MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING DUNES AND VEGETATION
MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2002 – 9:00 A.M.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
            Present were Mayor Arthur Schools, Commissioners McElraft, Marks, Farmer, Messer, Eckhardt, Town Manager Frank Rush, Town Clerk Carolyn Custy, Planning Board members Ed Dowling, Anne Erikson, Art Daniel, Pat Patteson, Richard Brauns and Frank Erwin.

Mr. Dowling commented he would go through each item again but there has already been one working session on this ordinance.  When they looked at the ordinance, they looked at the beach, the interior to the sound.  The total Emerald Isle Complex is encompassed.  This ordinance ties in closely with the new subdivision ordinance. 

A lot of discussion took place on the removal for personal use only of sand ( page 2 paragraph (1) and it was felt that should not take place from a commercial venture.  That first paragraph pertains to monetary gain.  It does not touch base with anyone removing seashells from the beach front itself.

Paragraph (2), page 2 – the normal maintenance of lawns from poison Ivey standpoint or briers or similar harmful vegetation is not affected.  The person still can mow the lawn and work on the lawn.  The sentence “Nothing more than hand held equipment may be used” is very important.  This is necessary to tie down and preclude any bulldozing or clear cutting.  The last three sentences “Nothing herein shall be construed as allowing the willful cutting or removal of any live vegetation such as dune grasses, brushes, shrubs, and trees having a diameter of 3 inches or greater” – the standard throughout this documentation calls for 3 inches or greater which gives you for live oak and other trees that are hard in nature, probably 15 year old trees.  The Crepe Myrtle and soft trees will grow within that standard of about 2 to 3 years.  The selection of 36 inches in height was selected.

DEFINITIONS – Changes in this area were the Building Inspector shall serve as the DVPO. 

The word “Dunes” was defined and at the request of the Building Inspector, the Planning Board put in the word “frontal”.

The Coastal Area Management definition was clearly defined.  Commissioner Farmer reminded Mr. Dowling there was no Coastal Area Management Agency but there is a Coastal Area Management Act. 

Other suggested changes noted were the insertion of a sentence on Page 3 “This definition is adopted by this chapter for further description”; “Those interior, non-waterfront, properties ……..also on page 3 (2); Page 3 – need to condense and clarify definition of maritime forest;  add “This requirement for “clusters” should not be in definitions but worked into the standards somehow. 

Other areas of concern were discussed, and the sub-committee said it would consider those concerns and come back with a revised version. The sub-committee will strive to present the ordinance in a manner that is easily understandable.

Another Special Meeting for the purpose of a workshop on the Dunes and Vegetation Ordinance will be scheduled at a later date.

   

This meeting was adjourned at 1:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn K. Custy
Certified Municipal Clerk