Town officials have said that because on that lot, the Town can build restrooms, though questions have arisen on how much of the lot was buildable. The dock as well may need repair or replacing, thus negating the savings that had been previously. (The deal, town officials had said, would save the Town the cost of building a dock from scratch in Town waters off of South Avenue.)
The contract also states that the Town gives up any claim it might have had to other rights of way – besides Avenue A and South Avenue — that maps or plats may show to be on Fulcher’s fish plant property.
That and other aspects of the contract have sparked some letters:
Doug Sligh writes: This land swap has always seemed like a bad deal for the town, but the details make it a much worse deal.
The contract for the Town of Oriental’s Land Swap with Chris Fulcher is on the table. The Town would abandon Avenue A (6,000 square feet) and the end of South Avenue (7,900 square feet) which has 80 feet of waterfront. In exchange, Fulcher would give the Town one parcel of 4,500 square feet (he’d add on 500 square feet he gets from the ROW) and one dock and two wooden buildings.
Town officials have said that because on that lot, the Town can build restrooms, though questions have arisen on how much of the lot was buildable. The dock as well may need repair or replacing, thus negating the savings that had been previously. (The deal, town officials had said, would save the Town the cost of building a dock from scratch in Town waters off of South Avenue.)
The contract also states that the Town gives up any claim it might have had to other rights of way – besides Avenue A and South Avenue — that maps or plats may show to be on Fulcher’s fish plant property.
That and other aspects of the contract have sparked some letters:
Doug Sligh writes: This land swap has always seemed like a bad deal for the town, but the details make it a much worse deal.
This land swap has always seemed like a bad deal for the town, but the details make it a much worse deal.
One example: The contract requires the town to move the two buildings within 90 days. I assume the town would move the buildings to the newly acquired land. But the CAMA setback on the survey is 75’. The total property depth is only 76’ on the south property line. Will the town have to comply with the CAMA setback rules? If so, where will the proposed restrooms be? Where will these two existing buildings be located after the move. Certainly not on the new parcel.
Another is the Neuse Front Street right of way. I had previously thought Fulcher already owned this property. While the property has no financial value for the town in terms of marketability, it has enormous value to Fulcher. The same with Ave A. This value should have been considered in the negotiations. To claim the right of way land has no value to the town is wrong.
I would rather the Town of Oriental forget the deal and keep the existing property. This is a gift from the town to Chris Fulcher. I hope he sends a nice thank you note.
Doug Sligh
Oriental
5/9/12
(A Letter to the Editor sharing one sent to Oriental town officials.)
Oriental Town Manager, Mayor and Town Board,
Why not trade the “old” Ave. A as shown on Plat Book 2, page 53 (“The Town Plat”) for the land Mr. Fulcher wants to trade with the Town. I think this R/W goes under one of his buildings and might be more valuable to him. The Town and/or public could keep the other water access and road easements as plated in Plat Books 2/4, 11/20 and 2/53. These plats show the recorded easements over the Fulcher Point property and the adjacent area. “ Ave. A” is used to name different streets thru the years.” Old” Ave. A (under the Fulcher building) connects to Maine and Neuse Front and “modern” Ave. A looks as if it ran between Neuse Front and South Ave. and was once called Smith. This Ave. A also provides a connection to Neuse Front and Maine St. which runs along the river in front of the Fulcher buildings to the foot of the rock jetty and the easement for the jetty. If we (property owners who bought from PB 2/53) give up this “modern” Ave. A we would also not have land access to Maine and Neuse Front and the rock jetty easement.
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