Currituck commission candidate Roy Lee Etheridge says his views on land use contrast sharply with those of his opponent in the upcoming May 6 Democratic primary.

Etheridge's opponent for the new District 2 seat, Jerry Wright, claims the current Board of Commissioners is "rushing" to develop the county, threatening Currituck's rural heritage and bucolic beauty.

Justin Falls/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Roy Lee Etheridge is one of two Democrats seeking the newly created District 2 seat on the Currituck Board of Commissioners in the May 6 primary.

Etheridge, however, doesn't see it that way.

He says farming is not panning out, particularly in the southern end of the county, so allowing land to be rezoned for low-density residential development only seems fair.

"I'm all for property owner's rights," he said.

Etheridge, the owner of a Kitty Hawk-based concrete ready-mix plant, also believes the rezonings are better for the county's bottom line.

"When people rezone land from agricultural to residential, they have to pay a higher tax rate," he said.

Since the current commission board's first meeting in December 2006, more than 1,700 acres of agricultural property in Currituck has been rezoned to either residential, mixed residential, commercial or general business use. That pace of development has some of the current board's critics — Wright included — alarmed.

But Etheridge said just because a landowner receives a rezoning doesn't mean they are going to build on it overnight.

"People getting land rezoned just can't go out and start building houses," he said. "It has to go back in front of the board (of commissioners) for sketch plan (approval)."

He said in the hearings that follow rezoning decisions, commissioners could evaluate a development's impact on services before deciding whether to permit a project to move forward.

"That would be one way that the Currituck board could monitor development so it doesn't occur too fast past our (capacity of) services," he said.

Etheridge said landowners in the southern end of the county are making the zoning requests in spurts because they are concerned about a potential political shift on the commission board after elections.

"What has happened is, the previous boards (of commissioners) wouldn't let nobody do anything," Etheridge said. "Now that we have a board more friendly toward the citizens of Currituck, everyone is panicking, saying: 'Well, I'd better rezone my land if I want to do something with it later."

Etheridge said residential projects could be a positive for the county if they do not devalue the property around them and comply with the county's Unified Development Ordinance. He also said the county can allow residential development and still maintain its rural heritage.

"We can still preserve the rural heritage through open spaces, through parks, things of that nature," Etheridge said. "They (commissioners) can monitor the density (of projects) ... so it wouldn't look like Dare County or Virginia."

If he's elected, Etheridge said he would focus on economic development, trying to convince industry, retail stores and commercial businesses to locate in Currituck.

"We kind of need economic development," he said.

Etheridge said one way to sell companies on the county is to inform them of Currituck's assets, such as its low tax rate.

"We have the sixth-lowest tax rate in north Carolina out of 100 (counties)," he said. "We probably look better (to companies) than Virginia."

Etheridge said one of his top priorities would be developing a recreational facility for Currituck's youth. Like Michael Cherry, a candidate for the new District 1 seat on the commission board, Etheridge said he was recently informed that Currituck High School's swim team needs to travel to Elizabeth City or the beach to find a pool to practice.

"Currituck County is surrounded by water," he said. "I don't know where parents (here) can take kids to get swimming lessons."

Etheridge said he believes he would fit in well with the current board of commissioners. He said there are no special interests behind his campaign.

"I do have a special interest group — that is the citizens of Currituck County," he said. "I feel like I'm fair and impartial. My decisions for Currituck County will reflect the needs and desires of the people. As commissioner, I'll try to look into the future."

The winner of the Democratic primary between Wright and Etheridge will face Republican John David Rorer in the November general election.

Roy Lee Etheridge

Age: 52

Occupation: Owner TNT Services, a concrete ready-mix plant in Kitty Hawk

Education: Bachelor of science degree, North Carolina State University, 1978

Political affiliation: Democrat

Previous political offices/campaigns: None

Religion: Jarvisburg Church of Christ

Family: Wife, three children