As residents, property owners, and visitors deeply invested in the preservation of the family-oriented beach community of Corolla, we are gravely concerned about the 13-acre proposed multi-use, high density development on the east side of Route 12 (Ocean St) and Herring St in Monteray Shores, and are requesting Currituck County Commissioners place an immediate halt to this plan.

Specifically, this petition expresses our deep discontent of the Phase 3 of this plan, which was approved at the Currituck Commissioners’ August 2023 meeting, and includes a 172-room hotel, 120+ multi-family dwellings and an alarming reduction of green space from the original proposal by 1.45 acres. https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/2023/09/02/currituck-commissioners-approve-phase-three-of-monterey-shores-in-corolla-pawn-shop-in-moyock/

Our charming town of Corolla already offers an array of small houses, condominiums, inns, and boutique hotels to accommodate visitors who do not wish to stay for extended periods. The addition of this massive development is not only unnecessary but also unsustainable. Sustainable development should prioritize creating more green spaces within our fragile coastal ecosystem rather than eliminating them to meet minimum standards.

Some serious concerns with the location and size of this proposed multi-use, high density development include:

1) The development is directly "in the back yard" of the Whalehead subdivision, which is classified in Imagine Currituck 2040 Vision Plan https://currituckcountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/image-currituck-plan-23apr21.pdf (approved by the county in June 2022) with a transect profile of G-2 - Controlled Growth - for land use and development. G-2 land use is defined on page 56 - 57 of the report as "medium density residential developments and neighborhood scale commercial nodes". Appropriate Land Uses and Development Types in G-2 are fully defined on page 56 -57 of the report but include medium-density single family subdivisions, mixed residential developments that provide a variety of housing types, and limited multi-family developments.  All new development and redevelopment in G-2 shall connect to county water. (Note: page 26 of this report states that peak day usage is already at 99% of maximum capacity within the Southern Outer Banks Water System (SOBWS)).  Medium density residential, commercial and compatible industrial uses are encouraged to locate within the G-2 transect areas where both water and wastewater services are available.  Given the location of this proposed development, current wastewater treatment facilities and septic systems in Whalehead and the surrounding neighborhoods are already strained and cannot support such extensive expansion.

2) Currituck County’s own traffic studies (from 2011) predicted even then that our roads will be over capacity by 125% by 2035 - even before considering the impact of the mid-Currituck bridge project (see page 26 - Figure 3): https://currituckcountync.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/comprehensive-transportation-plan.pdf

3)  Existing fire and emergency medical services in Corolla will be increasingly at risk to be able to safely and effectively manage such a significant increase in residents and visitors.

At 172 guest rooms, the proposed hotel certainly does not meet the approved criteria set forth in the Imagine Currituck 2040 Vision for this area. The proposed high-density development on the ocean side of Rt 12 at the conjuncture of the Monteray Shores and Whalehead subdivisions is not viable, and will only further exacerbate the issues stated above, in addition to a myriad of other infrastructure, wildlife, and sustainability concerns within our community.

We must protect Corolla's unique character and natural beauty from being irreversibly altered by such large-scale developments. Join me in urging local authorities to reconsider and reverse this decision for the sake of our community's long-term viability and enjoyment for all.

Please sign this petition today!