Williamson, John

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oceanisle
B E A C H
May 22, 2017 Exemption No: Qtr 4.12
John W and Grace Williamson
410 Ridgewood Drive
Hartwell, GA 30643
RE: EXEMPTED PROJECT SAND FENCE -15A NCAC 07K .0212
OCEAN HAZARD AEC
PROJECT LOCATION/ADDRESS - 432 East Second Street
Dear Sir or Madam:
I have reviewed the information submitted to this office in your inquiry concerning the necessary filing of an
application for a minor development permit under the Coastal Area Management Act. After making a site krspeclon on
May 22, 2017, 1 have determined that the activity you propose is exempt from needing a minor development permit as
long as it is installed in accordance with the attached specifications, and meets the conditions specified below. If your
plans should change and your project will no longer meet these conditions, please contact me before proceeding.
SAND FENCE CONDITIONS:
(1) Sand fencing may only be installed for the purpose of: building sand dunes by trapping wind blown sand; the
protection of the dune(s) and vegetation (planned or existing).
(2) Sand fencing shall not impede existing public access to the beach, recreational use of the beach or emergency
vehicle access. Sand fencing shall not be installed in a manner that impedes or restricts established common
law and statutory rights of public access and use of public trust lands and waters.
(3) Sand fencing shall not be installed in a manner that impedes, traps or otherwise endangers sea turtles: sea
turtle nests or sea turtle hatchlings.
(4) Non-functioning, damaged, or unsecured sand fence shall be immediately removed by the property owner.
(5) Sand fencing shall be constructed from evenly spaced thin wooden vertical slats connected with twisted wire,
no more than 5 feet in height Wooden posts or stakes no larger than 2" X 4" or 3" diameter shall support sand
fencing.
(6) Location. Sand fencing shall be placed as far landward as possible to avoid interference with sea turtle nesting,
existing public access, recreational use of the beach, and emergency vehicle access.
(a) Sand fencing shall not be placed on the wet sand beach area.
(b) Sand fencing installed parallel to the shoreline shall be located no farther waterward than the
crest of the frontal or primary dune; or
(c) Sand fencing installed waterward of the crest of the frontal or primary dune shall be Iastaled at
an angle no less than 45 degree to the shoreline. Individual sections of sand fence sM not
exceed more than 10 feet in length, and shall be spaced no less than seven "BCFnJVEQ
shalt not extend more than 10 feet waterward of the following locations, s TON, NC
waterward: the first line of stable natural vegetation, the toe of the frontal r nmary ne, a
erosion escarpment of frontal or primary dune. MAY 2 3 2017
TOWN OF OCEAN ISLE BEACH / 3 W. THIRD STREET / OCEAN ISLE BEACH, NC 28469
[phone] / FAX [phone] / WWW.OIBGOV.COM

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May 22, 2017
John W and Grace Williamson
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This exemption to CAMA permit requirements does not alleviate the necessity of your obtaining any other State,
Federal or Local authorization. This exemption expires 90 days from the date of the letter.
Sincerely,
Keith Dycus, LPO
Town of Ocean Isle Beach
3 West Third Street
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469
cc: Sean Farrell

!Fast Facts,-:: San& encing-Permit and Exemption Guidelines
Permit guidelines and.exemption criteria-forthe installatio
of sand fences along the oceanfrom:took:effect Aug. 1,
2002:
When properly installed, sand fences.fieip builddunes by
trapping wind-blownsand. But -if installed improperly, they
can impede.publicaccess to the beach, and eantrap:or,
endanger sea turtles theirnests, or hatchiings.
Under -the new giiidelin'esi property, owners who follow
certain criteria_ will be eligible fouan exemption from
Cbastal-Area Management Act-peimif requiiement's. If.
property -owners want to put up sand fences-thatdiffer
from the criteriai they, will -have to apply1cona: CAMA-mino
development permit The new rule"s do not apply to fence:
installed prior to Aug, 15
What the guidelines say
The guidelines create a CAMA minor permit and an exemption.for sand fencing. To qualify for the e-x-M p6on
installation of new sand fencing has to meet the, following criteria:
• Thefencingmust be no taller than 5 feet and built from evenly spaced -thin wooden -vertical slats cmnected
with twisted wire.
• The fencing must be placed as fWlandwafd.as possible to avoid interference with sea turtle. es;ft public
access'and use'of the beach. It must not be,placed on the wet -sand; beach.
• If fencing; is to be placed parallel to the s_horeline,. it must n_ot be located wateiward of the crest of Uie frontal or
primary dune:_
If fencing; is to be placed-waterward of the crest of the dune, it -must be instalied at a 45-'degree orgm— tet
angle to,the shoreline. Each.section of fence_must riot be longer than 10 feet, and sections must bespaced'at:
least 7 feet apart.
• Fencing,tnust not e$tend more than 10 feet beyond either the first line of stable naturalvegetatlon$to toe of,
the frontal or prtmaryX dune; or erosion escarpment of the dune„whichever is closest to the vrdfir,
. Sand fencing to be placed along public accesses may be as long as the access, and may -include 46 degree
funnel on the waterward end. The funnel may extend, up to 10feefbeyond the-end'of,the access.
Why the guidelines are needed
In recent years,, the amount'of sand fencing along.the coast has grown significantly as property owners scyght to
protect their homes from storms and long-term beach erosion. As such, miles ofsand fencing — some ofWijihh is
improperly installed or neglected - now line the state's beaches.
Because improper sand ferieing.can pose a threat to sea, turtles, the state, Wildlife Resources C,oftltnlsglaj'has
developed voluntary sand lencing guidelines.
Several beach communities had attempted to address the issue through sand fencing ordinances, but the scope of
the problem required state attention: The CRC's new regulatory guidelines were developed in cooperatfoiiwitlt the
WRC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service..

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