Town disallows signs with moving images

Nags Head Board of Commissioners, meeting in their first and only session for December Wednesday, voted against allowing LCD, LED or plasma digital signs, ones with moving images, at Nags Head businesses. The vote was 3-1, with Com. Doug Remaley casting the only vote in opposition and Com. Anna Sadler not present at the meeting.

This followed a public hearing which saw several people speak in favor of these digital  signs which are becoming incresingly popular.  One of the speakers represented Outer Banks Mall which, the representative said, would like to have a digital sign to advertiee smaller businesses there which have trouble getting noticed.

The pros of the signs are that they are convenient, can be changed remotely without worrying about any letters blowing off and they are eye-catching. The cons, according to Elizabeth Teague, town planning director, and members of the board, are that they are not esthetically pleasing and could be distracting to traffic.

Com. Renee Cahoon said she wasn’t against all such signs, but she thought those like some in Currituck, are ugly and distracting and are so bright it hurts the eyes. Com. Remaley diaagreed, saying, “We are regulating ourselves into oblivion.” He said the whole signage issue needs to be revisited. Teague said Kitty Hawk has prohibited the signs, as has Virginia Beach, Va. after trying to find ways to restrict the most objectionable of them.

The signs such as banks use to denote the time of day are allowed, and the four businesses which already have digital signs will be allowed to keep them. The town has a digital sign at the town hall and, as the board noted, the town will be excluded from the rule.

The board also revisited its rule permitting onsite rental of beach chairs and umbrellas at the bathhouse at The Village of Nags Head and at hotels. There was a sunset clause on this which is about to expire. Teague said there has been no trouble with the bathhouse concession, but the ones at the hotels had been an enforcement problem. The board voted to allow the sunset to lapse and for the staff to bring back recommendations as to how to incorporate this into a permanent rule.

After a public hearing, the board voted to permit the installation of concealed building mounted antennae as a conditional use within the Commercial Residential and General Commercial Zoning Districts.

During public comments, two people spoke in favor of the digital signs, two people spoke in favor of retaining the beach chair/umbrella concessions, and Bob Muller, a former commissioner, asked the board to budget funds to televise the candidates’ forums, since otherwise interested citizens have to scramble to provide the $400 cost for this.

Roberta Thuman of the town manager’s office was awarded the Employee of the Year designation. Also nominated were John Wilkinson, fire department; Laura Geller, police department; Todd Workman, public works; Christy Blevin, administrative services; and Kelly Wyatt, planning department.

Cliff Ogburn, town manager, updated the board on storm damages. he said damages in the town came to $377,000, that property owners whose facilities sustained have been damaged were notified and most have responded. He asked for $58,000 for estuarine repair, but this was put off to obtain more information. He said the town hall roof was damaged and needs to be replaced. The town can apply to FEMA for some of the $40,000 cost since it was damaged in the storm, in addition to ordinary wear and tear. The roof is only about 15 years old, and Mayor Bob Oakes thought it was unreasonable to have to replace it that soon. “I w ould just expect that we’d get more than 15 years out of a roof,” he said. Ogburn said the new roof would have shingles rated for 130 mph winds, and this might help.

Ogburn also presented the annual report, noting that the town has a 99.75 percent tax compliance, one of the state’s highest. He said the town had done 30 septic system inspections and had received several grants. He said there was an increase in requests for single family home approvals, although the town saw a decrease in large single family homes. Commercial facilities saw a 38 percent decrease. The police department has a new drug dog, he said, and a handler is being trained. Public works has seen a two percent decrease in total refuse poundage but recycling is increasing. One major water project was completed and water taps decreased. He also noted that there has been only a very minimal amount of sand loss since beach nourishment was completed.

During commissionerscomments, Remaley suggested the town give employees a $100 bonus; Susie Walters, a newly-elected commissioner, suggested the town change its mid-month meeting time to 6 p.m., from 7:30 p.m., and Cahoon suggested this be taken up during the upcoming retreat.

Doug Remaley was elected mayor pro tem and took his oath of office as did Susie Walters, newly elected commissioner, and Renee Cahoon who was re-elected.

The next meeting is set for 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4.