You likely live, or own property, in our community because of its unique charm, family-friendly atmosphere, and small-town character. At the Town of Nags Head, we’ve worked diligently over many decades to preserve the essence of what makes our community special and to protect our fragile environment.

Unfortunately, we need your help protecting a crucial land management tool that affects our beloved town's character and identity.

Zoning regulations and adherence to local, state, and federal codes play a crucial role in the management of our town. They help ensure that development aligns with our town's character and values.

One of these tools is currently under threat. Changes are on the horizon that could impact the careful balance we've worked so hard to achieve.

The North Carolina Rules Review Commission has said that the state’s Coastal Resource Commission does not have the authority to create a zone called an Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) for Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a cherished and extremely popular part of our town. (There are other rules impacted and there is now a lawsuit between these two agencies, but we’re focusing on this one rule.)

What does this mean? Areas of Environmental Concern receive special protections aimed at preserving the unique qualities of the designated region. These safeguards can include:

• Measures crafted to protect human life and safety from natural hazards
• Requirements for developments or enhancements to minimize their impacts
• Verifications that public infrastructure systems are appropriately sized, located, and maintained for the respective areas
• Efforts to minimize land use conflicts with significant historical, cultural, scenic, or environmental value to the town 

The removal of Jockey’s Ridge and properties in its neighboring communities from the AEC designation may likely be the camel peaking its nose under the tent. Put simply, if the CRC loses its authority to designate an AEC for Jockey’s Ridge, other distinctive areas in Nags Head, such as the oceanfront, the soundfront, Nags Head Woods, or the area near the fresh pond, might also be at risk of losing their AEC protections. 

As an example, the AEC on the oceanfront has provided long standing protections that restrict development along the shoreline, create setback requirements, and prohibit hardened structures, such as bulkheads and groins, which have been problematic in other states. 

It's essential for us to stay informed and engaged as a community. Our collective voice has the power to influence decisions that impact the very fabric of Nags Head. Let's come together to protect what we love about our town and ensure that any changes align with our shared vision.

While the public hearing was held yesterday at the Dare County Government Center, you can still comment, until 5 pm on February 1, on this threatening issue. 

Written comments may be submitted to Angela.Willis@deq.nc.gov or by mail to: Braxton Davis, Director, Division of Coastal Management, 400 Commerce Ave., Morehead City, NC 28557. List “Temporary Rules” in the subject line.

The Coastal Resources Commission anticipates voting on the temporary rules during its February meeting.

Together, we can make a difference! 

Read an article in the Coastal Review that provides background information.

As a result of Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, January 15, we have made changes to our residential (blue route only) and commercial trash collection routes. 

• Properties on our blue route will have their trash collected on Tuesday, January 16 instead of on Monday, January 15. There is no change to the Thursday, January 18 collection.
• Commercial collection of trash will take place on Tuesday, January 16. 
• Trash on our green trash collection route will be collected as normal on Tuesday and Friday, January 16 and 19. 
• For subscribers to TFC Recycling's curbside recycling service, there is no change to the collection schedule.

All Town administrative offices will be closed on January 15.

A reminder:  our bulk item/brush collection yard will be closed until about the end of April due to construction of our new Public Services complex.

Get ready for winter wonders at Dowdy Park!  Join us for the coolest winter markets, where local vendors will be serving up their handmade wares. 

• Saturday, January 13 | 9 am - 12 pm 
• Thursday, February 10 | 9 am - 12 pm
• Saturday, March 9 | 9 am - 12 pm
• Saturday, April 13 | 9 am - 12 pm

The park is located at 3005 South Croatan Highway and parking is available at Nags Head Elementary School.

The Outer Banks Woman's Club will be collecting non-perishable food items for the Food Bank at the event. Items you can shred: tax documents, bank statements, canceled checks, travel documents, paycheck stubs, ATM and credit card receipts and statements, insurance documents, and utility bills.

News from Nags Head Woods Preserve
Nags Head Woods has a Deer Hunt Program and their extended bow hunting season starts January 13, 2024 and runs to February 18, 2024. The program is designed to manage the deer herd in the preserve and to ensure a healthy population. It is open to hunters that registered at the start of the season.

Hikers, please stay on the designated trails and please remember no bikes are allowed on trails. Trail maps can be found at the kiosk outside of the offices or online.

A shout out to the Outer Banks History Center for a post on their Facebook page about the old Reef Restaurant.  

The restaurant, which specialized in seafood and lace cornbread was originally owned by Dick and Ann Gray. The building changed hands multiple times, becoming Spencer's Seafood Safari in the 1970s, and then The Ship's Wheel in the mid 1980s, until it was ultimately torn down to make way for the expansion of Daniels Bridge in the 1990s. 

Information courtesy of the Outer Banks History Center and the book, Dining on the Outer Banks, The Reef Restaurant, p 28-29 - LaVern Davis Parker Papers, OBHC

No bags in recycling, please! Plastic bags are made of thin plastic that tears and tangles within sorting equipment not designed to process this type of plastic. Simply place your recyclable directly into your curbside recycle bin.

Thank you for recycling right!

If you don't have time to haul your recyclables to the recycling centers we have at town hall (5401 South Croatan Highway) and our public services facility (2200 Lark Avenue), subscribe to the curbside recycling collection service offered by TFC Recycling. The cost is only $10.33/month thanks to a $5/month subsidy from the Town.