Strategic Goal #4: Work together to advocate for broader residential housing diversity

During this planning process, stakeholders and residents most frequently pointed to housing availability and affordability as the central issue. This goal recognizes the significant work already underway by Dare County and other groups addressing Outer Banks housing, while emphasizing collaboration and partnership to move those efforts forward for the benefit of all residents, including people working in tourism and hospitality.

4a. Work with Dare County and other partners to advocate for expanded home ownership options

Collaborate with Dare County and other partners to support more home ownership choices for a wider range of residents, including incentives for alternative and more sustainable housing development. Create an education, awareness, and advocacy strategy around the need for greater housing diversity.

• OBVB Role: Support + Advocate
• Other Organizations: Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, tourism industry partners
• Timeline: 2023 and ongoing, aligned with Dare County’s efforts
• Success Metrics: Development of an awareness and advocacy strategy; additional units built; units deemed affordable; workforce units; public sentiment surveys; employer surveys.
• Considerations: In a support role, the work includes identifying roadblocks and helping find solutions when progress stalls. For example, a commissioner noted in a recent meeting that funding exists for affordable housing, but land is difficult to secure. The question becomes who should be part of that conversation to help identify a path forward.
• Desired Result: Expand housing diversity; keep and attract full-time residents. Build shared understanding around current needs and potential solutions.

Progress

December 16, 2024 – The Dare Community Housing Task Force voted unanimously to approve the 2024 Report titled Housing for Now and Future Generations. The report reflects a year of meetings, presentations and candid discussions, and focuses on four core housing areas: Available Housing, Attainable Housing, Sustainable Housing, and Acceptable Housing. Advocating for an increase in residential housing diversity is one of the four strategic goals in the Long-Range Tourism Management Plan, and the Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee is committed to supporting the Housing Task Force’s work in whatever ways it can.

October 9, 2024 – Donna Creef and Malcolm Fearing, Chair and Vice Chair of the Dare Community Housing Task Force, joined the committee to share updates on the Task Force’s activity, progress, and challenges. The Housing Task Force has met monthly since February and continues to take positive action toward recommendations for next steps on key housing issues facing the community. Presentation slides were made available.

January 18, 2024 – The Dare County Housing Task Force convened for its first meeting. Bob Woodard, chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, serves as chair. The Housing Task Force includes representatives from local government, associations, industries, and residents from across the county. Of the 26 members of the Housing Task Force, eight (8) are directly connected to the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP): three (3) Dare County Tourism Board members [Monica Thibodeau, Mike Siers and Tess Judge], four (4) Special Committee members [Donna Creef, Elizabeth Morey, Bobby Outten and Ronnie Sloan], and one (1) Outer Banks Visitors Bureau staff member [Jeff Schwartzenberg].

The collaborative work of the Dare County Housing Task Force reflects a committed effort to identify holistic responses to the community’s housing challenges. With a broad mix of stakeholders involved, the Housing Task Force is working to create a positive effect on the housing landscape in Dare County.

4b. Work with Dare County and other partners to advocate for balance among short-term rentals, long-term rentals, and home ownership

Collaborate with Dare County and other partners to support a balanced mix of short and long-term rental options and opportunities for home ownership.

• OBVB Role: Support + Advocate
• Other Organizations: Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, tourism industry partners
• Timeline: 2023 and ongoing, aligned with Dare County’s efforts
• Success Metrics: Development of an awareness and advocacy strategy; additional units built; units deemed affordable; workforce units; public sentiment surveys; employer surveys.
• Considerations: In a support role, the work includes identifying roadblocks and helping find solutions when progress stalls. For example, a commissioner noted in a recent meeting that funding exists for affordable housing, but land is difficult to secure. The question becomes who should be part of that conversation to help identify a path forward.
• Desired Result: Prioritize and fund continuing land-use and policy updates that support enforcement and compliance.

4c. Work with Dare County and other partners to advocate for public transportation, mobility options, and workforce accessibility

Collaborate with Dare County and other partners to support development of public transportation, additional mobility choices, and improved workforce access.

• OBVB Role: Support + Advocate
• Other Organizations: This could be done in conjunction with 3.a, 3.e and 3.f
• Timeline: 2023 and ongoing, aligned with Dare County’s efforts
• Success Metrics: Development of an awareness and advocacy strategy; additional units built; units deemed affordable; workforce units; public sentiment surveys; employer surveys.
• Considerations: In a support role, the work includes identifying roadblocks and helping find solutions when progress stalls. For example, a commissioner noted in a recent meeting that funding exists for affordable housing, but land is difficult to secure. The question becomes who should be part of that conversation to help identify a path forward.
• Desired Result: Enable regional transit to broaden housing and workforce choices.

4d. Team with local groups to explore public/private housing development possibilities

Partner with local organizations to examine opportunities for public/private housing development.

• OBVB Role: Support + Advocate
• Other Organizations: Resident Advisory Panels, local Developers, Dare County
• Timeline: 2023 and ongoing, aligned with Dare County’s efforts (Done in conjunction with 4.a)
• Success Metrics: Options identified and advanced for consideration.
• Considerations: Include local groups and external developers in the process.
• Desired Result: Greater diversity in development options, with a mix of essential and affordable choices.