Many of us who live in Cove Beach feel betrayed by our board of commissioners. It seems that the commissioners are not interested in what residents in our part of the county want—– in what we were promised over past decades in the coastal residential zoning ordinance, meaning that short-term and vacation rentals were not a permitted use in this zone (nor in other residential zones in the county).

The commissioners are hell-bent on changing every residential zoning ordinance in the county to allow short-term rentals in every zone.

Once this new ordinance is passed then, as has already illegally occurred in our neighborhood, residences will be converted to commercial short-term rental or “mini-motel” businesses by property owners and investors who can make a ton of money from their business property. No more neighbors and no more neighborhood.

Why are the commissioners making such a sweeping, life altering change to every residential zone in the county – they won’t say. Is it because they or their families own short-term rentals? Is it because they own a beach home that could convert to an short-term rental (as for at least one  commissioner), is it because they care more about supporting business investors who don’t live in the county or state?

If this callous, dictatorial behavior concerns you or alarms you (as it does us), then please contact your commissioner and ask them why they are taking this action. Please let us know that you are not happy with this dramatic and unwarranted change by email NorthCoastNeighborsUnited@gmail.com.

Charles Dice

Arch Cape