Shell Island Newspaper Articles

Reprinted by permission of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina

September 4, 1997

The News & Observer

Resort fined for erosion barrier

By The Associated Press

Page: A3

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH -- The Shell Island Resort was fined $2,500 by state officials Wednesday after the resort condominium's management failed to remove a steel sheet pile along encroaching Mason Inlet.

The fine was the first violation notice the Division of Coastal Management has issued in the resort's efforts to protect Shell Island from the southward-shifting inlet. It marked the second time the agency responsible for enforcing coastal regulations has ordered the resort to remove the steel.

Hurricanes Bertha and Fran last year increased the severity of erosion so that less than 60 feet of sand now separate the inlet from the foundation of the 170-unit, $22 million resort.

State officials granted the condominium owners the right to build a wall of sandbags, contrary to normal coastal rules. The sandbags are intended to head off erosion until Shell Island and Figure Eight Island homeowners can get a permit to dredge the inlet, which they hope will halt the rapid erosion.

The resort installed the steel sheet pile earlier this year to keep trenches from collapsing while contractors installed the sand tubes.

In July, the division ordered Shell Island to stop work on most of the barrier project because the steel sheet had not been removed to meet a deadline, the agency said in a prepared statement. Work resumed once much of the steel was removed.

The resort was given until Aug. 29 to remove the rest. The steel was still in place Tuesday, the agency said.

The resort's management referred calls to their attorney, Kenneth A. Shanklin. He did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Meanwhile, town officials said they hope to prevent erosion from threatening a dozen nearby homes.

But the town has no plans to seek permission to build any wall or other hardened structure to protect against erosion, said Town Manager Tony Caudle.

The town and Shell Island Resort representatives are discussing whether they can work together to prevent further erosion, Caudle said.

Section: News
Edition: Final
Estimated Printed Pages: 2

Index Terms:
NC
coast
environment
Shell Island

Copyright 1997 by The News & Observer Pub. Co.

Record Number: 1997246025