Carolina Beach considering limiting patriotic flag displays | Community Spirit

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) - The Town of Carolina Beach will consider changes to its new sign ordinance that limits the amount of patriotic flags homes and business can display. Under the new rule, a business can only have one flag per 25 feet.

Business owners are split on the vote to change the ordinance.

"This shouldn't even be a big discussion over it," said manager Wayne Bevans. "I shouldn't even be sitting here talking about it."

Bevans is the manager at Red Hotz, a local golf cart rental company. The business along Lake Park Boulevard has multiple patriotic flags flying outside.

"It's America," he said. "We're supposed to be able to fly the colors of red, white and blue"

Other business owners think there needs to be limitations.

"It just doesn't look right to have that many," said Nancy Cappoli, a local business owner. "It is disrespectful to a degree."

At the July 10th council meeting, several members of the community brought up concerns about limiting the number of patriotic flags. As a result, Planning Director Ed Parvin will be presenting the Town with four options at their Tuesday meeting.

The first option would be to make no changes to the ordinance and keep the existing one flag for every 25 feet rule. This option was passed unanimously at the last planning commission meeting.

The second option gives owners the flexibility determine what size and how many flags they can have, but would limit the total square footage of flags. For reference, the most common size flax are 3' x 5' or 15 square feet and 4' x 6' for 24 square feet. An example given by Parvin is Wrightsville Beach's town ordinance. Currently Wrightsville Beach allows for 100 square feet of signs which equals about six 15 square foot signs.

Option three would have no limits on flags for houses, but would limit flags at business. According to Parvin, homeowners have no incentive for displaying flags other than for patriotic reasons, whereas businesses fly flags to attract attention.

The fourth option would be to have no limitations on flags for homes or businesses.

Town leaders will consider all options at their next meeting on Tuesday.

Bevans told WECT.com that if town council votes to limit flags, the business will close and move off the island.

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