtors/developers/builders. So spare us from your broad tar-brush, buddy–unless by “you people in Dare County” you meant the poohbahs, bankers, and powers-that-be. They are the ones that did it.
ekim says:
The begining of the end for Salvo! What can the Salvoens do to stop this or do they want it?
Tedd says:
Just sad.
>:( says:
I dont like this idea at all.
ekim says:
ALLEN dead on Is this place owend by a local?,I dont know how many folk in Salvo are looking for work but just like the motels here the workers are from inland an half no speak english What a shame
Beachornot says:
As memory serves, this property was developed as a number of residential building sites. Poor timing due to the economic environment led to a stalemate in the further developement of the property. Somehow, the county made the determination that the developers could recombine the individual lots and change the original plans for the tract of land.
One would think that a change such as this with such across the board ramifications might have been widely publicized, yet I don’t remember reading anything about it. Thanks again to our elected officials for watching out for the citizens best interests. This would be a fine place for some investigative reporting to determine how this travesty occurred.
Beach Madness says:
Hey KDH’er- Try contacting a fellow Corolla Light’er.
The same developer is trying to get the same type of project permitted up there at the very same time- now!
The same objections are being met ” No VB wanted here”.
Maybe he’ll build another namesake sports center in Salvo too! Won’t that be great?
Salvolover says:
Those of you complaining need to wake up and elect a new slate of commissioners. The current group is in bed with the developers. If you keep the pressure on they will hold Rick Willis, the developer, strictly to the plans. Since he can not meet the numbers (0 lumens at the property line!), the project will die. YOU must get involved and remember an election is right around the corner.
Happy Barracuda says:
‘Developer’ is not the correct term. The only thing developed is their bank accounts. ‘Destroyer’ is a more fitting name.
And our island should be renamed ‘RAPED HATTERAS’.
Bill says:
Tell me WHY would the county have to partner? I thought there was still a little capitalism in this great country still….
ekim says:
I dont think this going to happen lets pray that it doesnt, Beachornot dead on ALL THE BOC NEED TO BE KICKED TO THE CURB!! all of them ,in order to clean this country up we need to start at home VOTEM OUT!!!
Mico says:
W.Judge —”I’m just happy someone wants to develop something”
Their fill already floods neighbors and Hwy 12, what are septic treatment plans?, where is the beach access?, none of the civic associations requests were granted, in ground speakers so there will be noise all day and into the night. But not all bad–more minimum wage jobs!
Tom says:
Sad news for Salvo and HI. Mini golf course OK, mini marina OK, mini restaurant OK. Big ugly chain hotel NO WAY! Must be stopped or more will come.
John Sir says:
To Allen and the Rest……By “people of Dare County” I
positively meant the realtors/developers/bankers. I have thought about this in detail since I read it and I still
cannot believe it. Sadness abounds.
KT says:
This is crazy! I remember when the Outer Banks was vast areas of “nothingness” and I loved it. It was the main reason to vacation there. No loads of fast food restaurants, mom and pop places to stay… When I lived there, I didn’t mind the tourists/vacationers, what I did mind was the all the development.
Beachornot says:
Contributors are absolutely correct. Hold our elected officials responsible, they are the ones anxious for development. Practice term limitation, we all have it within our grasp. One term, do what good you can and then move on. I’ve practiced this across the board for years and have not heard a good reason yet why I shouldn’t continue to do so. Our BOC will not be happy until Hatteras Island looks like the northern beaches. Just read some of the recent rantings of our BOC. Do you really believe that these folks work for us any longer? I would still like to see some investigative reporting performed on this travesty.
JPR says:
I agree with Tom & KT. The reason we make the awful 12 1/2 hour drive from northern PA is because we love the wonderful “nothingness” of the beaches at the Outer Banks. We could easily drive to NJ, DE or MD but prefer NOT to see high rise buildings and a city-like atmosphere. If we needed all those things we would just stay home. Even a hotel that is smaller is offensive. We don’t live there but do not want it either. People come here because it is different. Lets try to work against this to keep it that way. Once something has changed – it will never go back. You all have something very special down there.