CURRITUCK — County commissioners approved a precedent-setting amendment to the county's land use plan Monday night, agreeing to let developers build the Currituck Marina project in the Point Harbor area.

The board agreed to the amendment by a 3-2 vote, with Vice Chairman Gene Gregory and Commissioner Owen Etheridge the two dissenters. The amendment will allow the county to change the zoning of 40 acres from conservation use to full service use.

In exchange for being able to use the 40 acres, the county will designate 80 acres in the Kilmarlic Club subdivision from limited service use to conservation use.

Developers Tim Morrison and Fred Meyers envision Currituck Marina as a mixed-use residential neighborhood, with about 200 housing units, a public marina, retail shopping and a possible restaurant.

According to county officials, changes to the land use plan are infrequent. In fact, county staff had to "work from scratch" to formulate their opinion on the project, Planning Director Ben Woody said.

Woody favored the change to the land use plan because the project will be the first of its kind to offer public access to Currituck Sound. Such access is currently unavailable in lower Currituck, he said.

Prior to the board's decision, Morrison presented reasons why he said the project should be approved.

"(Currituck Marina) will be good for everyone," Morrison said. "There is nothing like it here."

Lower Currituck residents opposed the change however, citing various concerns, including environmental harm to wetlands and increased traffic.

One Harbinger resident, Linda Pasqua, requested commissioners consider how another residential area and public marina project will further increase congestion problems.

"Traffic is a real concern, why don't we talk about that issue before we talk about more development?" she asked.

Other lower Currituck residents said the county needed to focus more on their needs before approving a new development.

"There is something dreadfully wrong when we can't get adequate fire and ambulance (service)," said Judy Cline, who also opposed the amendment. "Shouldn't the safety of lower Currituck be more important than (the developer's request)?"

Gregory agreed the project may bring unwanted traffic to the area.

"What these people are saying is true," Gregory said to the developer. "The traffic up there is terrible."

County staff recommended conditional approval of the amendment, asking that the developer be required to preserve wetlands and critical habitat areas as well as provide boating and beach access to the public.

Because water depths near the development are shallow, dredging will be necessary to complete the project, Woody said.

"Wherever we put a marina, there will have to be dredging," he said.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Barry Nelms said he approved of the project, adding that he believes it would be a good use of the land.

Morrison said he was happy with the board's decision.

"You always have opposition, but that's what good government does, allows the community to speak their mind," he said.