Coastal Common Sense

Last year, the Topsail Beach Board of Commissioners, in its tax and spend infinite wisdom, voted to spend an $8.5 million grant windfall on a new unnecessary town government building. A large group of local residents has questioned that shortsighted decision.

The locals first suggested that the $8.5million be applied to a property tax reduction for all Topsail Beach residents. In light of upcoming increases in countywide property values and property taxes, this approach made the most fiscal sense. An across-the-board tax reduction would have placated conservative local residents facing the coming property tax re-valuation and would have demonstrated the Commissioners' commitment to fiscal responsibility.

However, the Board summarily rejected that proposal without much debate and instead opted to use the windfall to expand Town facilities. Locals subsequently questioned the need for the expansion, which, like most government projects, started at $8.5 million, quickly rose to $12 million and will likely reach $15 million upon completion.

Were the existing Town offices overflowing? Were there desks in the halls manned by overcrowded employees? Were the current facilities inadequate for the Town to satisfactorily serve the public and conduct its business? Was there a pressing need from police and fire departments directly related to public safety? Was this planned expansion researched thoroughly with adequate public input? The answers to all these thoughtful questions were no.

But the Commissioners adopted a "damn the torpedoes" attitude and lightly skipped over the legitimate need for a new Town building, going straight to design and build options. Taxpayers never voted thumbs up or down on the actual need for this government monstrosity.

New Commissioners came on board last November and in an effort not to upset the apple cart, they missed a golden opportunity to terminate this wasteful project and instead silently acquiesced. Therefore, in the minds of the incumbent Commissioners this bridge to nowhere was a fait accompli.

However, local taxpayers, outraged by this backroom boondoggle, were not deterred and presented another viable alternative to spending the $8.5 million. Their vision was to create an attractive cultural, recreational, historical, retail commercial center on this prime piece of Main Street real estate. A Town Center would benefit locals and tourists alike as the highest and best use for the property.

The Town Center would include an outdoor amphitheater music/arts venue with seating for 500 people, an interactive historic park next to the existing historic Assembly Building, and a commercial Main Street development featuring low-profile, two-story, cottage-style architecture for retail shops, restaurants and galleries. Unfortunately, the Commissioners barely blinked an eye as they ignored this exciting futuristic vision.

Topsail Beach has the most scenic oceanfront setting in North Carolina and possibly the entire Southeast. We have avoided the terrible ugly development that has plagued Surf City, Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks and Virginia Beach. We have what the rest of the world desires. A small investment now in a musical, historical, commercial park could make Topsail Beach the most desirable destination venue for classical, jazz, bluegrass and all music. We could become the Aspen Music Institute of the Southeast coast. "We heard them play at Topsail" would become world famous.

Even though some Commissioners inherited this unsightly and unnecessary building, it is never too late to do the right thing by terminating this 1964 East Berlin looking government edifice. We have a rare opportunity to either build an ugly municipal eyesore that will permanently scar our town, or instead create a wonderful one-of-a-kind oceanfront Town Center that locals and guests will love, admire, and use for generations.