Reprinted from the Carteret County News-Times
ATLANTIC BEACH — The Atlantic Beach Town Council, during its monthly meeting in the town hall, voted Monday to further protect the natural and nourished oceanfront dune system, which protects property from hurricanes and other storms and provides natural habitat for wildlife.
Sponsor Spotlight
The amendment prohibits crossing of dunes outside “an established walkway or defined path.”
Specifically, the amendment states that:
“It shall be unlawful for any person to traverse or travel upon any frontal dune at any location other than a designated walkway structure or established sand pathway. Examples of unlawful activities include playing on, climbing on, and allowing pets to traverse upon the frontal dunes, the removal of frontal dune vegetation, and other activities that reduce the stability of the frontal dune system and potentially decrease its storm protection, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic values.”
Exemptions are made in the ordinance for regulatory, contract, and research activities conducted by government officials, and storage of small sailboats out of the public trust beach area and the tidal zone, provided permission is granted by the oceanfront property owner.
GIS agreement
Also during the meeting, the council authorized Town Manager John O’Daniel to execute an interlocal agreement with Carteret County to provide and share geographic information system, or GIS, data to the county.
Sponsor Spotlight
O’Daniel said the agreement calls for the town to pay the Carteret County GIS Department $60 per hour to set up and provide the service.
The council had discussed the idea during its 2022 planning retreat, and the county recently made the offer to work out an agreement to partner with the town in the administration and setup of GIS data.
“The partnership will further the goal of streamlining technology as discussed in the retreat,” O’Daniel said.
Under the agreement, the county will administer GIS data for the town. The county, through its GIS Department, will direct personnel to perform this function on behalf of the town.
The agreement is for one year but will be renewed annually if either party does not submit in writing to the other party its intent to terminate the agreement. In the event of either party’s desire to terminate the agreement, a 30-day notice must be given from one party to the other.
Atlantic Beach staff, by way of the agreement, will have access/license to use software under the county enterprise license.
This story is provided courtesy of the Carteret County News-Times, a twice-weekly newspaper published in Morehead City. Coastal Review partners with the News-Times to provide our readers with news of the North Carolina coast.
