Wednesday, August 19, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on April 19, 2024
Following up on a decision taken at the April 16 Dare County Housing Task Force meeting, that group will hold a special meeting on Monday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. with State Senators Norman Sanderson and Bobby Hanig. The agenda for the meeting states it is being called to “discuss the housing challenges that are currently affecting the community.”
At that April 16 meeting, The Task Force agreed to reach out to legislators in Raleigh and invite them to meet to hear feedback that will likely include a discussion of changing the legislation that provided $35 million in state funding for affordable housing in Dare County.
That money came with a major string attached, a provision that restricted Dare County municipalities’ from regulating housing developments within their borders. That provision generated a lawsuit from the six Dare County towns and a resolution from the Dare County Board of Commissioners stating that they would not abide by it.
On April 9, one week before the Task Force meeting, the county commissioners announced they were ending their housing partnership with Coastal Affordable Housing, LLC, which had the $35 million pot of state money to work with. The commissioners also announced they were going to return that money to the state.
But after several Task Force members suggested the county try to the salvage the $35 million, the group decided on April 16 to send a letter to state officials calling for repeal of HB 259, the legislation that conditioned that $35 million on restricting the municipalities’ ability to regulate those housing developments.
At next Monday’s special Task Force meeting with the legislators, that issue is expected to be on the agenda. The meeting will be held at the Dare County Administration Building – Room 168, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, Manteo.
Comments
Laura
Where is Keith Kidwell?!
Ray M.
One look at those gentlemen and I know for a fact that we will solve the destination resort housing challenge, even though every other destination resort in the world has failed before us.
When it comes to brain thinking idea stuff, we are the elite of the elite.
Dethrol
Enough is enough. Put this and any future “affordable housing” scams on a ballot. LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. Then end it, permanently. The idea behind this mess is not popular anywhere in Dare County. They’ve tried Manteo, Manns Harbor, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and any number of ideas about the mainland all with absolutely no success. Individuals, towns, the county, and businesses have spent a fortune taking each other to court, over and over again to STOP, not support, this con job.
Getting D.C. swamp critters involved is a mistake. The two elected Dare County officials aren’t so much the problem. Everyone understands these two won’t and cannot do anything by themselves. The problem will be from all the other politicians in D.C. who see an opportunity to “improve” (meddle in) our way of life. Of course, if you’re good with the clowns in Washington imposing their agenda on the Outer Banks then carry on…..
Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
What do D.C. politicians have to do with the efforts to build “affordable housing” in Dare County over the past few years?
Freenusa
Let’s get Keith Kidwell involved. He has been silent. Last I heard he was on vacation and couldn’t respond. Let’s also hear from Ed Goodwin. The commissioners were correct in their decision, to send 35M back. Way too many strings attached by law. Just ask DC towns, who are in litigation concerning the $35M Law. Government does not need to be involved in housing employees for private business owners. Period.
Not that DC
Hey Dethrol, it’s not that DC but it is NC/DC(Dare County)swamp at work.
More Harm Than Good
Any effort from our state politicians that provides funding which is restricted to building general occupancy subsidized housing will do more harm than good. The housing would be open to anyone from anywhere and would encourage more people to move here to retire at the beach, which would make our local worker housing problems even worse.
RE
Is this meeting open to the public
Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
Yes,
The irony
The irony. Invite two legislators who “knew nothing” about the Dare County-specific language in HB 259, who voted FOR the legislation to discuss our local housing and try to convince them to advocate to change or repeal HB 259. And even more to question is the absence of Goodwin and Kidwell. Given the actions of these legislators on HB 259 why would we as a country trust them on this issue? You’ll never convince me they knew nothing about the language tying the hands of and over reaching the local municipalities on this issue.
Not surprised
Thanks for keeping up posted on this and related topics, Mark.
Lisa
I have heard two local people say they would move into affordable housing and rent their homes here for extra money. Not the purpose. The community does not owe businesses housing for their employees. There is not anyway to control who would live in it which opens the door to tourists buying them, potential renting-tons of problems. This original conversation started with affordable housing for local people, then became affordable housing for employees. Much needs to be discussed and decided before any decision can even come close to being made. No one wants this in their neighborhood either- you all have a long list of issues with this.
another mom
what we don”t need is affordable housing for people moving here who offer no services but require services.
what we do need is seasonal employee housing and housing for those folks who have services that are needed.
there seems to be no real solution.
surf123
Adding a few more glad-handers to the party helps nothing. Another task completed for the task force.
Phoebe
You all voted for them and keep re-electing the same yahoos every election never learning from past mistakes, broken promises, etc. Hopefully everyone will finely wise up and throw them ALL out!!! This beach needs new leadership.
Dethrol
As I’ve indicated many, many times, reading is fundamental. This applies to yours truly as well.
I probably should have just ended after the first paragraph…. I hoped to make the point that this local problem will only get worse if we don’t stop it here and if we get additional levels of government involved. Sorry about that.
Greg
It is doubtful that these two senators will have anything useful to contribute as they are a part of a political machine in Raleigh that is mostly interested in consolidating all regulatory and law making power to the legislature.
Steven
What no one wants in their backyard is more tourist houses, that is certain. There’s already too many multi-family and high-density dwellings and subdivisions..
NIMBY
Rhett
It’s simple, there are jobs that need to be done by workers who can’t afford to rent something for 1600, 2000 a month. They can’t afford to buy a house for 350K-400K, but we need them desperately. If we don’t figure something out, the tourist will stop coming(everything revolves around our tourism here on the OBX). I love how we hear people complain about this issue and not wanting anything to be done, and they are the same one’s who complain about the long lines and unfriendly interactions when buying groceries or going out to dinner.
Concerned
I’d love to live in Hawaii but I realize that I can’t afford it. I don’t blame the Hawaiian government. It’s my problem. And for all of you screaming build affordable housing, why don’t you let them move into one of your multiple empty bedrooms in your house
Sharon
I’m confused by worries that ‘out of towners’ will ‘buy’ any affordable housing units that are built here on the Outer Banks. If apartments that might be built here are ‘rental units’ doesn’t that mean that they aren’t for sale?
Also, I’m very concerned that I still have not heard anyone address the problem that faces our children who are now out of school and have jobs but can’t move from their parents home because there is nothing to rent that they can afford. And every year there will be a new class of graduates, some who do not want to move away, but have nowhere to live. Shouldn’t these young adults be able to live in the area where they were born and grew up? Shouldn’t their welfare be considered? They are the cashiers, waitresses, cooks, mechanics, carpenters, and other service works that will have no place to live. Where is the concern for them?
And lastly, I read a few weeks ago about an Idea that some of the older motels could be turned into apartments for long-term rentals. One owner I believe was considering this idea, but after crunching the numbers realized he would have a 40% reduction in income. Is there a possibility that the county could subsidize this idea in some way that would encourage motel owners who are interested to go ahead and convert their properties?