TOWN OF Nags Head NORTH CAROLINA Comprehensive Plan July 5, 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Bob Edwards, Mayor Susie Walters, Mayor Pro Tem Renée Cahoon Marvin Demers John Ratzenberger FOCUS ADVISORY COMMTITEE TOWN STAFF Susie Walters Holly B. White, Principal Planner Kate Murray Andy Garman, Deputy Town Manager Dave Elder Molly Harrison Contributing Margaret Suppler Cliff Ogburn, Town Manager Ben Cahoon Kelly Wyatt, Deputy Director of Planning/Zoning Melanie Smith Administrator Dorie Fuller David Morton, Chief Building Inspector John Juzwiak Lily Campos Nieberding, Permitting Coordinator Todd Krafft, Environmental Planner PLANNING BOARD Kevin Brinkley, Chief of Police Mark Cornwell, Chair Kevin Zorc, Fire Chief Kate Jones Chad Motz, Ocean Rescue Supervisor Mike Siers Amy Miller, Finance Officer Mark Ballog Brie Floyd, Director of Human Resources Michael Reilly Ralph Barile, Public Works Director Kristi Wright Mike Norris, Facilities Maintenance Dave Elder Superintendent David Ryan, Town Engineer Ben Reilly (Past) Nancy Carawan, Water Superintendent Clyde Futrell (Past) Carolyn Morris, Town Clerk Jim Troutman (Past) Kim Thompson, Administrative Assistant Pogie Worsely (Past) Kim Allen (Retired) Code Enforcement OTHER CONTRIBUTORS Outer Banks Visitors Bureau The Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve North Carolina Sea Grant UNC Coastal Studies Institute Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce Dare County Thank you to the Nags Head Community for your engagement during the FOCUS planning process! TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1: CONTEXT & SETTING .......................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.1.1. Purpose ................................................................................................................................................................ 1-4 1.1.2. Relationship to Other Plans ............................................................................................................................ 1-4 1.1.3. Organization of the Plan .................................................................................................................................. 1-6 1.1.4. FOCUS Nags Head ........................................................................................................................................... 1-7 1.1.5. Plan Process ........................................................................................................................................................ 1-8 1.1.6. Community Involvement ............................................................................................................................... 1-10 1.1.7. Key Concerns .................................................................................................................................................. 1-12 1.1.8. Guiding Themes .............................................................................................................................................. 1-13 1.2. Vision .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1-15 1.3. Goals ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1-15 1.4. Planning Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 1-19 1.4.1. Community Snapshot ..................................................................................................................................... 1-19 Section 2: CHARACTER AREAS .............................................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.1.1. Character Areas Identified .............................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.1.2. Character Area Terms ..................................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.2. Gallery Row-Community Center Character Area ............................................................................................. 2-6 2.2.1. Gallery Row - Community Center Character Area Description .......................................................... 2-6 2.2.2. Development Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.3. Historic Character Area ........................................................................................................................................ 2-16 2.3.1. Historic Character Area Description ........................................................................................................ 2-16 2.3.2. Historic Character Area Development Plan ............................................................................................ 2-19 2.4. Village Municipal Service Character Area .......................................................................................................... 2-22 2.4.1. Village Municipal Service Character Area Description .......................................................................... 2-22 2.4.2. Village Municipal Service Development Plan ............................................................................................ 2-25 2.5. Neighborhoods Character Area .......................................................................................................................... 2-28 2.5.1. Neighborhoods Character Area Description .......................................................................................... 2-28 2.5.2. Neighborhoods Character Area Development Plan .............................................................................. 2-29 2.6. Whalebone Junction Character Area ................................................................................................................. 2-32 2.6.1. Whalebone Junction Character Area Description ................................................................................. 2-32 2.6.2. Whalebone Junction Character Area Development Plan ..................................................................... 2-36 2.7. South Nags Head Character Area ....................................................................................................................... 2-40 2.7.1. South Nags Head Character Area Description ....................................................................................... 2-40 2.7.2. South Nags Head Character Area Development Plan .......................................................................... 2-41 2.8. Corridors Character Area .................................................................................................................................... 2-44 2.8.1. Corridors Character Area Description .................................................................................................... 2-44 2.8.2. Corridors Character ARea Development Plan ....................................................................................... 2-47 2.9. Significant Natural Areas Character Area .......................................................................................................... 2-50 2.9.1. Significant Natural Areas Description ........................................................................................................ 2-50 2.9.2. Significant Natural Areas Character Area Development Plan ............................................................. 2-55 Section 3: ELEMENTS .................................................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 3-3 3.2. Land Use ....................................................................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1. Land Use Patterns.............................................................................................................................................. 3-7 3.2.2. Ecologically Sensitive Areas .......................................................................................................................... 3-15 3.2.3. Permitted and Prohibited Land Uses ......................................................................................................... 3-17 3.2.4. Site Development Characteristics .............................................................................................................. 3-21 3.2.6. Housing and Accommodations ...................................................................................................................