CB approves new towing ordinance

When we were first looking at our soon-to-be-our condo in Carolina Beach, one thing no one mentioned was just how fast "they" are to tow at our location. It was only after we bought it and started having guests that a neighbor stopped us in the covered parking area (we must have had that new neighbor look about us) and told us that cars get towed with the quick-fast. She even suggested that we make sure to put a temporary tag in our car first thing when we or anyone else arrives.

She wasn't kidding. One of our first renters had their car towed, and a couple of weekends ago, our neighbors below our unit -- who were just stopping in for a bit -- had to go from CB to Monkey Junction to retrieve their vehicle.

Well, at least now it looks like there may be some slack on this issue.

According to the Star-News, "Carolina Beach passed a new towing ordinance Tuesday night restricting towing companies, but not requiring individual signed requests for each tow."

The new ordinance contains several measures intended to protect town residents and visitors from perceived predatory towing. Lots must have specific signs posted warning of parking and towing practices. Towing companies must release vehicles on site for a fee of $25 and must release a car that is on the truck but not to the lot for a fee of $50; lots may not be more than 20 miles from town limits. A representative must be available at all times to release a vehicle in a timely manner.

However, the new ordinance does not contain one of the more controversial measures, which would require a signed request by the property owner or representing party for each individual tow.

While many people spoke at the town’s last meeting about perceived predatory towing in the town, representatives from condo buildings and associations asked that the burden of enforcing parking regulations not be left to private citizens. Several said signing individual towing requests for each vehicle towed put an unfair burden on homeowners. Others said that confronting illegal parkers could be dangerous for residents.

It is important that visitors and homeowners follow the rules and make sure it's obvious that they are allowed to park where they are staying. But they should also be give a fair amount of time before their car is towed away. At the same time, it's vital that the "first come, first served" or "you snooze you lose" attitude with regards to close-to-the-beach parking be addressed.

(Image from fotosearch.com)

Video: Sea turtles hatching at CB

A YouTuber posted a video recently of sea turtle hatchlings emerging from a nest in Carolina Beach.

Quote the poster: "This nest hatched on July 20, 2009. Due to diminishing light conditions, I switched to infrared light to video the hatchlings going into the water. This was the 2nd of 12 nests laid on Carolina Beach, NC this summer."

Very cool.

Beach nourishment plans slashed

Carolina Beach will be receiving approximately half the sand it had expected next spring, Town Manager Tim Owens announced at the town’s special meeting Tuesday, according to the Star-News.

The project had been intended to nourish the beach from the north end of the town to near Atlanta Avenue, but now the project will stop at Sailfish Lane.

“We’ve lost over a mile of beach nourishment that was going to happen,” Owens said, adding that the depth of sand placed on the beach in the nourished part has been reduced as well. Between those two factors, the beach will get half the amount of sand originally expected.

The southern part of the town, which was to originally get sand as part of the Kure Beach project, will still receive its planned amount of sand.

I'm a bit confused here. So will the northern beaches be renourished? The second graf makes it sound like that. However the fourth graf makes it sound like it will be the southern part that gets the work. Hmm.

New hot water heater!

Well, chalk up another "improvement" to Our Beach Place.

We replaced our hot water heater last week; the old one (not really that old, but still ...) was giving us fits. Our renters happened to wake up one morning to water leaking out of it. That is never good (especially when you're on the very top floor).

The good news is it was A) a sign that it just needed to be given the boot, and B) the good folks caught it early so we didn't have hot water heaters or people plunging to floors below.

Snow's Cut ramps to be renovated, pier to be added

From the Star-News:

The Snow’s Cut public boat ramps in Carolina Beach will soon be closed for improvements that some say are much-needed.

Others aren’t so sure.

In addition to replacing the boat ramps, the state Wildlife Resources Commission plans to add a small fishing pier at the busy site near Snow’s Cut Bridge. And some think that will create an overload.

The free boat ramps are scheduled to close in late fall or early winter, said Erik Christofferson, division chief of engineering services with the Wildlife Resources Commission. The work is expected to take three to four months, allowing the boat ramps to reopen in early spring. ...

Pier sunset

Here's a great shot of Carolina Beach from "Forrest L Smith" - courtesy of Flickr.

CB: Top beach getaway for Ohioans

From Carolina Beach Today ...

Carolina Beach, N.C. is the top choice for vacationing motorists from Ohio, according to the results of a readers' poll that appeared in Home & Away magazine's July/August 2009 issue. Home & Away, an American Automobile Association (AAA) publication distributed to over 580,000 drivers in Ohio, placed Carolina Beach atop a list of five favorite beach destinations including Poipu, Hawaii; Sanibel Island, Florida; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Seabrook Island, South Carolina.