OAK ISLAND — For the first time in more than a decade, Oak Island Town Council has instructed staff to actively enforce keeping its right-of-ways clear around town.
City code currently cites right-of-ways, 20 feet back from the street, must remain clear of any blockages. For years parked vehicles have populated the ROWs and residents have also planted gardens there.
READ MORE: Same town, new shade: OKI Mayor White passes torch to new Mayor Elect Brown
Town staff haven’t properly enforced the town’s ordinance on right-of-ways for more than 10 years, according to council. That stopped in June 2025, as the board gave the directive for staff to contact violators of right-of-ways.
“The phrase ‘properly enforced’ does not mean that no actions were being taken, or that no attempt to update or revise ordinances and enforcement were being done,” town spokesperson Michael Emory clarified.
According to Emory, the council decision was an accumulation of different factors, including its now being fully staffed to thoroughly carry out the town code on ROWs. Also, data presented from the Alliance Code Enforcement identified 424 obstructions in right-of-ways from 2024.
Since June 10, the town sent 502 courtesy letters instructing residents to clear the right-of-way paths before violation letters begin in the new year.
Council members said at its Dec. 9 meeting, around 567 complaints were fielded since the letters were mailed. Emory could only confirm 79 code enforcement contact forms have been submitted by residents to town staff since June, with only five being direct complaints over the ROWs. However, he added numerous phone calls were made to town staff, and further complaints issued as staff visited violation sites.
Council originally were supposed to discuss at last week’s meeting a 90-day abatement period for right-of-way violations. Instead, it ended up addressing the town’s shortcomings in educating and informing citizens about right-of-way enforcement and how to improve on communication going forward.
Council voted unanimously on Dec. 9 to push the right-of-way discussion to council’s January meeting to allot more time for staff to create an education plan and an updated exemptions list — to include what’s allowed to exist in the right-of-way without being fined. Some vegetation that has been planted, for example, includes trees, which prompted council member Bill Craft to suggest a reduction in the length of the right-of-way. Staff and council will decide whether to shorten the ROWs from 20 feet to 10 feet.
Staff and council also will flesh out an education program to inform everyone on what right-of-ways are and rules residents have to follow regarding them. Council was in agreement the education portion should have come earlier.
“We made that error and deepest apologies to everybody in our community for going from zero to 100 in 30 seconds,” council member Bob Ciullo said.
Violations will be forthcoming after council yields a directive for town staff at the next meeting, but Emory noted fines will not be issued immediately. He could not answer how much they will be at this time but said they will be a result of “defiance.”
Two Oak Island residents spoke on the issue during the public comment period last week. Bill Lambertson, a disabled Vietnam veteran, cited accessibility as his need to park in the right-of-way for a few days at a time. As an example, Lambertson’s RV stays there sometimes in between uses; having it parked there allows him to move heavy objects between his home and the RV without walking a further distance.
“I’m asking the council to consider whether one size fits all on those regulations,” Lambertson said. “There are circumstances like mine, 78 years old and disabled, where having an RV parked at the house for 72 hours makes a world of difference.”
Fellow Oak Island resident Rick Morrison said he’s been coming to the town every month to protest against the enforcement policy. He said the directives incited “discord.”
“We want to be happy, friendly people. We don’t want to turn our neighbors in or whatever,” he said.
For months residents have hotly debated the topic, so much so it came up in election conversations. New mayor Chris Brown expressed concerns over communication efforts and told Port City Daily last week he thought part of the reason why locals are so angry about changes is because they didn’t understand how to navigate them.
Former mayor Liz White doubled down on an education plan for the next month: “I don’t know if any of you have actually been in and tried to read our codes that guide our town, but it’s not for the faint of heart or the uninformed.”
She, along with council member Terri Cartner, suggested a video be created, with graphics and clear language. Both women thought the town code and changes would be more easily digestible.
“Some people don’t know what a right-of-way is, period. Some people don’t know where the right-of-way is. Some people don’t understand what the purpose of the right-of-way is and who owns it,” Cartner said.
She noted while the courtesy letters were a good first step, the town fell short of educating people on what would happen next.
Since town staff sent courtesy letters five months ago, the council didn’t want to defer violations any longer. Former council member John Bach — who exited his post after the meeting as new council members were sworn — agreed.
“It’s the first time an [Oak Island] administration has said: ‘This is the law. We’re going to enforce it. We’re not going to look the other way. We’re not going to make exceptions,’” Bach said. “I don’t want to stop that process. That’s what we’ve fought for for 10 years. Failed right-of-way campaigns, ignoring it, pretending it’s fine, and citizens complaining … That’s finally ended.”
Next, council will decide on a directive for town staff over the right-of-ways on January 20.
Have tips or suggestions for Emily Sawaked? Email emily@localdailymedia.com
At Port City Daily, we aim to keep locals informed on top-of-mind news facing the tri-county region. To support our work and help us reach more people in 2026, please, consider helping one of two ways: Subscribe here or make a one-time contribution here.
We appreciate your ongoing support.
