Cluster Housing

Wanchese, North Carolina, United States

Wanchese Preservation Alliance

A nonprofit community advocacy and village preservation organization

The Village at Old Wharf Rd - Cluster Housing Project

In April 2024 Dare County Board or Commissioners approved SUP application #3-2023 Cluster Housing permit for The Village at Old Wharf Rd in Wanchese NC .

Aria Construction & Development began filing for federal, state, and local permits to begin development in:

Village of Wanchese Dare County NC. Parcel 025921000 PIN 979706482784 - Old Wharf Road.

Current NCDEQ Project /Permit Info as of November, 2024:

NOI (Notice of Intent): 223035 - Approved 11/6/2024
Stormwater Management Permit: SW7240910 - Issued 10/4/2024
Erosion & Sedimentation Permit: DARE-2025-00112. Issued 9/30/2024

All NCDEQ Documents Associated with this Project

NCC243388 - The Village at Old Wharf Rd

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Background

Below are details for writing emails, making phone calls, and attending face to face meetings with environmental regulators for our upcoming state-wide campaign.

Please attach the site plan to your email which can be downloaded here or at the bottom section of this page.

Aria Construction & Development plans to build a 48 unit cluster housing development on a 10 acre tract in Wanchese, NC.
Proposed location can be found here -> Property Record Parcel 025921000
This is the first significant case of a developer scaling up the requirements of special use ordinance Section 22-31.1 of the DARE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA CODE OF ORDINANCES.
Approval of Dare County special use permit application #3-2023 could set a precedent for additional projects of this scale on other parcels originally zoned for single family residential/subdivision in other North Carolina counties.
Aria Construction & Development will need to secure Erosion and Sediment Control approval and Stormwater Containment permits. The NC Department of Environmental quality in Washington NC has oversight for Dare County.
The developer’s storm water management system needs objective and professional scrutiny. To the best of our knowledge, only his engineers and the state have reviewed this design .
The effect of filling the parcel's wetlands and planned clear-cutting 10 acres of the parcel's mature pine forest is poorly understood and does not account for historical hydro geology of the area.

Required Construction Permits

Permits required for greater than 1 Acre of Disturbance

Permits:

The following permits are required if greater than one acre of disturbance is expected.

NC DEQ | Washington NC Regional office Permits:

The status of DEQ permits can be tracked here: DEQ Environmental Application Tracker | https://www.deq.nc.gov/permits-rules/environmental-application-tracker

An Erosion and sediment control plan approval is required for all land disturbances of one or more acres. Issued by the Division of Energy, Minerals and Land Resources - Land Quality Section located at the NCDEQ Washington Regional office.

A Post-Construction Stormwater Management permit is required for new developments and other construction activities that require either Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (disturbing one or more acres) or a CAMA major permit OR activities that add more than 10,000 square feet of built upon area. Issued by the Division of Energy, Minerals and Land Resources - Land Quality Section located at the NCDEQ Washington Regional office.

Link to NCDEQ (Washington NC) Downloadable Brochure

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Wilmington District

Other permits that may be required if Wetlands and/or Coastal Marsh will be impacted.

Any activity that will fill, dredge, or drain wetlands or surface waters in the state. Stream/wetland impact approvals are issued in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (404 permit).

Mitigation of unavoidable impacts and inclusion of stormwater management features are two of the most important aspects of water quality review. Ditching and draining activities are not permitted for the purpose of altering wetlands hydrology.

The 404 permit is a federal permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but before an applicant can receive a 404 permit, he/she must obtain a 401 Water Quality Certification from the Division of Water Resources. Review typically takes 45 calendar days for Nationwide Permits (upon receipt of a correct and complete application package).

The 401 certification is essentially verification by the state that a given project will not degrade waters of the state or violate water quality standards.

The site could be subject the Coastal Area Management Act.
Permits are required for development" includes activities such as dredging or filling coastal wetlands or waters, and construction of marinas, piers, docks, bulkheads, oceanfront structures and roads. AECs are the foundation of the CRC's permitting program for coastal development. An AEC is an area of natural importance: It may be easily destroyed by erosion or flooding; or it may have environmental, social, economic or aesthetic values that make it valuable to our state.

Examples of AECs includes marsh; wetland; near ocean beach or inlet; in or on navigable waters within the 20 CAMA counties; within 75 feet of the mean high-water line along an estuarine shoreline; within 30 feet of the normal high-water level of areas designated as inland fishing waters by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission; or near a public water supply. These permits are issued by the Division of Coastal Management office located in Elizabeth City.

Dare County

If there is central sewer system on site, then a sewer line extension may be required which is issued by the Division of Water Resources. If septic tank permit is required, contact Dare County.

NCDEQ Environmental Application Tracker

The DEQ Environmental Application Tracker allows applicants and the public to check the status of pending environmental applications.

The map provides information on 80 different environmental applications

DEQ Permit Application MAP

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Cluster Housing & Stormwater Management

WPA: Our Stance

Our stance is that The Village at Old Wharf Rd is an unsuitable development for the proposed parcel as it does none of the following:

Protect the sensitive ecosystems, unique local hydrogeology, and coastal wetlands surrounding Wanchese, NC.
Contribute architecturally to the traditional fishing village-like, single family home atmosphere of community.
Contribute commercially to the marine-based economy in Wanchese.
Comply with the general intent of the original local zoning ordinance: SECTION 22-27.7 - WANCHESE VILLAGE RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT (VR) for the physical development of the area.
Maintain or enhance the value of adjacent property

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - Contacts

Please contact the following state regulators and express your opposition to The Village At Old Wharf Rd Cluster Housing Project.

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Leadership link

Contact DEQ

Employee Directory

Elizabeth S. Biser | Secretary for Environment | (919) 707-8622 | elizabeth.biser@deq.nc.gov
Sushma Masemore | Assistant Secretary for Environment | (919) 707-8700 | susha.masemore@deq.cn.gov
Douglas Ansel | Acting Director for the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources | (919) 707-8977 | douglas.ansel@ncdenr.gov
Richard Rogers | Director, Division of Water Resources | hydrologic data | 984-236-1040 | richard.rogers@ncdenr.gov
Sharon Martin | Deputy Secretary for Public Affairs | (919) 707-8670 | sharon.martin@deq.nc.gov
Michael Pjetraj | Deputy Director at NC DWR | (919) 707-8497 | michael.pietraj@ncdenr.gov
Lyn Hardison | Environmental Assistance and SEPA Coordinator - DEQ Washington Regional Office| (252) 948-3842 | lyn.hardison@ncdenr.gov

North Carolina Coastal Federation

Website

Staff

Please contact The North Carolina Coastal Federation (a member-supported 501(c)3 ) that is focused on protecting and restoring the North Carolina coast

Express your opposition to The Village At Old Wharf Rd Cluster Housing Project and request they advocate for our cause

Todd Miller | Executive Director | (252) 241-0191 | toddm@nccoast.org
Lauren Kolodij | Deputy Director |252-393-8185 | laurenk@nccoast.org
Alyson Flynn | Coastal Advocate and Environmental Economist | alysonf@nccoast.org

NC Department of Transportation

Please contact NC DOT and encourage thorough review of site plan prior to issuing any driveway permits for The Village At Old Wharf Rd Cluster Housing Project

Caitlin A Spear. Asst. District Engineer

(252) 621-6403

caspear@ncdot.gov

Email List for Copy/Paste

NC Department of Transportation

Email List for Copy/Paste

Email List for both Organizations

elizabeth.biser@deq.nc.gov;

sushma.masemore@deq.nc.gov;

douglas.ansel@ncdenr.gov;

richard.rogers@ncdenr.gov;

sharon.martin@deq.nc.gov;

michael.pjetraj@ncdenr.gov;

lyn.hardison@ncdenr.gov;

-OR-

Email Everyone (Outlook)

Drawbacks and Downside of Building Cluster Housing

General Drawbacks

Listed below are the multiple drawbacks and downside of building cluster housing in Dare County. This list does not only apply to the current situation in Wanchese but can be generalized to all of Dare County.

Environmental Impact: Building cluster housing can have a significant impact on the surrounding environment. It requires clearing of large areas of land which often results in the destruction of natural habitats and wildlife and could contribute to increased stormwater runoff and pollution.. Additionally, the increased population density inevitably leads to issues like increased traffic, noise pollution, light pollution and air pollution. In the Wanchese case: NC345 and Old Wharf Rd are both 2 lane roads with substandard road surface marking. Enough said

Increased Density: Cluster housing is designed to maximize land usage , which could

lead to higher population density in the unincorporated areas of Dare County. This will put a strain on local infrastructure, including roads, schools, and utilities.

Community Opposition: Permanent residents of unincorporated Dare County object to the development of cluster housing in their area. They have concerns about the potential impacts on property values, quality of life, and overall character of the community.

Vulnerability to Natural Disasters:

Dare County is located in a hurricane-prone region, and cluster housing developments could be particularly vulnerable to storm surge and flooding. Building in low-lying areas or areas with poor drainage could increase the risk of property damage and loss of life during severe weather events. Dare County Flood Zones Map located here:

> Dare County Flood Zones: Previous Versus Current Effective June 19, 2020

Hurricane Risk: Dare County is located in a region prone to hurricanes and other severe weather events. Building cluster housing in this area could increase the risk of damage or destruction during these events.

Water Supply: Dare County already faces water supply issues, especially during peak tourism season. Building cluster housing could further strain the already limited water supply, leading to water shortages or the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.

Increased Development Pressure: Building cluster housing can encourage further development and put pressure on the limited land resources in unincorporated Dare County. This could lead to the loss of agricultural land, natural habitats, and open spaces, which are important for maintaining the character and quality of life in Dare County.

Impact on Local Communities: Cluster housing developments built in a small community disrupts the existing social fabric and unique character. The sudden Increased population density can lead to overcrowding and increased demand for local services like schools, healthcare, and emergency services, which will most likely strain the resources of local governments.

Sample Email

Sample email specific to The Village At Old Wharf Rd Cluster Housing Project can be found below. Feel free to write your own version. Gold refrigerator magnets for creativity..

Or, Just change the email to suit your pertinent details and relevant reasons:

-------------------------------

To: elizabeth.biser@deq.nc.gov; sushma.masemore@deq.nc.gov; douglas.ansel@ncdenr.gov;

richard.rogers@ncdenr.gov; sharon.martin@deq.nc.gov; michael.pjetraj@ncdenr.gov; lyn.hardison@ncdenr.gov; toddm@nccoast.org; laurenk@nccoast.org; alysonf@nccoast.org

Subject: The Village at Old Wharf Rd | Proposed cluster home development in the Village of Wanchese Dare County NC | Parcel 025921000 | PIN 979706482784 - Old Wharf Road

<<Greeting>>.

My name is <<NAME>>, and I am a <<Dare County Resident, concerned citizen, "get off my lawn guy", etc >> Thank you in advance for your time.

I am writing to you because Wanchese is investigating all federal, state and local permits required for a cluster housing development proposed by Brad Alexander with Aria Construction. The parcel of land as referenced above contains 10.5 acres with 4,030 square feet of delineated wetlands.

I am troubled with the impact of filling wetlands and other issues associated with the proposed development to build 60 housing units (2-3 bedrooms) on 8 foot+ pilings served by one septic for 10 units. There are swales and basins around the units with a 15 foot side setback between units This 10.5 acre parcel has wetland delineation of 3 pockets totaling 4,032 square feet of wetlands.

Furthermore, our community is concerned with the developer’s plan to management storm water internally on the site with a series of basins and swales that may cause land disturbance, together with other activities on the site.

The filling of wetlands, which previously retained storm water in our coastal community, affects our environment and the quality of life in our village.

The Wanchese Preservation Alliance speaks with one voice to ensure the protection of the fragile and pleasant atmosphere in our coastal village of Wanchese situated at the south end of Roanoke Island.

Thank you your prompt attention to this matter and our concerns. Attached is the site plan and builder’s information

Sincerely,

<NAME>>

<<ADDRESS>>

<<Contact Number>>

<<EMAIL>>

Wanchese Preservation Alliance

A nonprofit community advocacy and village preservation organization

The Village at Old Wharf Rd - Cluster Housing Project

All NCDEQ Documents Associated with this Project

The Village at Old Wharf Rd Current Permits

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Background

Required Construction Permits

Permits required for greater than 1 Acre of Disturbance

NCDEQ Environmental Application Tracker

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Cluster Housing & Stormwater Management

WPA: Our Stance

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - Contacts

North Carolina Coastal Federation

NC Department of Transportation

NC Department of Transportation

Email List for Copy/Paste

NC Department of Transportation

Email List for Copy/Paste

Drawbacks and Downside of Building Cluster Housing

General Drawbacks

Development Opposition Resources

Development Opposition Resources

Sample Email

Downloadable documents related to this Campaign

Land Use , Water Quality, Soil Science Resources

Hello

Wanchese Preservation Alliance

A nonprofit community advocacy and village preservation organization

The Village at Old Wharf Rd - Cluster Housing Project

All NCDEQ Documents Associated with this Project

The Village at Old Wharf Rd Current Permits

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Background

Required Construction Permits

Permits required for greater than 1 Acre of Disturbance

NCDEQ Environmental Application Tracker

The Village at Old Wharf Rd: Cluster Housing & Stormwater Management

WPA: Our Stance

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) - Contacts

North Carolina Coastal Federation

NC Department of Transportation

NC Department of Transportation

Email List for Copy/Paste

NC Department of Transportation

Email List for Copy/Paste

Drawbacks and Downside of Building Cluster Housing

General Drawbacks

Development Opposition Resources

Development Opposition Resources

Sample Email

Downloadable documents related to this Campaign

Land Use , Water Quality, Soil Science Resources

Hello

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