Va. Pilot: Growth in Currituck
posted @ 11:52 AM
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4 comments
Intersting article on the Va. Pilot NC section dealing with the lack of growth along the Rt. 158 corridor in Currituck County. Accepting for the minute the premise that commercial development along the road to the Outer Banks has not been heavy as expected the reasons are very telling.For more than a decade, longrange plans by county agencies and boards have called for clean commercial development along the highway.Former Currituck Chamber of Commerce President Willo Kelly cites the same reason.
“We’re still waiting,” said Paul Farr, a member of Currituck County’s economic development board.
Two of the biggest factors hindering more rapid business development are stalled plans to build a midcounty bridge to the Currituck Outer Banks and the lack of a countywide sewer system, Farr said. Mature development of the southern end of Currituck could be more than a decade away, he said.
Kelly has said for years that the county’s lack of a sewer system is stalling economic development. A countywide system would cost millions, and while a public sewer is in the works for the Moyock area, it would be years before it reached the southern end of the county.
What does it say if the availablity of central sewage is what is keeping business out of Currituck. It says that central systems don't make businesses pay their fair share and put the burden of commercial development on residential property owners who are forced to hook up to central system but don't need them because their on site systems are working well. Imagine the density of development that is being considered in Currituck if it requires central sewage. Does not sound pretty.
Imagine if central sewage is in stalled where the businesses want to be, on the beach. Just one more little proof the central sewage promotes high density commercial devleopment. Exactly the kind we don't need on the Outer Banks.
Question? If the article is about development in Currituck (or the lack of it) Why use a photo of a Nags Head construction site? Why not a vacant Currituck field?
posted by BOBXNC @ 11:52 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
BM,
Isn't it the responsibility of elected officials to see that commercial businesses pay their fair share? Are you saying that Nags Head's town council(s) would buckle to high pressure for more density from developers/businesses if they had central sewerage? Isn't it time all businesses on the beach (e.g. mini-hotels) were treated as "businesses" and made to pay their fair share. It is one thing to be a "tax collector" ( as in the case of the mini-hotels) and another to be a "taxpayer". Agree?
JR Here,
On your first point, I strongly believe that central sewate leads directly to increased density. I think it is driven incrementally but driven none the less. Actually on-site wastewater systems can support much the same densities as centralized systems. The big difference, as it relates to development is how the costs are spread.
As to your second point, I believe that additional regulations for rental homes are inevitable. Nags Head started this process when they adopted different implementations plans for parking requirements for rental homes and residences. This created a separate class and opened the door to further regulation. As to how they should be taxed, I am not clear on what you are a suggesting. There are already taxes on the revenue streams (sales and occupancy) and I assume the owners pay either personal or corporate income taxes of some type on the "profits". I am not sure what other taxes you want to implement and how you differentiate whether the money comes from revenues collected by the owners (your "tax collector" or is some how a punative tax against the property not paid from revenues (your "Tax payer") Let me know what tax you plan to impose and I will be happy to share an opinion.
J. Ridge.
Would love to hear your ideas on what..."additional regulations for rental homes are inevitable"....
Most folks here on the Outer Banks would welcome such. For example, 10 and 60 foot setbacks should have gone out the window long ago, and surely by the time beach erosion became such a controversial issue.
I'm sure you know (as does the taxman and realtor) that the amount of "personal or corporate income taxes" paid by the owners of these rental machines would not sink a kayak. Don't you agree its time local government bulked up its muscle and went to Raleigh for legislation to treat these "investment properties" as businesses? For example, a $500 per year license on each of the 12,000+ mini-hotels on the beach would bring in enough revenue to build one elementary school over a two year period; or buy a large parcel of land (if you can find it) and build some nice public housing so the working people who clean them can have a place to live. What are your ideas here?
It's a picture of Nags Head because it's just another one of those articles Mike's new press-hound wife called into her ex, Jeff Hampton at the Pilot. Likely she knows no more about Nags Head then she does about sewage...
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