Duct Cleaning in Sunset Beach, NC

Sunset Beach is renowned for having one of the widest, most stable beaches along the N.C. coast, and one that doesn't rely on periodic nourishments or erosion-control structures

SUNSET BEACH | As he slowly walked toward the eastern tip of the Brunswick County beach town, observing the shorebirds resting on the exposed mud flats near Tubbs Inlet and the shrimp boats just offshore, Marty Franklin almost had the wide beach strand to himself on the warm mid-November day.

"Love it here," said the Tennessee resident slipping in an early fall vacation before the holiday season. "This has to be one of the nicest beaches I've ever been to. It's just so wide and peaceful."

Sunset Beach, North Carolina's last barrier island before the Palmetto State, is renowned for a number of things. It is consistently rated as one of the state's most family-friendly beaches in the state, praised for its lack of commercialism even though it's just a few miles from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and famous for its beautiful sunsets since it faces south.

But if there's one thing that draws visitors back and helps keep the island's property prices among the highest along the N.C. coast it's the town's wide and healthy beach.

While coastal communities from the Outer Banks to Oak Island struggle with disappearing beaches, oceanfront homes teetering on the edge, and eroded dune lines, Sunset Beach has none of these problems.

The town's beach is among the widest and healthiest on the coast, and it's mature dunes offer oceanfront homes hundreds of feet of protection from threatening storm-driven waves.

"Currently, there are no oceanfront erosion control structures, and no history of beach nourishment at Sunset Beach," states the the latest inlet report by the N.C. Coastal Resource Commission's Science Panel.

According to coastal experts, here are some of the reasons Sunset Beach has been able to avoid problems impacting many of the state's other beach towns.

'Friendly' inlets

Land near inlets are the most unstable features along the N.C. coast, since inlets are fickle and have a habit of wagging back and forth like a dog's tail over time, taking sand from one side while allowing the other side of the inlet to accrete. Whether Mason Inlet in Wrightsville Beach, Lockwood Folly Inlet in Oak Island, New River Inlet in North Topsail Beach or Shallotte Inlet in Ocean Isle Beach, some of the coast's most serious erosion woes − historical and current − are centered around inlets.

Tubbs Inlet separates Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle Beach. Historically, the relatively small inlet migrated west between 50 and 65 feet per year, according to the science panel's inlet report. But the inlet was intentionally closed in 1969 due to the threat it posed to development on Sunset Beach and a new inlet was dredged and opened in 1970 roughly 3,200 feet further east. Following the relocation, the inlet began migrating toward Ocean Isle Beach − while the east end of Sunset Beach kept growing thanks to fresh sand.

The inlet's movement eventually led to the installation of sandbags to protect buildings on the west end of Ocean Isle Beach, although that erosion pressure seems to have eased in recent years as the inlet's main channel appears to be shifting back toward Sunset Beach.

With lots of sediment and shoaling within Tubbs Inlet and the inlet's feeder channels, including Jinks Creek, officials are expecting a gradual movement of the highly unpredictable inlet back toward Sunset Beach, although a complete closure of the waterway can't be ruled out.

Bye-bye Mad Inlet

On Sunset Beach's west end, the island used to be separated from Bird Island by the small Mad Inlet.

But the inlet closed naturally in the late 1990s due to sand buildup, exacerbated by 1998's Hurricane Bonnie, and lack of strong flow from its feeder creeks. Bird Island is now run by the state as a nature preserve and bird sanctuary and is one of Sunset Beach's most popular attractions.

The closure also has helped stabilize and benefit the town's beach and possibly providing another natural source of sand, said Roger Shew, a coastal geologist at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

But even before the inlet closed, it was seen as a positive influence for the island.

"Tubbs and Mad inlets were presumed to have had a combined influence on making Sunset Beach one of a few accreting islands in North Carolina," states the inlet report.

Jetty help from south of the border

Finally, experts say the jetties South Carolina installed at Little River Inlet just south of the state line and at the western tip of Bird Island also help Sunset Beach.

Shew said westward migrating sands in the longshore current pile up on the east side of the Little River jetty, helping to stabilize the west end of the island. While longshore transport mainly runs east to west, some of that sand also comes back east with prevailing wind and currents at times, meaning parts of Sunset Beach receive sand from both directions, helping boost and maintain the wide beach.

Back at Tubbs Inlet, Franklin admitted he didn't know or understand the dynamics as to why Sunset Beach has such a wide, natural beach that doesn't require a nourishment every few years to remain stable unlike many of its neighboring coastal communities.

"It's just really nice," he said as shorebirds rested nearby. "Nice and peaceful."

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@usatodayco.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation, the Prentice Foundation and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The Brunswick County Planning Board approved the revised Sailor’s Haven planned development at its November meeting, reversing its original denial and effectively rendering a lawsuit against the county moot.

Voting 4-1, the board’s approval grants developer Coastal Cornerstone Development, LLC the vested zoning right to develop the 283 single-family unit project on 117 acres near Sunset Beach off N.C. Highway 904 — Seaside Road SW.

Coastal Cornerstone Development initially went before the planning board for consideration of the Sailor’s Haven on July 14, but the board decided to deny the project over stormwater, flooding and traffic concerns. Subsequently, the developers sued Brunswick County and its planning board in August, stating the board’s decision was unlawful and based on subjective opinions and standards not written in the county’s zoning rules.

Given the recent green light for Sailor’s Haven, the main relief sought in the lawsuit — project approval — has been granted by the planning board. The lawsuit also asked for the county to cover attorney’s fees and damages. No planning board members mentioned it at the meeting.

Port City Daily reached out to Coastal Cornerstone Development’s attorney, Amy Schaefer with Wilmington firm Lee Kaess, and the county on its status and whether the developer will dismiss the suit or continue seeking damages. An answer was not received by press from either.

Despite the lawsuit, the developer took previous concerns of the planning board and reworked its proposal for re-consideration earlier this week.

The revised plan reduced the unit count from 299 to 283 and addressed stormwater issues. The developer added two stormwater ponds and engineered the entire system to handle a 100-year storm event. Steven Smiley, co-founder of Coastal Cornerstone Development, explained the additional pond increased the property’s ability to hold water flow by more than 50% over the previous design, both of which met the UDO’s minimum requirements.

County floodplain administrator James Paggioli previously expressed concerns over the initial design’s ability to adequately handle large storm events. However, he noted the new plan adequately addressed the issues.

The development team also added an emergency vehicle connection at an existing dirt road on the northern section of the property for a total of five access points.

Planning staff recommended approval on four conditions:

Despite technical corrections, the project faced opposition from residents and officials in attendance, who focused on public safety and infrastructure strain. Newly elected Sunset Beach council members Katie Bordeaux and Christie Batchelor, as well as Sunset Beach Mayor Shannon Phillips spoke against the development at this week’s meeting.

Phillips pointed to persistent congestion on Highway 904, calling the situation “unreal,” explaining it’s “backed up” daily.

“A little bit different from some of the other communities, my citizens are mostly older and they do have a hard time up there,” he said, referring to Highway 904. “They’re scared, they’re really worried about things.”

The traffic impact analysis for the project estimated it would generate 2,772 vehicle trips per weekday on the highway. Residents were concerned the new traffic would add strain to the road, particularly during tourist season, noting its role as the main hurricane evacuation route for the area. The average annual daily traffic on 904 and Old Georgetown Road, where the development is proposed, is more than 13,200 vehicles.

Mandated traffic mitigation measures include the construction of southbound and northbound turn lanes on Highway 904 at the primary access point in and out of the development.

Aligning with the concerns over the impact on the highway’s corridor, board member Jim Board cast the single vote against the project. He cited issues with emergency road access and ingress/egress from the property.

However, the majority of the board believed the developer’s corrective actions were enough for approval. Board member Rich Leary articulated his favorability:

“I think maybe the way this process is working out tonight is the way it’s supposed to work out,” Leary stated. “It seems to me as though the developers have taken that [denial] pretty seriously, and I think they’ve made an honest effort to make those improvements. I don’t see anything in this where there is any concern with UDO compliance.”

Have tips or suggestions for Charlie Fossen? Email charlie@localdailymedia.com

Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe and then sign up for our morning newsletter, , and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.

After previously denying a proposed plan and being served a civil complaint, Brunswick County approved a residential development near one of its coastal towns.

The Brunswick County Planning Board on Nov. 10 approved site plans for Sailor's Haven, adding nearly 300 single family homes on the two-lane Seaside Road just outside Sunset Beach.

"It is really creating a very bad predicament for our town," said Sunset Beach Mayor Shannon "Hotdog" Phillips about development, stating there are existing stormwater, traffic, water and other safety issues looming over the area.

During its July 14 meeting, the board unanimously voted to deny Sailor's Haven after written staff reviews cautioned the developer about the site being in a Carolina bay. Board members and nearby residents also stated concerns about stormwater drainage and traffic.

Sunset Beach residents, including the mayor, requested the board deny the plans again until infrastructure shortfalls that will improve safety are addressed.

"We're very congested at Sunset Beach. People are losing their temper, we have too much development without enough infrastructure, the roads are very unsafe [and] there are a lot of accidents," Sunset Beach resident Katie Bordeaue told the board, asking them to keep the town safe.

After a round of revisions and residents sharing worries about existing problems worsening, the plan is expected to be put into action.

Background about Sailor's Haven

Coastal Cornerstone Development LLC originally proposed Sailor's Haven as a 299-single-family unit planned development on approximately 117.38 acres along Seaside Road SW near Sunset Beach. The subject parcel, known as the Blackman Tract, is split zoned with both residential and commercial zoning.

The site was originally part of the adjacent Wyndfall development and earned plan approval about 25 years ago, Deputy Planning Director Marc Pages said in July. However, the property was never developed and eventually changed owners.

Filed civil suit to be dismissed

In accordance with the county's unified ordinance development, Coastal Cornerstone Development elected to appeal the board's decision to deny the proposal by filing a lawsuit in Brunswick County Superior Court in August, Brunswick County Communications Director Meagan Kascsak previously told The StarNews.

Court records state the complaint was formed because the boards "arbitrary and capricious" denial did not point to a specific ordinance violation. Coastal Cornerstone Development argued the first proposal met all approval requirements under the county's unified ordinance development and included designs to further mitigate any stormwater concerns.

Now that the developer resubmitted plans and earned approval, County Attorney Ryan King said he expects the case to be dismissed. As of Nov. 19, no motions to dismiss the case have been filed.

Neither Coastal Cornerstone Development's attorney Amy Schaefer nor Paramounte Engineering, the project engineers, have returned StarNews' requests for comment as of Nov. 20.

Developers come back with altered plans

Resubmitted site plan show several changes, including a decrease in the number of housing units and increase in stormwater drainage management.

The newly approved Sailor's Haven Planned Development plan has 283 detached single-family units instead of 299 units, generating approximately 2,772 vehicle trips per 24-hour weekday volume, per the staff report. Space for nature trails and an additional emergency access are also included in the plans.

Allison Engelbretsen with Paramounte Engineering told the board the property will be developed in five phases.

Some nearby residents, like Christie Batchelor, said the property "floods badly" during heavy rain events.

Steven Smiley, representing the developer, said they have dug 18 wells and conducted a hydraulic study on the entire site and monitored the property's soil for over a year.

The study shows water moves through the soil, though the property was identified as a Carolina bay, Smiley said.

Residents hope for denial, planning board OKs Sailor's Haven

Sunset Beach resident Christine Bauman said hundreds of homes have already been approved to be built along the N.C. 904, also called Seaside Road, corridor. The road serves as an evacuation route and has traffic problems that need to be addressed before more developments are approved, Bauman said.

"Adding thousands of homes before improving 904 is putting lives at risk," Bauman said.

In a 4-1 vote, the planned development site plan was approved with board member Jim Board voting in opposition. Board said traffic and egress concerns remain, despite the issues being addressed in the new plan.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the area’s latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the and following us on and .

Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.

In a closed session ahead of the Nov. 3 regular meeting, the Sunset Beach Town Council offered Town Administrator Lisa Anglin a new employment contract and Anglin accepted the offer, the town attorney announced.

Town Attorney Grady Richardson at the outset of last Monday’s meeting said during the closed session before the 7 p.m. regular meeting “it was resolved that a new contract was offered to Miss Anglin and she accepted the terms of that contract.”

The meeting agenda notes the closed session was called under North Carolina General Statute 143-318-11 (a)(6). Under this statute, local government governing bodies are permitted to enter closed session to “consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment, or conditions of initial employment of an individual public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; or to hear or investigate a complaint, charge, or grievance by or against an individual public officer or employee.”

The action was taken during the sitting council’s final meeting, as the newly elected council, which will feature four new members, will be sworn in at the start of the Monday, Dec. 1 meeting. Four members of the sitting five-member council — John Corbett, Charles Nern, Mike Hargreaves and Gerry Byrnes — will not be on the council going forward.

In North Carolina, certain information in public employee’s personnel files is considered public record, while other information is classified as confidential.

NC G.S. 160A-168 indicates public employees’ name, age, title, current position, date of original employment, the terms of any current or past employment contract, current salary, the detail of each promotion, demotion, transfer, suspension, separation or any other change in position classification, the date and general description of reasons for promotions and the date and type of each dismissal, suspension or demotion for disciplinary reasons.

The statute also notes “salary” includes pay, benefits, incentives, bonuses and deferred and all other forms of compensation paid by a municipality to an employee.

The Brunswick Beacon on Feb. 9, 2024, requested under North Carolina Public Records Law (NC G.S. 132-1) the information related to Anglin’s employment with the town of Sunset Beach classified as public information under NC G.S. 160A-168. That request, along with nine other public information requests to the town of Sunset Beach spanning from February 2024 to August 2025, was acknowledged upon receipt but remains unfulfilled more than 18 months years later.

The newspaper on Tuesday, Nov. 4 also requested public information related to the new contract offered to and accepted by Anglin during the Nov. 3 meeting. That request was acknowledged by the town upon receipt but as of this paper’s publication has not be fulfilled.

Dylan Phillips is the editor for The Brunswick Beacon. Feel free to reach out with comments, questions and tips at dphillips@brunswickbeacon.com.

SOUTHEASTERN N.C. (WECT) - Here is a breakdown of the unofficial winners of races across Southeastern North Carolina in the 2025 North Carolina Municipal Election:

Wilmington – Mayor

27 of 27 precincts reporting

Wilmington – City Council

27 of 27 precincts reporting

Carolina Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Carolina Beach – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Kure Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Kure Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Wrightsville Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Wrightsville Beach – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bald Head Island – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bald Head Island – Village Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Belville – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Belville – Town Commissioner

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Boiling Spring Lakes – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Boiling Spring Lakes – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolivia – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolivia – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Calabash – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Carolina Shores – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Carolina Shores – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Caswell Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Holden Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Holden Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Leland – Town Council

7 of 7 precincts reporting

Navassa – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Navassa – Town Commissioner, District 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Northwest – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Oak Island – Mayor

6 of 6 precincts reporting

Oak Island – Town Council

6 of 6 precincts reporting

Ocean Isle Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Ocean Isle Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandy Creek – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandy Creek – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandy Creek – Town Council, Unexpired Term

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Shallotte – Mayor

5 of 5 precincts reporting

Shallotte – Board of Aldermen

5 of 5 precincts reporting

Southport – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Southport – Board of Aldermen, Ward 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Southport – Board of Aldermen, Ward 2

2 of 2 precincts reporting

St. James – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Sunset Beach – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Sunset Beach – Town Council

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Sunset Beach – Town Council, Unexpired Term

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Varnumtown – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Varnumtown – Board of Aldermen

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Atkinson – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Atkinson - Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Burgaw – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Burgaw – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

St. Helena – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

St. Helena – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Surf City – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Topsail Beach – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Topsail Beach – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Watha – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bladenboro – Mayor

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Bladenboro – Town Commissioner

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Clarkton – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Dublin – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Dublin – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

East Arcadia – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Elizabethtown – Town Council

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Elizabethtown – Town Council (Unexpired Term)

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Tar Heel – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Tar Heel – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

White Lake – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Boardman – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Boardman – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolton – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Bolton – Town Alderman

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Brunswick – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Cerro Gordo – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Cerro Gordo – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Chadbourn – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Fair Bluff – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Fair Bluff – Town Commissioner

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lake Waccamaw – Mayor

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lake Waccamaw – Town Commissioner, East Ward

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Lake Waccamaw – Town Commissioner, West Ward

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandyfield – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Tabor City – Town Council

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Whiteville – Mayor

3 of 3 precincts reporting

Whiteville – City Council, District 1

2 of 2 precincts reporting

Holden Beach Pier Bond ($7.3 million for new pier)

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandyfield Malt Beverage Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandyfield Unfortified Wine Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Sandyfield Mixed Beverage Election

1 of 1 precincts reporting

Click here to watch WECT’s live election coverage.