The Town of Nags Head has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking information from private entities as to how they may propose to provide housing to meet the needs of the town’s seasonal Ocean Rescue lifeguard staff.
The lack of affordable, or almost any, long-term rental housing has long been an issue on the Outer Banks, but this year — with a hot housing market and an already busy vacation season — finding a place to live full-time has been near impossible.
The lack of long-term housing has created problems for many restaurants and other businesses on the Outer Banks, and even The Outer Banks Hospital, which put out a plea last week looking for housing for front-line hospital staff.
Unfortunately, our Team Members are not immune to the current housing crunch. Over the past several weeks multiple front…
Posted by The Outer Banks Hospital on Wednesday, April 21, 2021
“The Town’s standing as a family-focused destination relies upon the safety of its beaches,” Nags Head officials said in a news release. “Seasonally, this is the primary responsibility of the Town’s Ocean Rescue lifeguards. The average lifeguard is between 18 and 26 years old; many are college students working during the summer break and returning to school before the start of the fall semester. About a third of the Town’s lifeguards are international students under the U.S. Department of State’s J-1 Visa Summer Work Travel Program.”
It is necessary for the lifeguards who are not residents to secure housing for the duration of their employment. Annually, town staff works to help prospective lifeguards find housing that is safe, secure, and available for a reasonable expense, the town’s news release said.
“Given the housing demands associated with the tourism-based economy, increases in the town’s permanent population, and the growth in the use of short-term rental platforms, the ability to secure necessary housing presents challenges for lifeguards and the town, conditions that change annually,” the release said.
Generally, the town is open to the receipt of any information responsive to the RFI; however, respondents may wish to consider the following considerations, preferences, and limitations:
- While consistency with existing Town zoning and land use regulations may result in some presented concepts being more viable than others, respondents should not be restricted by existing regulations applicable to a concept, use, property, and/or building when responding to the RFI.
- While the Town is not making property it owns available for procurement currently (through sale, lease, or some other arrangement), the Town does not object to the presentation of information that relates to one or more of its properties.
- Generally, the Town does not have an interest in being responsible itself for developing, managing, or maintaining housing.
- Respondents should not be limited from presenting information based upon partnerships between entities, both public and private, or suggesting alternative uses for housing when not occupied in season.
- The Town is open to learning about non-traditional concepts that may address identified needs. For example, could housing be provided in modular units that may be relocated when not in use?
- Respondents should review the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and other planning documents that may be relevant, which may be accessed at the following link: https://www.nagsheadnc.gov/935/Long-Range-Planning.
The RFI may be accessed on the Town’s Bid Postings website at the following link: https://www.nagsheadnc.gov/bids.aspx. Questions or inquiries concerning the RFI may be directed to Town of Nags Head Director of Planning and Development Michael Zehner.
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