Kitty Hawk, N.C. - The red and blue open sign at Buccaneer Motel and Beach Suites has been lit up for decades but that may soon change.
According to a proposal News 3 uncovered, Owners David and Sandra Briggman want to turn the Kitty Hawk business into a drug treatment facility.
In their rezoning proposal, they say their goal is to help people struggling with drug abuse to make a positive change in their lives.
But not everyone is on board with that.
“This has been resort town for the longest period of time,” tourist Mike Dearhart said. “I think it should be kept that way.”
Dearhart says he’s not looking forward to the center being just feet away from his favorite vacation spot.
“It can attract problems. People wanting to get things from there. You know, maybe break in. It`s just me, it could raise the crime rate in the area,” Dearhart explained.
But it's not just tourists against putting a facility at that location.
The town's planning board recently recommended the town council deny the Briggman's request to change the zoning at the hotel beach district.
Without their approval, the facility can't open in that area.
“The intent of that district is for the hotels and the commercial and the offices,” Rob Testerman, the town’s Director of Planning and Inspections, said. “This proposal would then be allowing the institutional type use and a multifamily type use --- that are not currently allowed in the district.”
Testerman says the town council will vote on the proposal next month.
He says they usually follow the board`s recommendation.
