Background/Purpose of Request:
The Ocean Ridge Planned Unit Development was originally approved in November of 1996. In 2001, the developer requested an expansion to the development project. On December 10, 2001, the Planning Board held a public hearing regarding the expansion. Concerns about access to a large 28-acre tract of land owned by the heirs of Thomas Reaves was expressed during the public hearing. The tract is surrounded by the Ocean Ridge Development Project. The Planning Board required as an condition of their approval that an access easement be provided to the approximately 28 acre parcel to ensure access.
In 2015, an attorney for the Thomas Reaves Heirs owners contacted the Planning Department and informed staff that the easement had still not been granted. Michael Hargett, Planning Director at that time, issued a letter to the developer stating that the project is not in compliance with the approval and stated that no further final plats for the project would be approved until the required easement was provided. In March of 2016, a 4-page survey denoting a 60-foot access easement was recorded.
Since that time, it has been discovered that while the access easement survey was recorded, the easement was never actually conveyed. In response to this discovery, Kirstie Dixon, current Planning Director, sent another letter issued a letter to the developer stating that the project is not in compliance with the approval and stating that no further final plats for the project would be approved until the access easement is conveyed. |