UPDATE – January 27th, 2015
Kitty Hawk has entered into an inter-local agreement with Duck, Kill Devil Hills and Dare County to start a Beach Nourishment project in Spring 2016, thanks to an overwhelming response of approval during the October 2013 town meeting. Since then, the necessary studies have been 80+ percent completed, and a plan to pay for the program has been established.
Since Dare County is taking care of all the engineering fees and contributing somewhere around 75% of the funds necessary for the nourishment, a reasonable tax collection program using Municipal Service Districts has been established. Property owners in Kitty Hawk have been notified of the tax districts and what it means to their respective properties as of January 8th by mail. If you own property in Kitty Hawk and have received, and approved, this program as it relates to your property, you should write the town of kitty hawk ASAP.
A Public Forum to speak about the MSD plan is scheduled for February 9th, at 6:00pm (come at 5:30pm to make sure you can be in the room). It would be very helpful to have written consent sent to the town, by email and mail, before that date so they can proceed with confidence. The email address is info@kittyhawktoen.net and the mail-in address is as follows:
Town Manager John Stockton, P.O. Box 549, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.
If you would like a sample letter sent to you, in MSWord or PDF format, so you have a starting point for which to convey your opinion, feel free to email us at friends@betterbeachesobx.org.
This nourishment project will provide a “design beach” of at least 60 feet east from existing structures. A design beach is a berm of around 6 foot in height (over mean low tide) and is projected to last five to ten years, with more beach in front of it to compensate for erosion. The plan in place allows for maintenance of this design beach, with initial sand placement to be around 100 feet or more east, with more of a gradual grade under the water to help with wave impact. As in the past few years, the town also plans to place sand fence along the newly nourished beach in order to establish a uniform protective dune line. The feeling is that a naturally build dune line with sand fence and vegetation will hold up better, serve us well, and allow us to use more sand for the initial beach enhancement while controlling where this sand is distributed by the wind. We’re here to help ensure that this project is seen through.
Here’s a Link to a great video (produced April 4th, 2013) with Town Manager John Stockton addressing the citizens of Kitty Hawk on Storm Damage Reduction
April 2nd Town Council Meeting recap from Outer Banks Voice, where councilman and mayor pro tem Gary Perry raises the issue about storm damage protection.
Another article from Outer Banks Voice, entitled “Breaking the Silence…” about recognition that something must be done to protect Kitty Hawk’s beaches and important infrastructure.
Link to the Town of Kitty Hawk Website: www.townofkittyhawk.org
Send an email to the town of Kitty Hawk at: info@kittyhawktown.net – and let them know you support their efforts!
or call them at (252) 261-3552.