CAROLINA BEACH — The barge is back — well, plans for a barge anyways.
After nearly a year on hiatus, plans for a barge at the Carolina Beach Yacht Club and Marina have been resubmitted to the Town of Carolina Beach’s Planning and Zoning Board. Last year, similar plans were submitted, and then voted on by the P&Z board where members reached a split decision, forwarding the request on to Town Council.
When it reached Town Council in December, the request had been withdrawn and no discussion was ever had.
According to new meeting documents, “The applicant, Carolina Beach Yacht Club and Marina, is requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to add an eating and drinking establishment and a ship store located on a barge (ship) that will be motorized.”
Related: Residents speak out against Carolina Beach Marina expansion plans for floating bar
“The applicant would like to install a 40’ x 120’ barge on the east of the existing fuel docks to expand the marina store to the barge and erect a 40’ X 16’ building that will contain a concession stand, dockhand office, retail and a horseshoe bar that will provide hot dogs, sandwiches, beer and wine. An establishment that is serving on-premises alcohol that is not a standard restaurant is classified as a bar. Bars can be approved under a Conditional Use Permit in the MB-1 zoning district. The barge will be registered as a vessel with the NC wildlife,” the narrative continues.
The request is a conditional use permit which is a quasi-judicial hearing. This means anyone speaking on the request has to speak directly to fact, not opinions on the request — they are also sworn in under oath.
Conditional use permits must meet four different criteria and applicants (or those opposed) can only speak to these points:
- That the use will not materially endanger the public health or safety if located where proposed and developed according to the plan as submitted and approved by issuance of the C.U.P.
- That the use meets all required conditions and specifications;
- That the use will not substantially injure the value of adjoining or abutting property, or that the use is a public necessity;
- That the location and character of the use if developed according to the plan as submitted and approved will be in harmony with the area in which it is to be located and in general conformity with the town Land Use Plan and policies.
Last year, residents of surrounding neighborhoods came out in numbers to voice their unhappiness with the proposed barge bar. Concerns with parking issues, intoxicated boaters, and the smell of an open grill drafting to neighbors’ houses were all points of contention.
The item will be before the Planning and Zoning Board on Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. at Carolina Beach’s Town Hall. The meeting will be open to the public.
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