Vision
Shared Values
The Town of Nags Head is a unique coastal community built upon a legacy rooted in shared values, including our most recognized common bond - a love for the Outer Banks. We recognize that the town must be a good place to live before it can be a good place to visit. We strive to preserve and protect the Nags Head character, environment, tourism based economy, and sense of place in order to ensure a high quality of life for residents and a memorable family vacation experience for present and future generations.
Legacy
We uphold our legacy by protecting and promoting our small town character that includes a sustainable local economy based on family vacation tourism, a high quality beach experience, and small, locally owned businesses. Fundamental to our legacy and quality of life are preserving the historic architecture and culture that distinguishes our town; providing residents and visitors with excellent public services and well-maintained recreational amenities; and ensuring access to a well-protected natural coastal environment.
Our legacy will be strengthened and preserved by a focused, transparent decision making process that is comprehensive and consistent with the community’s vision. In order to maintain that focus, our decisions are directed by the five goals described below.
Goals
- Preserve our community’s distinctive heritage and unique lifestyle
- A relaxed-paced, family beach community comprised primarily of low-density development and open spaces
- A healthy, well-maintained oceanfront beach that is visually and physically accessible and usable; not blocked by large structures
- An environment that reflects the heritage of “Old Nags Head” with unique and eclectic architectural styles, scenic views, and coastal landscapes
- Protect our critical natural resources and coastal ecosystem
- Build and promote a sustainable economy that supports residents and visitors
- A natural environment typified by clean water and a coastal barrier landscape with noninvasive, salt tolerant vegetation
- Ocean and estuarine shorelines that are carefully managed to preserve the natural and beneficial functions of the environment while balancing the need to respect private property rights and public access
- Plan for the future impacts of sea level rise; ensuring proper policies, plans, and practices for stormwater and wastewater management are in place to sustain the natural environment and maintain a viable family, tourism-based economy
- Build and promote a sustainable economy that supports residents and visitors
- A diverse supply of housing, including single-family homes and multi-family dwelling units, that meet the needs of residents in all phases of life and for varying income levels
- A diverse supply of visitor accommodations, including single-family homes, hotels, cottage courts, and multi-family dwelling units for visitors who desire both short-term and long-term stays
- A thriving local business community that offers a wide range of goods and services available to residents and visitors
- A premier family beach destination on the Outer Banks, providing an enjoyable and memorable experience
- Plan for orderly and sustainable growth and redevelopment
- A well-organized and compatible pattern of land development and redevelopment through proactive land use and transportation policies
- Development that is designed to reduce private property damage and loss of life from major storm events and natural hazards
- Safe connectivity and accessibility between neighborhoods, businesses, and recreational opportunities for a variety of travel modes, lessening traffic congestion, and enabling an active and healthy lifestyle for residents and visitors
- A place with active and passive recreational opportunities that serve all ages and abilities, creating opportunities for community interaction and healthy living
- Preservation and maintenance of legacy commercial businesses
- Maintain a well-run and efficient government that provides high quality and cost effective services
- Develop, fund, and prioritize the Capital Improvement Plan annually to provide for the infrastructure, equipment, and facility needs of the community
- Provide the highest quality public safety services possible, and routinely review the public safety needs of the community to ensure that resources are available to meet these needs
- Provide friendly and accommodating customer service
- Communicate town information to residents and visitors through a variety of media that demonstrates the results of measurable goals and objectives
- Advocate for the provision of high quality, responsive services, legislation, resources, and policies from government partners and other organizations that further the vision of the Town of Nags Head