Land Use Plan-1986

LAND USE PLAN
SOUTHERN.SHORES, NORTH CAROLINA
1986
PROPERTY OF
DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE

THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES
TOWN COUNCIL
Kern Pitts, Mayor
Donald Bierwerth
Myra Ledyard
Charles Leet
Harold Via, Mayor Pro Tem
PLANNING BOARD
Robert Trost - Chairman
Robert Andrews
George McIntosh
Paul Oswald
J.W. Stone
Adopted by the Southern Shores Town Council April 1, 1986
Approved by the North Carolina Coastal Resources
Commission April 4, 1986

Pi
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
David J. Brower, Timothy Beatley, Carolyn Jones and Carolyn Ocel
Coastal Resources Collaborative, Ltd.
612 Shady Lawn
Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514

Contents
SECTION I:
Introduction . . . . . ". . . . . . .
1
SECTION II:
Nature of the Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 2
A.
Terrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3'
B.
Man -Made Changes • . . . .
. . . 4
Existing Land Use Map . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 6
C.
Recreation and Open Space. . . . . . . . . .
. . 7
WaterAccessways Map . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 8
D.
Roads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 9
E.
Facilities and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .10
Soils Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .11
F.
Population . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .12
G.
Emerging Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . .13
SECTION III:
The
Land Use Plan. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 15
SECTION IV:
Goals for Southern Shores . . . . . . . . .
. . 16
A.
Future Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 16
B.
The Use of Land in Southern Shores . . . .
. . 16
C.
Open Space and the Environment . . . . . . . . .
. . 17
D.
Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 18
E.
Traffic and Transportation . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 18
F.
Public Services and Facilities . . . . . .
. . . 18
SECTION V:
Policy Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 20
A.
General Policies Concerning Town Growth. . . .
. . . 20
B.
Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 22
1. Inland Waterways and the Sound . . . . . .
. . . 22
2. Zoning .and Land Use Control. . . . . . . .
. . . 24
3. Commercial Zone. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 25
4. Building Height. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 26
C.
Open Space and the Environment . . . . . . . .
. . . 26
1. Areas of Environmental Concern . . . . . .
. . . 26
2. Ocean Hazard Area . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 27
3. The Estuarine System . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 28
D.
Recreational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 30
E.
Traffic and Transportation . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 32
F.
Public Services and Facilities . . . . . .
. . . 36
1. Water for Household Consumption. . . . .
. . . 36
2. Need for Central Wastewater Treatment. . .
37
3. Solid Waste Collection . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 38
4. Fire and Police Protection . . . . . . . . .
. . 38
5. Library Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 38
6. Public Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 38

7. Medical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
8. Utility Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
G. Public Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
H. Coordination and Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
I. Land Classification. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Land Classification Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
J. Hurricane Hazard Mitigation and Reconstruction . . . 44
Hazard Area Map . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
K. General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
APPENDIX
I:
Transition
of the 1980
Land Use Plan . . . . .
. . . . . 50
APPENDIX
II:
Summary of
Attitudinal
Survey.. . . . . .
. . . . . 59

I. INTRODUCTION
(� The Town of Southern Shores has prepared this Land Use Plan to guide the
Lcitizens of Southern Shores, the Town Council, and federal, state, and county
governments in making decisions concerning the development of the Town. The
plan is intended to be used as a guide for decision -making and the formulation
of development policy to be implemented over the next ten years, but provides
a foundation for longer range planning as well.
The Town of Southern Shores is governed by a five -member Town Council,
with the Mayor elected from among the Council members. The initial Town
Council was named in a special act of the General Assembly which was ratified
March 26, 1979. The Town Council took office on April 1, 1979, and gave early
priority to land use matters. They established a Planning Board and a Board
of Adjustment; adopted zoning and subdivision ordinances and assumed
extraterritorial planning jurisdiction over Martins Point.
The N.C..Coastal Area Management Act requires that each local unit of
government have a land use plan which is updated every five years. The
original land use plan for the Town of Southern Shores was adopted in 1980.
This plan contains much of the original plan with only those changes and
modifications being made during the updating process that were dictated by
changed circumstances.
It is important to keep in mind that changes in life style, economy,
population, citizen concern, and other factors will, from time to time,
indicate that the plan should be amended. At the same time the very nature of
local. government and the changing times in which we live calls for special
efforts to ensure a degree of continuity.

2
II. NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY
Southern Shores, as a community, began in 1947 with the acquisition by
The Kitty Hawk Land Company of all of the land that was to become the Town of
Southern Shores: 2,600 acres, extending from ocean to sound for a distance of
four miles on the Outer Banks above Kitty Hawk.
The original development concept was a low density, family -oriented,
residential community; extensive parks, beaches, boat harbors, overlooks and
other open space; protection or preservation of the extensive forested areas,
dunes, and representative swamps and marshlands; and slow, carefully planned
growth. In short, the goal was to create an informal living environment in a
natural setting, rather than replicate conventional coastal development.
People who liked the development concept were attracted to the community
and purchased building sites for summer use or permanent residence here
instead of elsewhere on the coast. Aesthetics were an important
consideration, and for that reason property owners were brought into an
architectural review process early on to insure that all structures conformed
to a community standard or design.
As Southern Shores grew, the property owners gradually assumed more and
more responsibility from the development company in matters affecting the
future of their community. By 1970, an informal property owners organization
had been created and was serving in an important advisory function; by 1975,
this evolved into the Southern Shores Civic Association. Between 1975 and the
incorporation of the Town of Southern Shores in 1979; the Civic Association
had acquired title to many of the roads and all of the beaches, open areas,
and public facilities from the development company.

3
Incorporation of the Town came only after residents and other property
owners petitioned the Legislature for it, but at the same time they clearly
expressed a desire for minimal government, minimal town services, and thus
minimal taxation. Volunteers have regularly.done much of the work which other
towns usually hire people to do, including service in the fire department,
clean-up after storms, maintenance and beautification of common areas, etc.
A close cooperative working relationship among the Town, the Civic
Association and the development company continues. Each plays an important
and generally well-defined role in maintaining the Southern Shores "way of
life." Representatives of the three meet periodically to discuss and allocate
responsibility in matters of mutual or overlapping concern.
It is clear from the survey done as a part of the formulation of this
plan that the great majority of Southern Shores people like their community
the way it is. Their main concern is how to keep it that way in the face of
inevitable development pressure in and around Southern Shores.
Terrain
The natural terrain of the Town of Southern Shores varies widely. An
early visitor, passing from the oceanfront across the high sand hills into
dense forests described the sudden metamorphosis as being akin to "entering
another world." A high and well stabilized natural oceanfront dune ridge,
wider than sand dune formations on most parts of the coast, extends the full
four miles, with the crest an average of a hundred feet back from the high
water mark. To -the west of the dune line is the so-called back beach,
relatively level, sparsely vegetated and considerably lower than the
oceanfront dunes. It extends west for an average of a quarter of a mile
before rising gradually to the tops of high, partially vegetated sand hills,

4
some of which are more than fifty feet in elevation. These migratory sand
hills drop off precipitously into a heavily forested area consisting.of a
succession of ridges and valleys running north and south, and extending almost
to the shore of Currituck Sound and Ginguite Bay where nearly bare sand hills
intrude into Currituck Sound in the northernmost half mile; high, heavily
wooded ridges extend to the shore of the Sound for the next mile or so; then a
mix of ridges, swamps, and marshes border Ginguite Bay until finally, on the
south, approaching U.S. Highway 158, the terrain flattens into marshland.
Man -Made Changes
Initial development, in 1947, consisted of a mile of paved road running
northward from U.S. Highway 158 parallel Guth the ocean with a single row of
lots on either side interspersed with reserved rights -of -way to the ocean and
to interior land. Subsequently, this conventional style of development was
continued for another two miles, and other roads were built into some of the
hill areas, for the most part following natural contours. Meandering ponds
and lakes were created in low areas in the back beach.
In 1957, a.very different style was used in developing the last remaining
mile of ocean frontage at the north end of Southern Shores. Here, in Seacrest
Village, winding roads about a quarter of a mile long, dead -ending in a "T" in
back of the oceanfront dune ridge, were extended eastward from the state road
connecting Kitty Hawk to Duck; each "T" was connected to the ocean by a path.
In the early 1960s development of the soundside and interior areas was begun,
a process in which existing wetlands were either excavated and converted to
navigable waterways, or filled. In time, this process produced some six miles
of "lagoons," and produced hundreds of waterfront homesites. The lagoons were
conveyed to the Southern Shores Civic Association in 1978. In the mid-1960s,

5
the development company donated approximately 300 acres north of U.S. Highway
158 to the Outer Banks Recreation Association, a private non-profit, non -stock
membership corporation, for the construction of a golf course and related
recreational facilities. At the same time, roads were constructed to
additional hill areas, including the construction of a paved road to the top
of the highest hill in Southern Shores where an overlook was built on the
crest.
As the decade of the 1970s began, approximately .1,000 acres of the
original 2,600 acres in Southern Shores had not been subdivided. More than
r� half of this, extending northward.from U.S. 158 for nearly two miles, and
1J containing interior woodland, sand hills and some back beach, was developed in
the mid-1970s and named Chicahauk. Separate Chicahauk recreational and
improvement associations._were formed to -deal with activities within the new
neighborhood. This left three relatively large undeveloped.areas in -Southern..
J,1 Shores: one in the southwest corner of Southern Shores, another in the
northwest corner on Currituck Sound, and the third in the wooded area east of
the golf course. These were zoned for multi -family use, with densities
ranging from six to ten units per acre. Subsequent development in these areas
.. P
has been for single family residential use, though the first multiple dwelling
unit buildings are in the planning stage.
In 1985 there are about 2,800 platted lots in Southern Shores (there are
1,027 single-family residences) with very little land yet to be subdivided
(see map on following page). Restrictive covenants and the Town of Southern
Shores Zoning Ordinance restrict the development of the platted lots to single
family residences. This means that even if the remaining unplatted land were
to be developed intensively (which.in all likelihood it will not be) the
maximum number of dwelling units inSouthernShores would be in the

EXISTING ZONE DISTRICTS AND LAND USE
Corporate Limits
Zone District Boundary
••••e Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
Platted
Unplatled eTLANTIC `
CURB/TUCK
. ...... • < .... :;;::. >:>:
„a,,,,Q/ ITa U l T E B A Y
e000 2000 oceet • MARTINS POINT
a �a
TOWN OF ••,• as-i]� a
SOUTHERN SHORES '••••••••••••••••••••••••••...
1988
cKo
The preparation of this document was financed in parc through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.

7
neighborhood of 3,000, unless of course there is a drastic change in policy.
It appears reasonable to assume that the actual number will be smaller than
that, in the neighborhood of 2,500, since:
o the survey conducted as a part of the formulation of this plan showed
overwhelming support for the existing approach to development, i.e.,
single family, low density, non-commercial.
o Many people appear to own two or more adjoining lots and have
developed or intend"to develop them -as a single unit.
Recreation and Open Space
A number of areas set aside by the development company for use by
community residents were conveyed to the Southern Shores Civic Association in
1977. Included were 35 ocean.accessways; a mile of ocean frontage in Seacrest
Village, initially 100 feet deep; an ocean beach 300 feet wide and
approximately a quarter -of a mile deep, with a paved access roadway and
parking area; a.bathing beach and picnic area on Currituck Sound; a marina and
boat -launching area at the mouth of Ginguite Bay; Hillcrest Overlook; the
"Village Green" on Duck Woods Trail at it's intersection with U.S. 158; plus a
number of other small open areas (see Water Accessways Map).
In addition, some 140 acres in Chicahauk, including the 13-acre Cypress
Swamp and an extensive maritime forest were retained in their natural state.
.The.18-hole Duck Woods Golf Course, the swimming pool and tennis courts
are -owned by the Outer Banks Recreation Association. The. Kitty Hawk
Elementary School, located on the south edge of the Town, has a large open
area and facilities which are often used by Southern Shores residents.

WATER
ACCESSWAYS
Beach
`-Sound
J
Lagoon
ATLANT; 4
CURRITUCK
Noelb
4000 2000
TOWN OF
SOUTHERN SHORES
1988
The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal 4anagement Program; through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Acc of 1972, as amended. which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
atmospheric
�yAdministration. ('�
GINOUI TE

9
Roads
In all instances where lots have been platted and sold, the development
company constructed hard -surfaced roads according to state standards
applicable at the time they were built although in some cases the rights of
way are not as wide in order to preserve natural terrain and vegetation.
Approximately 22 miles of these roads were conveyed to the Southern Shores
Civic Association in 1977, and subsequently turned over to the.Town of
Southern Shores in 1979.
The roads within Southern Shores are not without problems but the only
major transport problems arise from situations outside the corporate limits of
U Southern Shores. U.S. 158 has been widened and although this has an impact on
Southern Shores in that it will make it easier for people to get to the area,
the impact will not be centered in Southern -Shores.. Sho p rn res._ Of more concern is the..
area between Southern Shores and the North Carolina -Virginia state line. This
area has not yet been heavily developed but indications are that the rate of
development will accelerate and that although traffic into and out of the area
has been relatively light in the past, it will increase dramatically in the
.next several years. Three methods of dealing with this increase have been
proposed. One is a road from Virginia Beach to Kitty Hawk. There are a
number of legal obstacles such a road would have to overcome but if it were
built it would have a very real impact on traffic in Southern Shores since
much through traffic could be expected to use that route rather than U.S. 158.
A second proposal involves widening Duck Road to accommodate the increase.
This too would have a very real impact on Southern Shores but at least there
would be no through traffic since the road would dead end south of the
Virginia State line. The last proposal involves a ferry or causeway from the
mainland to the Currituck Banks. This proposal would generate some through

10
traffic but if the bridge or ferry charged a toll, the traffic going to a
destination south of the Currituck Banks and hence south of Southern Shores
would probably opt for the more direct and cheaper U.S. 158.
Facilities and Services
The Southern Shores Fire Station is owned by the Southern Shores
Volunteer Fire Department. Operating under the direction of a Board of
Trustees, the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department, with three trucks, is
made up entirely of volunteers from the Southern Shores area. Fire protection
is provided by the department to Martins Point under a contact with Dare
County.
The Town Hall is located at the intersection of U.S. 158 and Skyline Road
on the very southern edge of the Town. It contains clerical and
administrative offices, meeting rooms and the police department.
Water distribution lines of the regional water system have been
constructed in virtually all of Southern Shores. The primary storage tower
for the north end of the water system is located in Southern Shores. The
ability of the system to serve a constantly growing demand is of concern to
the Town.
Individual septic tanks provide for waste disposal. In all but a
relatively few sections of Southern Shores soil conditions are considered
adequate for septic tanks (see map on following page). The Town has entered
into an agreement with a private contractor for the collection of solid waste.
The waste will be disposed of in the Dare County Land Fill in East Lake.
One utility, Carolina Telephone and Telegraph, has a substation in
Southern Shores serving the north end of the beach. Southern Shores was the
first in this district to use underground power lines. Since the mid-1960s

® SOILS UNFAVORABLE FOR SEPTIC TANKS
ATI.ANTI C
CURRI TUCK SOUND v k oe
N or 1h��
4000 2000 01ia1 C
TOWN OF
SOUTHERN SHORES
1986
The preparation of this•documenc was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, chrough.funds provided by
Cho Coastal Zone Management Act of 1912, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration,
OINGUI TE
OCEAN
u

12
all new power lines have been underground. The original beach area, part of
Seacrest Village, and the older hill areas, however, are still served by
overhead lines.
There are five commercial buildings (three professional buildings, one
real estate office and a bank) in the Town's commercial zone which is located
on U.S. 158 at the southern end of town. A recently approved shopping
center, when built, will greatly increase the amount of commercial activity.
The Kitty Hawk Elementary School is located in Southern Shores at the
intersection of U.S.. 158 and Dogwood Trail. It serves the northern beach
area.
Population
It is extremely difficult to make population estimates in a place like
Southern Shores because of the very nature of the community. It is clear that
a large number of the 1,027 houses in Southern Shores are occupied for only a
few months in the summer. But it is also clear that the number of full time
residents is increasing and that the spring and fall (and even winter) in
Southern Shores are becoming more popular for vacationers. The majority of
full time residents are and will probably continue to be retirees averaging
two persons per household. Most summer occupancies range between 4 and 8. If
it is assumed that there will be 2,500 dwelling units in Southern Shores when
it is completely developed, outside limits of a range can be established. If
one half of the units are occupied year around the off season population would
be (2500/2) x 2 — 2500. If the remaining units are occupied during the summer
by an average of six people the summer population would be (2500/2) x 6 + 2500
10,000. But the real numbers will be determined by a great many variables
which are impossible to predict. For example, drastic changes in the economy

13
Ej
or even the tax laws could make second homes much less popular or more
popular., Outside limits probably should assume the current ratio of about
one-third year around occupancy or (2500/3) x 2 m 1,666 off season population
and a full summer occupancy or (2500/3) x 2.x 6 + 1,666 — 11,332 maximum
population.
Emerging Issues
Perhaps the biggest concern of the residents of Southern Shores is that
the present character of the Town will change in the future. The most
fundamental message that was derived from the 1985 survey (see Appendix II)
was that the residents and landowners like Southern Shores and want it to stay
the way it is. This message has been translated into the goals and policies
of this plan with the intent that they make it clear to present and future
local leaders, developers and others .that the course the Town of Southern
Shores intends to hold to is that charted by this Plan.
Unfortunately, the future of Southern Shores is affected not only by
development within the Town but also by development in the area around it.
The area to the north has been growing very rapidly and given every sign of
continuing to grow. Large areas have been,subdivided and are on the market.
The beach communities to the south, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags head
are also growing rapidly.
All of this growth is dependent upon the regional water system operated
by Dare County. If the growth exceeds the capacity of the water system to
supply it all users are likely to suffer. Water shortages are naturally an
inconvenience but can cause a threat to health and safety as sanitation
facilities and fire hydrants become less efficient or fail.

14
This growth also places a greater burden on U.S. 158 as it runs along the
southern boundary of Southern Shores and crosses Currituck Sound on the Wright
Memorial Bridge. Here again, exceeding the capacity of the system -is at least
an inconvenience as it becomes more difficult to get to and from Southern
Shores (one cannot drive to Southern Shores without using U.S. 158) but it
becomes a threat to health and safety as hurricane evacuation becomes more
difficult or impossible and emergency vehicles have difficulty getting where
they need to go.
The most significant impact on Southern Shores could be caused by the
traffic generated by the development to the north. If an alternative means of
ingress and egress is not developed all of this traffic will have to travel
along Duck Road to U.S. 158 which would have a tremendous impact on the
character of Southern Shores. It would be quite literally split in two; a
large part of it separated from the ocean by a large, busy highway.
None of these issues can be solved by the Town alone; the Town does,
however, call attention to these issues and sets forth its policy about each
elsewhere in this plan.

15
III. THE LAND USE PLAN
Preparing a land use plan and implementing it, is one of the most
important.activities a locality can undertake. The purpose of a land use plan
is to provide a rational basis for future land use and development decisions
made in the community. The land use plan identifies and analyzes local trends
and problems, identifies important community goals and develops policies for
the achievement of those goals. Ideally, local land use ordinances and
decisions (e.g., zoning and subdivision) and future public investment
decisions are consistent with the goals and policies delineated in the plan.
The plan which follows is intended to provide a rational, future -oriented
framework for Southern Shores. The substantive content of the plan is
organized in two ways. First, it is organized in terms of Goals and Policy
Statements. The goals (contained in Section IV) -are statements of'a desirable
long-term future. They are necessarily broad.and general. Policy statements
(contained in Section V) are more specific, designed to implement the
preceding -goals. Policies are more subject to review and revision as the
Town's understanding of how to best accomplish stated goals changes over time.
The policy statements will constrain and provide guidance for the specific
land use and public investment decisions that the Town will make in the
future.
A second way in which the plan is organized is according to the specific
policy. area being addressed. Different goals and policy statements are
developed for different substantive areas, including future growth, land use,
open space and the environment, among others. While many of these substantive
policy areas are overlapping, this represents a logical and efficient way for
the town to consider a range of issues and problems which confront it.

16
IV. GOALS FOR SOUTHERN SHORES
A. Future Growth
GOAL A-1. SOUTHERN SHORES SHALL CAREFULLY PLAN AND MANAGE ALL FUTURE GROWTH
TO MINIMIZE ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS.
GOAL A-2. SOUTHERN SHORES SHALL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AS A LOW -DENSITY, SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. THE TOWN'S POLICIES AND ORDINANCES SHALL
REINFORCE THIS PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT.
GOAL A-3. FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE MANAGED COMMENSURATE WITH
THE CAPACITY OF THE TOWN'S SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH.
SHOULD SERVICES AND FACILITIES NEED TO BE EXPANDED, THE.COSTS OF THESE
EXPANSIONS SHALL BE BORNE IN LARGE PART BY THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.
B. The Use of Land in Southern Shores
GOAL B-1. LOW -DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SHALL BE THE
PRIMARY USE OF LAND PERMITTED AND ENCOURAGED IN THE TOWN.
GOAL B-2. THE COMMERCIAL ZONE IN THE TOWN SHALL BE VERY LIMITED IN SIZE, AND
RESTRICTED TO USES DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.
GOAL B-3. COMMERCIAL USES PERMITTED MUST BE COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING
RESIDENTIAL USES, AND THE OVERALL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT.
GOAL B-4. THE TOWN PRESENTLY HAS SOME AREAS ZONED FOR MULTI -FAMILY USE.
THESE AREAS ARE ADEQUATE AND WILL NOT BE EXPANDED. INDUSTRIAL USES ARE NOT
NOW PERMITTED AND WILL NOT BE.

17
GOAL B-5. THE LOCATION, SITING, AND INTENSITY OF LAND USE IS REGULATED BY
THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, TO SECURE AND PROTECT PRIVATE
PROPERTY AND THE QUALITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
GOAL B-6. THE TOWN SHALL SEEK TO MINIMIZE THE EXTENT TO WHICH NEW
CONSTRUCTION IS SUBJECT TO NATURAL HAZARDS, SUCH AS COASTAL STORMS,
HURRICANES, FLOODING AND EROSION. IT WILL ATTEMPT TO MANAGE FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT SO THAT IT OCCURS IN LEAST HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS AND IS CONSTRUCTED
USING MATERIALS AND BUILDING PRACTICES WHICH MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF
DAMAGE TO STRUCTURES.
C. Open Space and the Environment
GOAL C-1. THE TOWN SHALL WORK TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE, FORESTED AND
UNFORESTED, IN THE FUTURE, AND TO MANAGE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMENSURATE
WITH THIS GOAL. THESE PRESERVED OPEN SPACE AREAS SHALL BE A COMBINATION OF
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AREAS.
GOAL C-2. THE TOWN SHALL REGULATE AND MANAGE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO PRESERVE
THE AESTHETIC INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY, AND.TO PRESERVE ITS CHARACTER AND
HUMAN SCALE.
GOAL C-3. THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IS A MAJOR REASON RESIDENTS CHOOSE TO LIVE
IN SOUTHERN SHORES, AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH SHALL BE MANAGED TO
PROTECT AND ENHANCE, TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
FURTHERMORE, THE TOWN SHALL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RESPECT THE NATURAL PROCESSES
OF THE BARRIER ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS, AND TO MANAGE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
ACCORDINGLY (E.G., DEVELOPMENT SHOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE BEACH AND DUNE
SYSTEM).

18
D. Recreation
GOAL D-1. RECREATION IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SOUTHERN -SHORES LIVING,' AND
THE TOWN SHALL INSURE ADEQUATE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR EXISTING AND FUTURE
RESIDENTS. PROVISION OF THESE FACILITIES SHALL BE.COMMENSURATE WITH THE
DIVERSITY OF RECREATIONAL NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE SOUTHERN SHORES POPULATION,
BOTH PERMANENT.AND SEASONAL. THE PROVISION OF THESE FACILITIES WILL BE
CONSISTENT WITH A PERIODIC ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEED.
E. Traffic and Transportion
GOAL E-1. THE TOWN SHALL INSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE INTERNAL ROAD AND STREET
SYSTEM EXISTS AND THAT NECESSARY MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE TO
ENSURE THE EFFICIENT AND SAFE MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC WITHIN THE TOWN.
GOAL E-2, RECOGNIZING THAT HURRICANE EVACUATION IS A COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY
THE TOWN SHALL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO INSURE THAT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE
rl TOWN ARE ABLE TO EVACUATE IN A TIMELY AND SAFE FASHION SHOULD A HURRICANE OR
U SEVERE STORM THREATEN THE AREA. THIS SHALL ENTAIL A PERIODIC ASSESSMENT OF
EVACUATION DEMAND, THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING ROAD AND BRIDGE SYSTEM TO
�j ACCOMMODATE THIS DEMAND, AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS, OR LAND USE RESTRICTIONS,
�J NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE EVACUATION..
F. Public Services and Facilities
GOAL F-1, THE TOWN SHALL INSURE THAT ADEQUATE BASIC LIFE-SUPPORT SERVICES
ARE SUPPLIED TO RESIDENTS, AND THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED IN AN EFFICIENT AND
COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER. INCLUDED AMONG THESE BASIC SERVICES ARE SUCH THINGS AS
POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION, WATER, AND MAINTENANCE/IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL ROADS.

19
GOAL F-2. THE TOWN SHALL INSURE THAT IT PROVIDES ADEQUATE ADDITIONAL, NON-
LIFE -SUPPORTING SERVICES AND FACILITIES, AS DESIRED AND NEEDED IN THE
COMMUNITY. THESE SHALL BE IDENTIFIED THROUGH PERIODIC NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, AND
SHALL BE PROVIDED IN AN EFFICIENT AND COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

20
V. POLICY STATEMENTS
This.section contains policies intended to advance the goals stated in
the previous section. For the sake of convenience, policy statements have
been organized under headings the same as those used for the goals. It should
be remembered, however, that these policies will advance several different
goals at the same time.
These policies are not self -implementing, but rather depend upon
subsequent actions (ordinances, programs, budgets, etc.) by the Town and its
officials to implement them.
A. General Policies Concerning Town Growth
Population estimates show a steadily increasing number of year-round
residents from 75 in 1970, to 520 in 1980, to over 750 in 1984. Summer
�j population is estimated to have increased to about 5,000 in 1985. Ultimate
{..! populations will probably be larger (about double).
In responding to the 1980 Land Use Questionnaire, Southern Shores
property owners expressed desires to "limit" and "control" growth. Similar
attitudes were expressed in the 1985 survey. While respondents appear to
accept the inevitability of growth, they felt that Southern Shores should
neither change character nor grow beyond the capacity of its facilities and
services. If services and facilities must be expanded to accomodate growth,
respondents felt that it should be.developers and new homeowners who should
(� bear the cost of the expansion, not the public -at -large.
(� Respondents to the 1985 questionnaire were almost unanimous in their
attitude about the need to plan for and manage future growth carefully to
reduce its negative effects. About 96% of the respondents either "agreed" or
"strongly agreed" with the statement that future growth should be managed to

21
minimize negative effects on environmental quality. Respondents acknowledged
that while the town can manage the pace and impacts of future growth, it
cannot stop such growth.
Results from the 1985 questionnaire indicate that growth in the next few
years may be substantial. Of those respondents who owned undeveloped land in
the town, close to 60% of them (219 respondents) said they planned to develop
their land within the next five years.
POLICY A-1. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES TO PERMIT THE
DEVELOPMENT AT LEVELS CURRENTLY PERMITTED BY THE EXISTING ZONING ORDINANCE.
POLICY A-2. THE TOWN WILL MAKE -WHATEVER SERVICE AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE FUTURE GROWTH, BUT IT WILL EXPLORE WAYS TO ENSURE
THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT PAYS ITS FAIR SHARE OF THESE COSTS. THIS MAY INCLUDE,
FOR INSTANCE, THE IMPOSITION OF IMPACT FEES, DEVELOPMENT EXACTIONS, OR SOME
OTHER ARRANGEMENT WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY SHIFTS A MAJOR PORTION OF THE COSTS OF
NEW GROWTH TO THOSE PARTIES CREATING IT.
POLICY A-3. . THE PACE OR RATE OF GROWTH HAS A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE
TOWN'S ABILITY TO ACCOMMODATE IT AND MINIMIZE ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS. THE TOWN
WILL, THEREFORE, MONITOR THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT,AND CONSIDER, WHEN
APPROPRIATE, SLOWING.THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT.

22
B. Land Use
The results of the 1985 questionnaire illustrate the commitment of
residents and property owners to maintain Southern Shores as a low density,
single family residential community. Approximately 97% of the respondents
agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: "Southern Shores should
continue to develop as a low -density, single-family residential community,
with limited multi -family and commercial uses." This commitment has
consistently been a part of all planning policy in Southern Shores.
POLICY B-1. THE TOWN IS A LOW DENSITY, SINGLE FAMILY, RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY
0 AND DOES NOT DESIRE TO ENCOURAGE AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, FISHERIES,
INDUSTRY, ENERGY FACILITIES, OR TOURIST -RELATED COMMERCE.
Inland Waterways, and the Sound
The western areas of the Town (woods and soundside) are interlaced with.a
network of approximately six miles of manmade lagoons with outlets into
Ginguite Bay and Currituck Sound. Initially, these lagoons drained low-lying
swampy areas while providing additional building sites.
The lagoon banks are owned by the adjacent property.owners, including.the
Town where the lagoon borders the Town's right-of-way. Since these waters are
navigable, a number of public agencies (both Federal and.State),have
jurisdiction over the use, maintenance, or alteration of the lagoons. These
agencies include: the Army Corps of Engineers, the N.C. Coastal Resources
Commission, the N.C. Wildlife Commission, and the Dare County Health
Department.
This picture is compounded by the emergence of problems associated with
greater use of the waterways arising from residential growth. These problems
include: (a) adequate water circulation and flushing; (b) contaminants

23
affecting the quality of water; (c) siltation, erosion, and deterioration of
embankments; (d) growth of brush, trees, and weeds along the banks and milfoil
and other aquatic growths; and, (e) impact of animal life -- nutria, muskrats,
etc.
POLICY B-2. THE TOWN HAS -ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE REGULATING SPECIFIC MATTERS
PERTINENT TO THE CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND PRESERVATION OF INLAND WATERWAYS AND
THEIR USE (OR ABUSE), SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS, BULKHEADS, BOAT
OPERATIONS, NOISE, LITTER, AND POLLUTANTS. THE ORDINANCE WILL BE ENFORCED
CONSISTENTLY AND FAIRLY.
POLICY B-3. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO STUDY THE FORMULATION OF APPROPRIATE
ORDINANCES REGARDING WATER -RELATED MATTERS SUCH AS CONTAMINATION, NOISE AND
LITTER, DOCKS, BULKHEADING AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN OR ADJOINING
WATERFRONT AREAS. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH THE COUNTY TO
INSURE CONSISTENT AND VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE APPLICABLE HEALTH AND
SANITATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS TO PREVENT WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION.
POLICY B-4. COMMERCIAL MARINAS, FLOATING HOMES, AND ANY OTHER FORM OF
STRUCTURE,.OTHER THAN A CONVENTIONAL BOAT, DESIGNED TO FLOAT OR OTHERWISE
OCCUPY THE SURFACE OF THE WATER IS NOT PERMITTED WITHIN THE WATERS OF THE TOWN
OF SOUTHERN SHORES. BOATS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE USED AS TEMPORARY OR
PERMANENT RESIDENCES.

24
0 Zoning and Land Use Control
Shortly after incorporation, the Town of Southern Shores adopted, with
minor changes, the Dare County Zoning Ordinance. This action was one mainly
of expediency since state law.provides that a new community has ninety days
from the date of incorporation to adopt the zoning ordinance under which it
had been operating or adopt a new zoning ordinance. If neither had been
adopted, the Town would have been without a zoning ordinance. Recognizing
that a new zoning ordinance could not be drafted and approved within ninety
days, and that the alternative of operating without a zoning ordinance was
unacceptable, the Town adopted a modified Dare County ordinance. Because
citizens of Southern Shores played a major role in the initiation and writing
of the original Dare County ordinance,.acceptance of the county ordinance was
not difficult.
The Southern Shores Zoning Map illustrates the desire for a low density
single-family residential community with minimal multi -family and commercial
development._
Martins Point is not part of Southern Shores, but the Town does exercise
extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction over this area.
The minimum lot size permitted in the predominant residential districts
is now 20,000 square feet and the density of the developed areas is less than
three dwelling units per acre.
The zoning ordinance requires that a public or community wastewater
disposal system must be provided for any multi --family development. Many
portions.of the districts zoned for multi -family developments have been
subdivided for single-family detached dwellings. A.multi-family development,
the first in Southern Shores, has been proposed for the ocean front commercial
area in the southeastern corner of the Town.

25
Throughout the process of land use plan development the citizens of
Southern Shores confirmed their desire for a low -density single family
residential community with minimal commercial and multi -family development.
In Southern Shores low -density equates to a community of predominantly single-
family detached dwellings.
Housing_Mix
The residential character of Southern Shores was a major factor in
attracting both resident and non-resident property owners. Current provision
for multi -family development is acceptable. Any increase in multi -family
districts is unacceptable.
POLICY B-5. THE TOWN DESIRES TO MAINTAIN ITS EXISTING MIX OF RESIDENTIAL
USES. MULTI -FAMILY DISTRICTS ARE ACCEPTABLE AS CONSTITUTED BUT WILL NOT BE
INCREASED.
Commercial Zone
The Town desires only those commercial uses that serve the community.
The 1985 survey results indicated that residents and property owners did not
want an expanded commercial area. When asked whether the existing commercial
zone was adequate, approximately 86% of the respondents indicated that it was.
Almost all of the respondents to the questionnaire (96%) indicated that
commercial uses should not be permitted in other parts of town.
POLICY B-6. THE COMMERCIAL DISTRICT IS ACCEPTABLE AS CURRENTLY CONSTITUTED
AND WILL NOT BE EXPANDED. USES PERMITTED IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE WILL BE THOSE
THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN SHORES.

a 26
Maximum Building � Hei ht
The -zoning ordinance allows these maximum heights
Single-family dwelling 30 feet
Duplex 30 feet
Multi -family structure 35 feet
Commercial structures 30 feet
Provision is made for a variance in the case of structures such as church
steeples, flag poles, etc.
Respondents to the 1985 community survey generally expressed satisfaction
with a 30-foot building height limitation.
POLICY B-7, BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITATIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING THE
CHARACTER AND SCALE OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN AND ENFORCE ITS EXISTING LIMITATION ON THE HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES.
C. Open Space and the -Environment
Results from the 1985 Land Use Survey indicate that residents and
property owners are very concerned about preserving the natural environment,of
Southern Shores. Over 94% of the respondents indicated that they chose to
live in Southern Shores because of the natural environment. These findings -
suggest the importance of efforts by the Town to preserve and enhance the
environment.
Areas of Environmental Concern
The term "Area of Environmental Concern," or AEC, is used in North
Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) to identify important natural
resources, both land and water, which could be damaged if subjected to
incompatible development or other activity.

27
The Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) has defined 13 AECs in four
general categories, and has spelled out the significance and basic management
objectives for each. Local governments are encouraged, by the CRC, to allow
only that development in the AECs within their jurisdiction which will not
significantly damage or impair them.
AECs in Southern Shores fall into two general categories -- those located
along the Atlantic Ocean in what has been designated by the CRC as the Ocean
Hazard Area and those located along Currituck Sound and Ginguite Bay and their
tributaries, in what has been designated by the CRC as The Estuarine System.
Ocean Hazard Area
In Southern Shores two AECs occur within the Ocean Hazard Area. The
first is the Ocean Erodible AEC, in which there exists a possibility of
substantial erosion and significant shoreline fluctuation. In general, the
Ocean Erodible AEC in Southern Shores is a strip of land extending from the
Atlantic Ocean to or slightly west of the crest of the oceanfront dune
system.
POLICY C-1. IT IS THE POLICY OF SOUTHERN SHORES TO MAINTAIN THE LINE OF
OCEANFRONT SAND DUNES BY PROTECTING THE VEGETATION WHICH STABILIZES THE DUNE
SYSTEM WITHIN THE OCEAN ERODIBLE AREAS.
The Town currently implements this policy by: (a) prohibiting the
construction of buildings within the Ocean Erodible Areas; (b) enforcing an
ordinance banning use of vehicles off roads; (c) encouraging the construction
of wooden walkways and steps to the beach, as well as elevated observation
platforms; and, finally, (d) encouraging the installation of sand fences in
areas where erosion has occurred.

28
The second AEC within the Ocean Hazard Area is the High Hazard Flood
Area, which is subject to high velocity waters, including but not limited to
hurricane wave action. In general this AEC equates to the V-Zone shown on the
Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Southern
Shores. These areas are shown on a Hazard Map on Page 6.
POLICY C-2. WITHIN THE HIGH HAZARD FLOOD AREA THE TOWN WILL ENFORCE THE
STANDARDS PRESCRIBED UNDER THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP).
This policy is implemented through the Southern Shores building permit
process, as specified in appropriate Town ordinances and enforced by the Town
Building Inspector.
The Estuarine System
Several AECs which are within the Estuarine System category are in or
adjacent to Southern Shores. Currituck Sound, which extends along the
northern one-third of the Town's western boundary, is within the Estuarine
Waters AEC classification but since no part of the Sound is within the Town of
Southern Shores, the Town has no jurisdiction over the AEC. The land adjacent
to the Estuarine Waters AEC is within the Estuarine Shoreline AEC however and
is within the jurisdiction of the Town.
Ginguite Bay is a Public Trust Waters AEC,'but as in'the case'of
Currituck Sound, no part of the Bay is within the Town and hence Southern
Shores does not have jurisdiction over_the AEC. The Town does have
jurisdiction over the network of navigable lagoons and canals which connect
with Ginguite Bay and which are also classified as Public Trust Waters.

29
POLICY C-3. THE TOWN WILL COOPERATE WITH APPROPRIATE STATE AND FEDERAL
AGENCIES IN PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF PUBLIC TRUST WATERS WITHIN SOUTHERN
SHORES.
This policy is implemented currently through the CAMA permit -letting
process as administered by the Town Building Inspector in his capacity as the
CAMA local permit officers. At the Town's request, "NO WAKE" speed limits are
enforced by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission..
Coastal wetlands, or marshes, are located in an area adjacent to Ginguite
Bay in the southernmost half -mile or so of the Town.
POLICY C-4. THE TOWN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL WETLANDS AS A
BREEDING GROUND FOR FISH, SHRIMP, BIRDS, AND OTHER ANIMALS AND PLANTS. NO
DEVELOPMENT IS PERMITTED WITHIN THIS AEC.
Implementation of.the policy is through the CAMA permitting process.
The only Estuarine Shoreline AEC in Southern Shores borders Currituck
Sound. It's total length is less than a mile and a half and covers a strip 75
feet landward from the mean high water mark. ,The Town is concerned about
water quality in the estuary and recognizes the value of clean water and a
vital ecosystem. The construction of septic tanks and drain fields is
carefully monitored, and those contemplating construction are warned about the
possible danger of erosion.
POLICY C-5. WITHIN THE ESTUARINE SHORELINE AEC THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES
IS COMMITTED TO ENFORCING THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THIS AREA THAT
ARE PROMULGATED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE RULES
TO SEE IF THEY SHOULD BE APPLIED TO A LARGER AREA AS A MATTER OF TOWN POLICY.

30
The people of Southern Shores are concerned about the destruction of
natural resources, including vegetation, animals, birds, and geological
formations.
POLICY C-6. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES TO.ENCOURAGE THE
RETENTION OF FOREST GROWTH AND NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING,THE
PROTECTION OF MARITIME FOREST AREAS; TO MAINTAIN,A SUITABLE HABITAT FOR
ANIMALS AND BIRDS INDIGENOUS TO THE AREA; AND, TO DISTURB THE NATURAL TERRAIN,
AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
The Town has implemented this policy by: (a) designating the Town as a
Bird Sanctuary; (b) enacting an ordinance prohibiting the use of firearms
within Town limits; and, (c) prohibiting off -road use of vehicles. The Town
Council and the Civic Association encourage citizens to protect such resources
on a voluntary basis. The Town will also consider amendments to its
development ordinances which will work to protect vegetated areas," and which
will restrict the amount of vegetation.that is permitted to be lost during the
development process.
D. Recreation '
Ownership of recreational facilities and open space is largely in the
hands of the Southern Shores Civic Association and the Chicahauk Recreation
Club. As noted earlier, the Civic Association owns and maintains some 35
beach accessways, beach and picnic areas along the sound, and access points to
the lagoons. While these areas are not open to the general public, they are
available for use by all Southern Shores property owners and their guests.
Under these arrangements, the town can recommend improvements of such
recreational facilities.

31
The 1985.survey asked respondents about recreational improvements they
felt were needed. The most frequently selected recreational improvements were
bike, walking, and jogging paths (indicated as "important" by 68% of the
respondents), followed by additional parking in the vicinity of ocean beach
accessways (43%), additional ocean beach accessways (43%), additional marina
and ramp facilities on Currituck Sound (37%), and additional ocean beach
facilities (33%).
Clearly of less importance were such facilities as playgrounds and
ballfields (17%), and additional picnic areas (19%). Of medium importance are
tennis courts (29%) and additional swimming access to Currituck Sound (25%).
Thus, bike, walking and jogging paths and access to ocean and sound shorelines
emerge as recreational improvements perceived to be of high priority.
POLICY D-1: THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING BICYCLE,
WALKING, AND JOGGING PATHS.
POLICY D-2. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH AND ENCOURAGE THE SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC
ASSOCIATION TO MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND WHERE NEEDED, THE BEACH, SOUND, AND LAGOON
ACCESS POINTS AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHERN SHORES.
POLICY D-3. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO
INCREASE THE OCEAN BEACH PARKING AREA FOR THE NEAR TERM AND STUDY ALTERNATIVES
TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OCEAN AND SOUND BEACH PARKING FOR THE LONG TERM.
POLICY D-4. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSTRUCTION OF DUNE
WALKOVER STRUCTURES ALONG THE OCEAN.

32
E. Traffic and Transportation.
About 35 miles of hard -surface roads interlace the community, 30 miles of
Town roads and two State highways (U.S. 158, along the southern boundary,
and S.R. 1200 (Duck Road), which runs north into the Currituck Banks). The
primary interior Town roads are North Dogwood Trail which runs north from U.S.
158 and parallel to the sound, East Dogwood Trail which runs East from North
Dogwood Trail to the ocean and, Duck Road which runs North and South parallel
to the ocean.' A minor connection between U.S. 158 and Duck Road exists via
the Chicahauk Road network.
Internally, most roads feed into either Dogwood Trail (soundside) or Duck
Road (oceanside). Two additional interior roads (Hickory and Hillcrest),
which serve the open dunes area, connect with Duck Road to the east and merge
into Dogwood Trail to the west., Thus, although there are several roads which
feed into (or receive traffic from) Duck Road, these ultimately converge into
a single east/west interior connector, East Dogwood Trail. Through -traffic
(autos, trucks, campers) going to or coming from Duck and the Currituck Banks
often seek "short cuts" over Town roads increasing the volume.
The community does not have nor does it desire public transit service.
The concept of a seasonal Outer Banks public bus, at no financial obligation
to the Town, is supported.
Growth within Southern Shores and especially north and south of the Town
will continue. Current problems and conditions will be exacerbated:
(a) heavier traffic flow along U.S. 158 and on S.R. 1200 north to Duck and
beyond into the Currituck Banks; (b) more hazardous intersections;
(c) increasing dangers to families walking to the beach and to joggers and
bicyclists; and (d) a larger evacuation burden. A southern east/west internal
connector is precluded due to the location of the golf course.

33
The Town believes it can make such internal road adjustments as will be
required. It is virtually helpless, however, to correct or ameliorate
problems arising from greatly increased traffic flows to the Outer Banks
beaches and particularly the increase of traffic northward into the Currituck
Banks whose only outlet, at this time, is to the south, thus traversing
Southern Shores on both its eastern and southern flanks. In a very real
sense, Southern Shores is at the vortex, not only of burgeoning seasonal
traffic but also for emergency evacuation affecting the entire northern banks.
Viable solutions to these traffic problems are extremely limited.
Although the Town is powerless to provide direct access to the Currituck Banks
from the Currituck mainland, it has gone on record in two resolutions
supporting this alternative. Some problems can be mitigated however with
State cooperation. This includes lower speed limits, strict traffic
enforcement, clear and visible intersections and rights -of -way with
appropriate turn lanes, well maintained road surfaces and shoulders, etc.
It is important to note that road maintenance is perceived to be of very
high importance to residents and property owners in Southern Shores. From a
list of 18 public services and facilities provided in the 1985 Survey, more
respondents selected local road maintenance as being "most important" than any
other service or facility.

34
POLICY E-1. THE PRESENT NATURE AND CAPACITY OF DUCK ROAD ARE COMPATIBLE WITH
THE PRESENT AND INTENDED CHARACTER OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES. THE TOWN
iiilll IS OPPOSED TO ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN DUCK ROAD BUT STRONGLY SUPPORTS
REGULAR MAINTAINCE OF IT.
POLICY E-2. THE TOWN SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF PROVIDING VEHICULAR ACCESS TO
THE CURRITUCK BANKS FROM THE CURRITUCK MAINLAND BY MEANS OF A BRIDGE OR FERRY.
THIS WOULD PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF SOUTHERN SHORES, THE CURRITUCK BANKS, AND
WOULD PROVIDE A BADLY NEEDED HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTE.
POLICY E-3. THE TOWN STRONGLY URGES THE N.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
CONDUCT STUDIES AND TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR DEALING WITH TRAFFIC TO AND FROM
CURRITUCK BANKS BEFORE IT BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM.
POLICY E-4. THE EAST -WEST PORTION OF U.S. 158 THAT RUNS ALONG THE SOUTHERN
BOUNDARY OF SOUTHERN SHORES IS A VITAL LINK BETWEEN SOUTHERN SHORES AND THE
MAINLAND AND OTHER PARTS OF THE OUTER BANKS. THE TOWN URGES THE N.C.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSURE THAT ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INGRESS
AND EGRESS TO AND FROM SOUTHERN SHORES ARE PROVIDED IN WHATEVER CHANGES MAY BE
MADE TO THIS ROAD IN THE FUTURE.
To the extent the Town can, on its own authority, implement the above
recommendations it plans to do so as the circumstances warrant. To the extent
the initiative and determination resides in State agencies, the Town will
solicit careful consideration and appropriate support or action by such
agencies.

35
Hurricane and Storm Evacuation
Southern Shores participates in an overall Dare County Civil.Preparedness
Evacuation Plan. -While the town feels comfortable that its portion of the
County Plan is workable, there is a large degree of dependence on other
governments and agencies, and the efficiency of the total plan has not been
tested.
Southern Shores' concerns in this area focus on the possibility of
bumper -to -bumper evacuee traffic from the north and the south converging on
the Town and Wright Bridge with no opportunity for Town evacuees to.break into
the traffic stream or worse, a grid lock. While a full-scale evacuation
exercise is impractical, a plan of this type can and should be evaluated
analytically.
POLICY E-5. THE TOWN RECOMMENDS THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUE TO REEVALUATE THE
DARE COUNTY EVACUATION AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.
An important determinant of the ability of Southern Shores residents to
evacuate in the event of a hurricane is the capacity of Wright Bridge. The
1985 community survey asked several questions concerning this capacity. When
asked whether the residents believed that existing roads and bridges were
adequate for hurricane evacuation, approximately 50% indicated that they were
not, while about 23% did not have a strong opinion one way or the other. When
asked the more specific question of whether the Wright Bridge should be
expanded to four lanes, a more divided response resulted. While 37% supported
this idea, 36% were opposed to it. When asked whether an additional bridge to
the mainland should be constructed, a similar split resulted, with about 35%
supporting this idea and about 49% opposing it. Thus, no strong consensus for
such improvements appears to exist in the community. Of these two options,
however, expanding the Wright Bridge is the least offensive.

36
F. Public Service and Facilities
�! Water for•Household Consumption
Water for household consumption is obtained from wells on Roanoke Island
and disbributed through the Dare County Regional Water System. This system
has been -in operation for several years. The major overhead storage tank for
the northern end of the Dare Beaches is located in Souther
n Shores, insuring
adequate pressure for distribution. The central water system has been
projected to satisfy the requirements of the County through 1990, but growth
in the county and geologic problems at the wells has brought this projection
into question.
POLICY F-1. DRINKING WATER FROM WELLS AND SURFACE WATERS IN THE AREA IS
BELIEVED TO BE FREE OF HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION
THAT WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE
TOWN TO PROTECT THE QUALITY OF ITS WATER SUPPLY FROM WHATEVER SOURCE OF
R CONTAMINATTN.
The County Health Department confirms the satisfactory quality of tap
water at most rental housing units in the Town on an annual basis. The Town
has conducted a quality testing program for surface water (ponds, lagoons,
bay, sound) to confirm the satisfactory quality of these waters as well.
It is important to note that citizens of Southern Shores perceive the
provision of water to be of high importance. The results of the 1985
community survey indicate that nearly half of the respondents rated the water
system at "most important" among the list of services and facilities.

37
Need for Central Wastewater Treatment
In making an analysis of wastewater and disposal facilities, extensive
data has been accumulated from a 1977 Soil Survey of the Outer Banks made by
the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Additional information and advice has been
secured from the N.C. Department of Human Resources, Division of Health
Services; the N.C. Shellfish Sanitation Commission; and, the Dare County
Health Department.
The conclusions reached are that in most developed areas of Southern
Shores the soils are suitable for individual septic systems. In a few
instances where soils are questionable, septic system design and special soil
preparation can probably render the sites acceptable; the large lot size in
Southern Shores (averaging over 20,000 sq. ft.) minimizes problems of
contamination from individual septic systems. Multi -family development
requires an approved public or community disposal system.
POLICY F-2. DUE TO THE LARGE LOTS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE DESIGN OF
SUBDIVISIONS WHICH HAS LEFT THE MORE UNFAVORABLE SOILS IN OPEN SPACE AND THE
GENERALLY FAVORABLE SOILS FOR ON -LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL, THE TOWN WILL BE ABLE TO
ACCOMMODATE FUTURE GROWTH ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN TO
CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE SO THAT A CENTRAL SYSTEM WILL NOT BE NECESSARY.
This is monitored and implemented by the Dare County Health Department
and the Town Building Inspector. The zoning ordinance specifies minimum lot'
sizes and requires a community or "package" system for other than single-
family detached dwellings. The Town has adopted an ordinance regulating waste
water treatment which focuses primarily on multi -family structures and
"package" systems.

38
Solid Waste Collection
tJ Solid waste collection is a matter of special importance in Southern
�.1 Shores as it is in many similar communities. The Town has entered into an
agreement with a private contractor who will provide services designed to meet
the needs of the individual customer.
POLICY F-3. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND
DISPOSAL CAPACITY IS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE FUTURE NEEDS OF SOUTHERN SHORES BY
CONTRACTING WITH A QUALIFIED SERVICE, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE. THE TOWN WILL NOT
SET UP A COLLECTION SERVICE OF ITS OWN IN THE FORESEABLE FUTURE.
,:.. Fire and Police Protection
Respondents to the 1985 community survey rated police and fire protection
high in importance among a list of public services. From a list of 18, police
and fire ranked second and third in terms of the number of respondents
UUU indicating these services as "most important."
POLICY F-4. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN TO -INSURE THAT EFFICIENT FIRE AND
POLICE PROTECTION IS PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS.
Library Service
Library service is provided by the Dare County Library in Manteo from a
central 40,000 volume, 10,000 square foot facility. A bookmobile visits
Southern Shores twice a month and a book drop is conveniently located.
Decentralization of the -present system is being considered.
Public Education
Southern Shores is served by the Dare County Public School System. Kitty
Hawk Elementary School is located in Southern Shores. An expansion program

39
was completed in 1982 and another is planned for 1988. Students in Southern
Shores attend Kitty Hawk School for K-5, Manteo Middle School for grades 6-8,
and Manteo High School for grades 9-12.
The location of Kitty Hawk School in Southern Shores is not only
convenient for the attendance of the younger children but also provides an
excellent playground and location for community meetings and other functions.
Medical Services
There are several physicians in private practice within a 20-mile radius
of Southern Shores. Health Services are provided to the Town and its
residents by the Dare County Health Department in Manteo, N.C.
The Outer Banks Medical Center is a non-profit, outpatient, 24-hour
facility located in Nags Head. The Center is staffed by three physicians and
a normal complement of paraprofessional and administrative personnel. This
Center provides a vital service to the community and it has grown to meet the
needs of the population it serves.
General hospitals are located in Elizabeth City and Norfolk. It is
unlikely that the beach area will be able to support a hospital in the
foreseeable future.
Emergency movement and evacuation is a critical link between the services
of the local doctors, the Medical Center, and the hospitals. Dare County has
placed all emergency evacuation service under a Director of Emergency Medical
Service and ambulance drivers are county employees.
POLICY F-5. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN TO MONITOR THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES, SUCH AS MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES,
AND TO ENSURE THAT THESE KEEP PACE WITH FUTURE GROWTH.

40
Utilitv Lines
Southern Shores is served by Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company and
by the North Carolina Power Company. The telephone company has a substation
in Southern Shores. Both companies provide hook-up, as, required, to all areas
n of the Town._
Since the mid-1960s, utility lines in Southern Shores have been placed
underground. The older sections of the Town (in the lower beach and dune
areas), however, are still served by overhead lines. Overhead utility lines
in a treeless beach area are particularly unattractive and are vulnerable to
the severe weather conditions of the Outer Banks. Unfortunately, the few
L1 overhead lines feed the underground lines so whenever the overhead lines go
out the underground lines are out, too. Less than severe weather conditions
can cause salt build-up on lines and transformers which can also cause Ipower
U loss.
t,J Property owners' response in the 1985 survey was in favor of working with
the utility companies to place existing wires underground and, if necessary,
n to pay for the project from a combination of general revenues and assessment
of affected property owners.
POLICY F-6. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO
DEVELOP A LONG-RANGE PROGRAM TO PLACE ALL EXISTING LOCAL SERVICE AND
TRANSMISSION LINES UNDERGROUND.

41
G. Public Participation
The Southern Shores community has always encouraged active participation
of its residents in public affairs. Incorporation has not seen a lessening of
this attitude. Town meetings, public hearings, Civic Association meetings,
etc., are lively and well -attended. The Town will continue to encourage
active participation in all of it's planning activities and will provide ample
opportunity for those who choose to do so.
POLICY G-1. THE SOUTHERN SHORES LAND USE PLAN WILL BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED
PERIODICALLY. THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL PHASES OF
THE UPDATE PROCESS.
The Southern Shores Planning Board will review the Land Use Plan no less
frequently than every two years and, if appropriate, will recommend changes to
the Town Council.
H. Coordination and Cooperation
Both before and after incorporation the Town of Southern Shores received
a great deal of assistance from state, county, and neighboring town
governments. It is the intent of the Town to continue this spirit of
coordination and cooperation and to reciprocate wherever and whenever
possible.
The Town has supported, and continues to support, both formal and
informal efforts among local government leaders and agencies to work together
to solve common problems.
POLICY H-1. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE AND COOPERATE WITH STATE,
COUNTY, AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY GOVERNMENTS ON COMMON PROBLEMS AND OTHER
AREAS OF INTEREST.

42
Compatible development along a community's boundaries is of vital
interest to its citizens. Southern Shores is no exception. The Town's
eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean. On the west it is bounded by
Currituck Sound, Ginguite Bay, and Martins Point. The.extraterritorial
jurisdiction the Town exercises over Martins Point provides adequate control
over the western boundary.
POLICY H-2. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH DARE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF KITTY HAWK
TO INSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO THE TOWN IS
COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING OR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.
I. Land Classification
Southern Shores is divided into two distinct areas (see map on following
Page)
POLICY I-1. DEVELOPED. THAT PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN
SUBDIVIDED AND/OR TO WHICH AT LEAST SOME URBAN SERVICES, SUCH AS ROADS, WATER
AND UTILITIES ARE AVAILABLE IS CLASSIFIED AS DEVELOPED. THIS DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT STRUCTURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILT ON THE LAND. WHAT IT
DOES MEAN IS THAT THIS LAND IS APPROPRIATE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND MAY BE
DEVELOPED AT ANY TIME SUBJECT TO THE OTHER POLCIES OF THIS PLAN, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICY.
POLICY I-2. CONSERVATION. THAT PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH BECAUSE OF
ITS SPECIAL NATURE AND VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY SHOULD NEVER BE DEVELOPED IN THE
USUAL SENSE TO THE TERM; HOWEVER, SOME SITE MODIFICATION OR CONSTRUCTION MAY
BE APPROPRIATE DEPENDING ON THE NATURE AND VALUE OF THE SITE. FOR EXAMPLE AN
AREA ON CURRITUCK SOUND COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES.

LAND CLASSIFICATION
Developed
® Conservation
ATLANTIC
CURRI TUCK
Noilh
e000 2000 oleo
TOWN OF
SOUTHERN SHORES
1988
:he preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, 'through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. rr �ry
GINGUl TE

44
J. Hurricane Hazard Mitigation and Reconstruction Policy
Coastal storms and hurricanes, once viewed as freak occurrences, are now
recognized as a part of the natural coastal processes and the damage to human
settlements is the result of locating these settlements where these natural
processes occur. Recognizing that storms do occur and will continue to occur
and that the Town of Southern Shores is clearly in.an area where significant
damage may result the question arises as to what policies, if any, the Town
should pursue.
There are three basic approaches that are used in efforts to make
construction in areas subject to severe coastal storms less likely to be
damaged by these storms.
The most widely used approach is to "stiffen" the barrier island so that
the wave action, storm surge and flooding will not reach the settlement. This
has been done with bulkheads, groins, jetties, revetments and other devices.
Experience has shown that these efforts to change the very nature of a barrier
island from energy absorbing to an energy deflecting have been very expensive
and often result in the destruction of the beaches. A variation on this theme
is beach renourishment.which-involves replacing beach sands lost to natural
processes (perhaps exacerbated by human intervention) with sand pumped in from
some other place. This too has proven to be very costly and often ephemeral
in that the new sand frequently stays in place for only a short period of
time.
A second measure is to build structures -so that they can better withstand
the effects of the storm: flooding, wind, and wave action. Studies have
shown -that design and construction standards which are appropriate for the
coastal area cannot eliminate storm damage but they can greatly reduce it.

® HAZARD AREA
ATLANTI C
OCEAN
outKW0
DUCK WOODS GOLF CLUB 11
c, OOG WOOD
CURRI TUCK SOUND _
,
OINOUI TE BAY
4000. 2000 0leet
MARTINS POINT
TOWN OF
SOUTHERN SHORES
I988 .
The preparation of this document was financed in pant through a grant provided C.CO
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.

46
a
A third measure is to manage development so that the amount of
ndevelopment built in hazardous areas is minimized. The early settlers of the
lJ Outer Banks recognized this and built their settlements in the higher and more
sheltered areas. Later development was built closer to the ocean but still in
back of the frontal dunes and hence sheltered from at least some of the storm.
forces. Recent development has g
sought to be "right on the beach,". in the most
(� hazardous area. Fortunately the pattern of development in Southern Shores
from the very outset has been to encourage development well back from the
ocean, out of hazardous areas. Low density development is less prone to
"domino" damage in which one failing structure damages others.
In order to avoid damage from coastal storms and hurricanes the Town of
Southern Shores:
POLICY J-I* SUPPORTS THE COASTAL RESOURCES COMMISSION POLICY LIMITING THE
USE OF BARRIER ISLAND "STIFFENING,"
POLICY J-2. DOES NOT ANTICIPATE AND WILL NOT SUPPORT BEACH NOURISHMENT AS.A
TOWN ACTIVITY;
POLICY J-3.. WILL VIGOROUSLY ENFORCE THE STATE BUILDING CODE AND WILL ACTIVLY
COOPERATE WITH THE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE
COASTAL PROVISIONS;
POLICY J-4. ENCOURAGES.HOME OWNERS TO EXAMINE EXISTING STRUCTURES AND TO
RETROFIT THEM, WHERE APPROPRIATE, WITH NEW STRENGTHENING DEVICES AND/OR TO
REPLACE THOSE THAT MAY HAVE RUSTED OR ERODED..

47
POLICY J-5. WILL ENCOURAGE PUBLIC AND SEMI-PUBLIC BUILDING PROJECTS TO
CONSIDER DESIGN AND LOCATION PROGRAMS WHICH WILL PERMIT THE BUILDING TO BE
USED AS A STORM SHELTER.
POLICY J-6. ENCOURAGE BUILDERS TO LOCATE WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
AWAY FROM HAZARDOUS AREA.
POLICY J-7. ENCOURAGE THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION SO AS
TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF STORMS.
POLICY J-8. WILL ADHERE TO THE EXISTING PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT SINCE IT HAS
PRODUCED A SETTLEMENT PATTERN IN WHICH A COMPARATIVELY MINISCULE AMOUNT OF
PROPERTY IS AT HIGH RISK.
POLICY J-9. RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING A STORM WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW
DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ESTABLISHED IN THIS PLAN, THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND
SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE. IT IS CLEAR THAT LOW DENSITY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT IS DESIRED BY THE RESIDENTS AND LAND OWNERS OF SOUTHERN SHORES AND
THAT THIS PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT MINIMIZES THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY AND THE
NUMBER OF LIVES AT RISK AND IT IS THEREFORE THE POLICY OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN
SHORES THAT ANY RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING A STORM SHOULD CONFORM TO THE
ESTABLISHED PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT.
POLICY J-10. EVACUATION PLANNING IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY. THE
TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH THE COUNTY TO INSURE
THAT THE COUNTY PLAN IS AS EFFECTIVE AS IT CAN BE. AT THE SAME TIME IT IS
RECOGNIZED THAT EVACUATION OF THE TOWN INVOLVES NOT ONLY DARE COUNTY BUT TO A

U
48
VERY GREAT'EXTENT CURRITUCK COUNTY AND THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. THE TOWN WILL
ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE COUNTY AND STATE OFFICIALS TO INSURE THAT THE EVACUATION
PLANS OF THE ENTIRE REGION ARE CAREFULLY COORDINATED.
a J-11. ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUAL PREPAREDNESS AND WILL INSTITUTE LOCAL PRACTICES TO
HELP INSURE THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS AND GUESTS KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF A
MAJOR STORM.
K. General
The results of both the 1980 survey and the 1985 survey make it
(� abundantly clear that the residents and land owners of the Town of Southern
Shores chose to live and buy land in Southern Shores because of the natural
setting of the Town and because they believed that the Town could and would
nreserve that natural setting while allowing the Town to develop as a low
�.J density, single family residential community. This entire plan is committed
to that end.
n The objectives of residents of other parts of the Outer Banks appear to
)' be similar if not identical and the land use plans of many of the localities
LLL111 reflect this. There are, however, a number of realities that affect the
aquality of life that are beyond the control of individual communities.
Examples have been mentioned in this plan: hurricane evacuation,
transportation, and water supply.
POLICY K-1. THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES URGES THE COUNTY, THE ALBEMARLE
('} COMMISSION AND THE N.C. COASTAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TO EXPLORE WAYS IN WHICH
u THESE AND OTHER ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE ENTIRE REGION CAN BE ADDRESSED AS A
WHOLE RATHER THAN PIECEMEAL.

L1
49
The quality of life in southern shores and the outer banks depends on the "
ability of the natural and human built systems to absorb the impacts of
development. When the amount or type of development exceeds the capacity of
these systems the quality of life suffers, perhaps irreparably.
POLICY K-2. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN OF SOUTHERN SHORES TO INSURE THAT
THE.TYPE AND AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE ABILITY OF THE NATURAL
AND HUMAN BUILT SYSTEMS TO ABSORB THAT DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT CAUSING IRREPARABLE
DAMAGE. _

Appendix I
Transition of the 1980 Land Use Plan
To insure that -there was an adequate transition made between the previous
Land Use Plan and this plan each policy of the previous plan was examined to
determine the extent to which each had been carried out and whether it should
be incorporated.into this plan. What follows is a list of all of those
policies and a brief discussion of each.
POLICY 1. The basic objective within the ocean erodible areas is to maintain
the line of oceanfront sand dunes by protecting the vegetation which
stabilizes the dune system.
The Town currently implements this policy by: (a) prohibiting the
construction of buildings within the Ocean Erodible Areas; (b) enforcing an
ordinance banning use of vehicles off roads; (c) encouraging the construction
of wooden walkways and steps to the beach, as well as elevated observation
platforms; and, finally, (d) encouraging the installation'of sand fences in
areas where erosion has occurred.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy C-1.
POLICY 2. Within the high hazard flood areas the Town will enforce the
standards prescribed by the Federal Insurance Administration.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as'Policy C-2.
POLICY 3. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE APPROPRIATE STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES
IN PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY. \ OF PUBLIC TRUST WATERS WITHIN SOUTHERN SHORES.

51
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy C-3.
POLICY 4. THE TOWN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF COASTAL WETLANDS AS A
BREEDING GROUND FOR FISH, SHRIMP AND CERTAIN ANIMALS, BIRDS AND PLANTS. NO
SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY IS CURRENTLY PERMITTED WITHIN THIS AEC.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy C-4.
POLICY 5. THE TO4N WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WITH
THE STATE OFFICE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN MANAGING ESTUARINE SHORELINES.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy C-5.
POLICY 6. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE TOWN TO IDENTIFY A VARIETY OF NATURAL
RESOURCES WHICH DO NOT QUALIFY FOR AEC STATUS UNDER CAMA: TO ENCOURAGE THE
RETENTION OF FOREST GROWTH AND NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE
PROTECTION OF MARITIME FOREST AREAS: TO MAINTAIN A SUITABLE HABITAT FOR
ANIMALS AND BIRDS INDIGENOUS TO THE AREA: AND TO DISTURB THE NATURAL TERRAIN
AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
The Town has implemented this policy by: (a) designating the Town as a
Bird Sanctuary;,(b) enacting an ordinance prohibiting the use of firearms
within Town limits; and, (c) prohibiting off -road use of vehicles. The Town
Council and the Civic Association encourage citizens to protect such resources
on a voluntary basis. The Town will also consider amendments to its
development ordinances which will work to protect vegetated areas, and which
will restrict the amount of vegetation that is permitted to be lost during the
development process.

52
n This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
t.! present Land Use Plan as Policy C-6.
ttttJJJJ POLICY 7. DRINKING WATER FROM WELLS AND SURFACE WATERS IN THE AREA ARE
DBELIEVED TO BE FREE OF HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO INDICATION
aTHAT HARMFUL WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY.
Drinking water is now obtained from the regional water system operated by
(� Dare` County.
�J This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the.
present Land Use Plan as Policy F-1.
a POLICY 8. DUE TO THE LARGE LOTS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE DESIGN OF
SUBDIVISIONS WHICH HAS LEFT THE MORE UNFAVORABLE SOILS IN OPEN SPACE, AND THE
GENERALLY FAVORABLE SOILS FOR ON -LOT SEWAGE DISPOSAL, THE TOWN WILL BE ABLE TO
ACCOMMODATE FUTURE GROWTH ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS. IT IS NOT ANTICIPATED THAT A
aPUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM WILL BE NECESSARY.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy F-2.'
POLICY 9. THE TOWN WILL SEEK REMEDIES TO AVERT FLOODING SUCH AS THAT WHICH
OCCURRED DURING THE ASH WEDNESDAY STORM.
There are no economically feasible options for dealing with this. The
general concern is dealt with in Policy J-1 et seq.
POLICY 10. THE.TOWN WILL RECOMMEND THAT THE COUNTY SPONSOR AN ANALYTICAL
OEVALUATION OF THE DARE COUNTY EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES.
This is being addressed in the carrying capacity study being done by Dare
County and is also addressed in Policy E-5, Policy J-10, and Policy K-1 of the
present plan.

53
POLICY 11. THE TOWN IS PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY AND THEREFORE DOES
NOT DESIRE TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, MINING, FISHERIES, INDUSTRY,
ENERGY FACILITIES, OR TOURIST -RELATED RECREATION.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy B-1.
POLICY 12. THE TOWN WILL SEEK TO ACQUIRE AND MANAGE ALL INLAND WATERWAYS
(LAGOONS) CONNECTING WITH CURRITUCK SOUND AND GINGUITE BAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING A SINGLE TOWN ENTITY FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT.
POLICY 13. THE TOWN WILL ENACT APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES REGULATING SPECIFIC
MATTERS PERTINENT TO THE CONTROL, MANAGEMENT, AND PRESERVATION OF INLAND
WATERWAYS AND THEIR USE (OR ABUSE) SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF PIERS,
BULKHEADS, BOAT OPERATIONS, NOISE, LITTER, AND POLLUTANTS.
POLICY 14. THE TOWN IN COOPERATION WITH ALL OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
(SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC ASSOCIATION, CHICAHAUK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, KITTY
HAWK LAND COMPANY) WILL DEVELOP A LONG RANGE POLICY REGARDING THE
PRESERVATION, MAINTENANCE, AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL PROPERTIES BORDING ON ALL
BODIES OF WATER - INLAND, SOUND, AND OCEAN. SUCH POLICIES SHOULD CONSIDER
CONTINGENCIES LIKELY TO ARISE FROM EMERGENCY CONDITIONS SUCH AS FLOODS,
HURRICANES, AND STORMS.
.These policies are being.implemented by regulatory and management
provisions of an ordinance adopted by the Town.
The concerns are addressed in Policies B-3, B-4 and B-5 of the present
plan. n
POLICY 15. THE TOWN DESIRES TO MAINTAIN A MIX OF RESIDENTIAL ZONING. MULTI- U
FAMILY DISTRICTS ARE ACCEPTABLE AS CONSTITUTED AND WILL NOT BE INCREASED.

54
POLICY 16. THE COMMERCIAL ZONE IS ACCEPTABLE AS CURRENTLY CONSTITUTED AND
LJ WILL NOT BE INCREASED. USES PERMITTED IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE WILL ONLY BE
LJ THOSE THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF SOUTHERN SHORES AND THAT THE CITIZENS
DESIRE.
POLICY 17. THE TOWN WILL RESTRICT MOTELS/HOTELS TO A SEPARATE ZONE IN THE
VICINITY OF THE OLD SOUTHERN SHORES MOTOR LODGE.
POLICY 18. OWNERS OF PROPERTY IN THE RS-1 DISTRICT ARE.ENTITLED TO VISUAL AND
NOISE BUFFERS FROM COMMERCIAL FACILITIES.
POLICY 19. MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT OF THIRTY FEET IS MORE CONSISTENT WITH
COMMUNITY HOUSING,STANDARDS THAN THE CURRENTLY PERMITTED THIRTY-FIVE FEET.
All of these policies have been and continue to be implemented by the
Zoning Ordinance.
Policies 15 and 16 are incorporated into the present Land Use Plan as
Policies B-5 and B-6.
Policy 17 has been obviated by a multi -family development that is to be
built on that site.
Policy 19 has been incorporated into the present Land Use Plan as
Policy B-7.
POLICY 20. THE TOWN WILL INITIATE PLANNING'FOR A NEW TOWN HALL AND TAKE
ACTION TO ACQUIRE LAND FOR TOWN FACILITIES IN THE VICINITY OF THE FIRE
STATION.
The Town Hall was dedicated in 1985.
POLICY 21. THE TOWN WILL START A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
A capital improvements fund was established in 1981. The first
improvement was the new Town Hall.

55
POLICY 22. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND STUDY ALTERNATIVES TO THE
CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION.
The fire department has been reorganized. This concern is addressed in
Policy F-4 of the present Land Use Plan.
POLICY 23. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH DARE COUNTY TO DEVELOP A POLICY ON
EXTENSION OF THE WATER SYSTEM.
The regional water system now serves all -of Southern Shores.
POLICY 24. THE OUTER BANKS MEDICAL CENTER RENDERS A VITAL SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY. THE TOWN WILL PROVIDE FULL SUPPORT TO THE CENTER AND ITS
PROGRAMS.
POLICY 25. THE TOWN SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY EVACUATION SERVICE
AND WILL MONITOR THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED.
These continue to be of concern -and are addressed in Policy F-5 of the
present Land Use Plan. -
POLICY 26. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM
TO PLACE ALL EXISTING AND FUTURE LOCAL SERVICE AND TRANSMISSION LINES
UNDERGROUND.
All new service and transmission lines are being placed underground.
Placing existing lines underground continues to be an expensive problem.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy F-6.
POLICY 27. THE TOWN WILL CONSULT AND COOPERATE WITH STATE AGENCIES IN THE
DETERMINATION OF NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS AND SAFEGUARDS ON U.S. 158 BORDERING
THE TOWN ARISING OUT OF PROBABLE INCREASED TRAFFIC FLOW BROUGHT ABOUT BY ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S. 158 IN CURRITUCK COUNTY AND THE STEADY GROWTH OF THE
ENTIRE OUTER BANKS AREA.

56
Improvements have been made and others are being planned.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy E-4.
POLICY 28. THE TOWN WILL CONSULT WITH AND SEEK STATE ASSISTANCE IN EFFORTS TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF INCREASED TRAFFIC ON DUCK ROAD (S.R."1200) CAUSED BY
ANY POSSIBLE STATE ACTION EXTENDING S.R. 1200 INTO THE CURRITUCK BANKS.
DOT continues to monitor this situation by doing periodic traffic
studies.
The concern is addressed in Policies E-1, E-2, and E-3 of the present
Land Use Plan.
POLICY 29. THE TOWN WILL URGE THE STATE TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO IMPLEMENT -
ITS DECISION (FOLLOWING A PUBLIC HEARING IN JULY 1979) TO CORRECT HAZARDOUS
AND BOTTLENECK TRAFFIC CONDITIONS NOW EXISTING AT THE 6-WAY INTERSECTION OF
U.S. 158, BY-PASS 158, SKYLINE ROAD, PIER ROAD, AND S.R. 1200 ACCESS
(PROJECT W-441)
This has been completed. -
POLICY 30. THE TOWN WILL REQUEST THAT THE STATE STUDY TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AND
HAZARDS AT INTERSECTIONS OF TOWN ROADS WITH U.S. 158 WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION
TO THE DOGWOOD TRAIL INTERSECTION WHICH ALSO SERVES THE KITTY HAWK ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL AND DUCK WOODS GOLF COURSE: AND THAT -THE STATE MONITOR, ON A PERIODIC
BASIS, PEAK TRAFFIC FLOWS THROUGH SOUTHERN SHORES ON THE -DUCK ROAD (S.R.
1200).
This critical intersection is to be redesigned in 1986.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy E-4.

57
POLICY 31. THE TOWN WILL UNDERTAKE, WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE DEVELOPER,
FEASIBLE MEANS TO PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY ACCESS EAST/WEST ROAD THROUGH THE
NORTHWESTERN SECTOR OF THE TOWN CONNECTING WITH DOGWOOD TRAIL NORTH. -
This has been accomplished.
POLICY 32. THE TOWN SUPPORTS A SEASONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT BUS, KITTY HAWK TO
NAGS HEAD, WITHOUT ANY COMMITMENT OF TOWN REVENUES FOR ITS OPERATION.
RESIDENTS HOWEVER HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY INDICATED LACK OF INTEREST FOR PUBLIC
TRANSIT WITH THE TOWN.
No action is required. The concept is supported on Page 31 of the
present Land Use Plan.
POLICY 33. THE TOWN WILL NOT ADVERTISE OR OTHERWISE PROMOTE THE. COMMUNITY OF
SOUTHERN SHORES IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE YEAR-ROUND OR SEASONAL POPULATION.
This has_been accomplished.
POLICY 34. THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH DARE COUNTY TO INSURE THAT ZONING AND
DEVELOPMENT OF PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO ITS BOUNDARIES IS COMPATIBLE IN LAND
USAGE WITH THAT EXISTING OR PLANNED FOR ADJACENT AREAS OF THE TOWN.
Since this policy was adopted Kitty Hawk has.been incorporated and has
adopted a Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is.incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy H-2.
POLICY 35. THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE AND COOPERATE WITH STATE,.
COUNTY AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY GOVERNMENTS ON COMMON PROBLEMS AND OTHER
AREAS OF INTEREST.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy H-1.

58
POLICY 36. THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ANNEXING THE GOLF COURSE
AND MARTINS POINT.
The golf course has been annexed. Martins Point does not qualify for
annexation at this time.
POLICY 37. THE TOWN WILL STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CONSTRUCTING BICYCLE,
WALKING, JOGGING PATHS.
A study has indicated that building these paths would be very expensive.
Other alternatives will be explored and this continues to be of interest in
Dthe present Land Use Plan. (Policy D-1).
POLICY 38, THE TOWN WILL WORK WITH THE SOUTHERN SHORES CIVIC ASSOCIATION TO
INCREASE THE OCEAN BEACH PARKING AREA FOR THE NEAR TERM AND STUDY ALTERNATIVES
aTO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BEACH PARKING FOR THE LONG TERM.
The Southern Shores Civic Association has completed a major expansion of
nthe ocean beach parking area. Other areas have been selected for improvement.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
present Land Use Plan as Policy D-2.
POLICY 39. THE SOUTHERN SHORES LAND USE PLAN WILL BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED
ANNUALLY. THE PUBLIC WILL BE OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL
PHASES OF THE UPDATE PROCESS.
This has been accomplished.
This continues to be the policy of the Town and is incorporated into the
apresent Land Use Plan as Policy G-1.

Appendix II
Summary of Attitudinal Survey
As part of its land use plan update process, the Town of Southern Shores
conducted a mail survey of attitudes about growth and development.
Questionnaires were mailed to the 1,757 individuals owning property in the
town; 836 completed surveys were returned, for a response rate of
approximately 48%.
Quite decidedly respondents do not want Southern Shores to become more
tourist -oriented, or to increase its accommodation of tourists (e.g., motels,
retail shops). They appear to accept the inevitability of growth, but do not
feel that.Southern Shores should grow beyond the capacity of its existing
facilities and services. If services and facilities must be expanded to
accomodate future growth, respondents generally feel that it should be'
developers and new homeowners that bear the cost of these expansions, and not
the public at -large.
Respondents are very supportive of the need for carefully managing future
growth in Southern Shores. About 96% either agreed or strongly agreed with
the statement that future growth should be managed to minimize negative
effects on environmental quality.
When asked whether commercial uses should be permitted in other parts of
the town, 96% of the respondents answered in the negative. The fairly clear
impression of respondents_is that existing commercial areas are adequate, and
should not be permitted to expand, either in existing locations or in other
parts of the town. Hotels and motels, and gas stations, are considered by
respondents to be most inappropriate commercial uses. Nearly 80% of the
respondents to this question felt that hotels and motels were either
inappropriate or very inappropriate.
Most survey respondents (80%) felt that the existing 30 foot height
limitation for single-family residential structures was adequate, while a
majority of respondents (73%) believed that Southern Shores needs an ordinance
to prevent the unnecessary loss of vegetation during the construction process.
About 755 of the respondents believe that the town needs more open space in
forested and vegetated areas.
OThe natural environment emerges as a key feature to property owners and
residents of Southern Shores. About 94% of the respondents either agreed or
strongly agreed with the statement they had chosen to live in Southern Shores
a because of the natural environment. A majority of respondents (63%) believe
that the natural processes of the barrier island should be accepted as given
and that they should not be significantly interferred with through the
construction of seawalls., bulkheads, etc. even in the ocean area.
Residents of Southern Shores are split on the issue of whether the Wright
nBridge should be expanded to four lanes. Approximately 37% agreed or strongly
U

M
agreed that such improvements are needed, while about 45% disagree or strongly a
disagreed. Opinion was equally split on the need for an additional bridge to
the mainland. (�
Respondents were asked to evaluate the importance of a number of public �J
services and facilities. Clearly the four categories most frequently selected
as most important are: maintenance of local roads (63.5%), fire protection
(61.75), police protection (57.9%), and water system (45.5%). This is not
surprising as these are the most basic types of safety and life support
services. a second tier of important services and facilities emerged, and U
includes the following: emergency management and hurricane evacuation lJ
(28.5%), need to bury utility lines (27.9%), public sewer (20.7%), traffic
control and management (19.7%) and bike and walking trails (18.5%).
Respondents are overwhelmingly in favor of cooperating with other beach
communities in coordinating and consolidating selected services and
facilities.
Responses to an open-ended question yielded comments which confirm the
above findings. Generally, respondents indicated great concern for jl
maintaining the single-family residential character of the community, u
protecting the natural environment, and carefully managing future growth and
development. a