OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WECT) – On Thursday, July 18, the Oak Island Planning Board is set to discuss height limit exceptions and maximum home sizes.

The existing town rules defines a sing-family dwelling as a detached building up to 4,000 to 5,000 square feet.

The proposed amendments would change the definitions to keep existing development patterns for smaller lots while allowing larger homes to be built in areas zone for large lots on the island. And large dwellings would still be allowed to be constructed on the mainland.

This would define a large single family home as one with a square footage of 3,000 or more with no maximum size. Although, there would be requirements to preserver 10 percent open space with existing natural vegetation, make sure that parking is compliant with off-street parking ordinances and preserving existing lighting and screening rules.

Town council voted to have the planning board review the Unified Development Ordinances for consistency with the town’s Local Act regulating height on the island part of the town. The Local Act refers to rules specified by acts of the N.C. General Assembly.

For example, the revision would add belfries, cupolas and antennas as items exempt from height restrictions on the roof of a building to the UDO. The Local Act says that the three structures are exempt, while the existing UDO says they are not.

It would also note that parapet walls exceeding the maximum height rules cannot be used as a way to provide safety for people on the roof, and that no exempt item can be used for occupancy.

You can find full meeting agendas online here.

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