CAROLINA BEACH — A restaurant on Pleasure Island is one step closer to extending a floating dock beyond the pierhead line. Stoked owners asked for a text amendment to Carolina Beach town code in order to make their dock safer, though overall it would set a precedent for other businesses in the area.
The amendment will allow temporary floating docks to encroach up to 6 feet beyond the pierhead line with a conditional zoning permit. The amendment passed unanimously by Carolina Beach Town Council.
However, town staff and the technical review committee raised concerns, with the TRC opposed. They worried the change to town ordinance would cause more safety hazards, congesting the narrow boat basin further.
READ MORE: CB wary of new zoning district proposal over density concerns, sets date for public hearing
“We have a lot of boating activity in the harbor,” Community Development Director Jeremy Hardison told council, pointing to 16 fireworks shows held during the height of tourist season, fishing tournaments and the holiday flotilla.
He added an increase in large vessels are also coming through, including a 65-footer and two 59-foot license holders. Large boats need wider pathways to travel at slower speeds.
“We had 127 vessels there during July 4 this year,” Hardison said.
According to the director, staff is following the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plan and Harbor Management Plan, which state the importance of establishing and managing conflicts.
Stoked co-owner Rodney Johnson said he went through CAMA and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to first gain approval for extending the restaurant’s floating dock beyond the pierhead line.
“We started there as we thought it would be the hardest thing to do,” Johnson said, noting both entities agreed to the extension.
The pierhead line was established in the 1980s but was amended in 2012 to more closely match the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ channel setback line on the west side near St. Joseph Street. In Carolina Beach, the town’s regulations also establish a 100-foot minimum separation between an anchored vessel and the town’s pierhead line.
Stoked was built in 1972 and Johnson said the current line is actually under the building. He added safety is the main reason for renovations the restaurant is undergoing, explaining bulkheads are collapsing and pilings are corroded. So, while taking care of these issues they decided to also address the dock and walkways. Being able to extend the floating dock will increase protections for customers.
“We had an accident where someone stepped off our floating dock and we had to cover that,” Johnson said. “We want to make sure it’s wide enough.”
Hardison pointed out earlier in the meeting staff opposed encroachment of public navigable waters, since the proposed area “is one of the tightest pitch points in the harbor.” He said it’s around 140 feet between the pierhead line and opens to 180 feet in the town marina.
“And that’s a very congested area as you go to the dead end of the sound into the town marina,” Hardison added, worried boats would also “raft up” — or tie together and double park.
To counter staff’s recommended denial, Johnson said many of the vessels crowding the harbor currently are his patrons — spending money in Carolina Beach. Stoked is the only dock-and-dine restaurant in the town.
“They either come dock at our restaurant and hang out there or slide in and park — and we welcome it. We don’t run people off who park at our dock and go down to the Boardwalk,” he said.
Many of the large events on the island are also hosted by Stoked to raise money for local charities. This includes September’s Dragon Boat Regatta.
Former Carolina Beach Mayor Bob Lewis said The Island Men-sponsored event puts back $160,000 into local community needs, such as athletic and youth programs.
“From a safety point, I see floating docks beyond the line already and this tucks them in,” he said of Johnson’s proposed rehab plans, adding the change also improves the look of the whole area.
Johnson thought it was more unsafe for boats to dock “at 90-degree angles” currently. Stoked’s renovations will allow the restaurateurs to add roughly four more outdoor tables and perhaps one more boat slip to the area, but it also tightens up the docks. The restaurateur explained a boat parked at a corner slip sticks out into the waterway now; the new line would ensure vessels park parallel and therefore would be “tucked in.”
“So we are not wider than any part of the channel,” Johnson said.
All council members were for the text amendment change. Deb LeCompte argued the amendment was consistent with the town’s land use goals, pointing to provisions supporting recreational tourism and the maritime industry.
“This fits right in,” she said.
Mayor Barbee mentioned how rare it is for council to disagree with staff recommendation, stating this was “one of the few times” he can remember. But he also commended staff’s hard work and concerns for public waters being safe to use.
Barbee iterated the text amendment before council would apply to all businesses now and in the future, not just Stoked, and wanted to ensure his colleagues kept that in mind as they weighed their vote. Hardison stated earlier TRC also thought its passage could set an unwanted precedent.
But Barbee gave “kudos” to the planning and zoning board for recommending the amendment be worded clearly with a conditional zoning permit needed as well. That mandates a public meeting, with input allowed from others, and allows conditions be put on a property needing to go beyond the pierhead line.
It also means Johnson will have to come back to present his plans again for the CZ permit, as council’s vote was to only make the text amendment to Article 3 Section 3.19 of the unified development ordinance.
All council members — including Jay Healy, Wayne Rouse, Vincent Losito — agreed and the motion passed unanimously.
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.
