Cape Connection

Santa Claus at Town Hall!

This Friday, 4 pm - 7 pm

Santa Claus himself will visit Cape Carteret Town Hall on Friday, December 2! Bring the kids, and stop by to say hello, get a picture, and let him know what you're hoping for this Christmas!

We will also have refreshments and snacks, and Christmas specials playing in the Town Meeting Room.

We hope to see you there!

Yard Debris Collection Begins on December 12

Town staff will begin collection of residential yard debris on Monday, December 12, and will continue collection over the next several days until a full pass of the Town has been completed. 

Residents should place all debris at the curbside between now and December 12, and should be careful to avoid placement under utility lines and large trees. Limbs should generally be limited to 8 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. 

Toys for Tots -

Drop Off New Toys at Town Hall By December 12

The Town of Cape Carteret is again collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program. Please donate today, and help make this Christmas special for someone in need!

New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Town Hall during normal business hours - 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. 

Town Maintains Sound Financial Position

S. Preston Douglas LLP recently completed a financial audit of the Town for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 (FY 21-22). The Town is fortunate to maintain an overall sound financial position, and is committed to managing the Town's resources in a fiscally responsible manner in the future.

Highlights of the audit report include the following:

• The Town's total expenditures across all funds during FY 21-22 were $2,246,335.

• Total revenues and other financing sources for FY 21-22 exceeded expenditures by $156,317.

• The Town's total fund balance as of June 30, 2022 was $2,360,513, which equates to approximately 105% of annual expenditures. Of this amount, a total of $2,179,238 is unassigned and available for expenditure at the Board of Commissioners' discretion.

• Property taxes are the Town's largest annual revenue source, with a total of $958,064 collected in FY 21-22.

• Local option sales taxes are the Town's second largest annual revenue source, with a total of $461,944 in FY 21-22.

• The Police Department is the Town's largest annual expenditure, with a total of $733,588 in FY 21-22.

• The total assessed valuation of the Town in FY 21-22 was $446.9 million.

• The Town property tax collection percentage during FY 21-22 was 99.45%.

• The Town's total outstanding debt as of June 30, 2022 was $95,312, and was incurred for the financing of 4 Town vehicles. These obligations will be fully retired no later than 2026.

The Mayor, Board of Commissioners, Town Manager, and Town staff place the highest priority on responsible fiscal management. The Town's leadership continues to work hard to maximize Town grant funding, minimize expenditures, and invest appropriately in infrastructure and other Town services to enhance the quality of life for our residents and property owners.

Renew Your Golf Cart Permit Now

Existing Town of Cape Carteret golf cart permits will expire on December 31, and the Town is now accepting golf cart permit renewal applications. The new permits are effective January 1, 2023, and will be valid through December 31, 2023. The renewal fee is $75.

Golf cart permit applications are available on the Town's website by clicking HERE . Completed applications and payment must be submitted at Town Hall during normal business hours, 9 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted.

Board to Consider Design Contracts for Storm Water Improvements in Ardan Oaks, Bogue Sound Drive

The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, December 12 at 6 pm at Town Hall.  As part of the Town's continuing efforts to address storm water flooding concerns in various neighborhoods, the Board will consider two separate design contracts for planned storm water improvements in the Ardan Oaks neighborhood and along Bogue Sound Drive.  Both locations were identified in recent Town planning efforts for future improvements, and State grant funds were awarded to proceed to the design phase for these locations. 

If awarded, design work is expected to begin in the coming weeks and be complete next spring. The Town hopes to construct storm water improvements in these areas during summer or fall 2023.  

Board to Consider Ordinance Amendment to Reduce the Number of Special Use Permits

The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to conduct a public hearing and consider an amendment to the Town's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that would reduce the number of special use permits included in the UDO at its next meeting scheduled for Monday, December 12 at 6 pm at Town Hall.

The Town's UDO currently includes a large number of special uses in the Table of Permitted and Special Uses, and the proposed ordinance amendment would eliminate some uses, and convert many others to permitted uses by right. The proposed ordinance amendment is intended to simplify and streamline the Town's development review process, provide greater certainty for both residents and developers about what kind of new development is permitted or not permitted in certain areas, and promote greater transparency.

The proposed ordinance amendment was drafted by Town staff with input from the Planning Board, and was unanimously approved by the Planning Board at its meeting on October 18.

Town's CAMA and Comprehensive Plan Certified by

NC Coastal Resources Commission

The Town's new CAMA and Comprehensive Plan was formally certified by the NC Coastal Resources Commission on November 14, and is now officially effective. The Plan outlines the Town's vision, key land use goals and policies, and will guide future land use decisions by the Town's officials.

A copy of the Plan is available by clicking HERE .

Sign Up for "Cape Connection", The Official Newsletter of the Town of Cape Carteret

The Town of Cape Carteret is committed to providing timely, concise, and relevant information to the residents, property owners, businesses, and visitors to Cape Carteret, and "Cape Connection" is our newest effort to ensure that our community is well-informed about the Town's issues, services, projects, and initiatives. We hope that you will find this new monthly newsletter helpful, and we will continue to work to improve the Town's public communications in the future. 

To join our mailing list, please click HERE , scroll to the bottom, and enter your email information. Please also share this edition of "Cape Connection" with anyone else who is a resident, property owner, business, or visitor to Cape Carteret, or is just interested in keeping up with the Town of Cape Carteret. 

"Cape Connection" will be issued at least monthly, and more frequently if necessary to keep the Cape Carteret community informed about hurricane threats, special events, or emerging issues.

Thank you for your interest in the Town of Cape Carteret!

Town Transitioning to

New Facebook Page -

Please Like "Town of Cape Carteret, NC"

Technical issues with the Town's old Facebook page - "Town of Cape Carteret" - have compromised the Town's ability to efficiently post new information, and as a result the Town has created and has transitioned to a new page - "Town of Cape Carteret NC". Please note the "NC" on the end, and make sure you like the correct page! Or, simply click HERE  to access the new page.

The Town also maintains a presence on Instagram - "townofcapecarteret" - and on Twitter - @TownofCapeC - so please follow us on these platforms also! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Town Hall Closed for Christmas and New Year's Holidays

All of us at the Town of Cape Carteret wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy this special time of the year with your family and friends, and join us in looking forward to a productive and prosperous 2023 in Cape Carteret!

Town Hall will be closed on Friday, December 23, Monday, December 26, and Tuesday, December 27 for the Christmas holiday. Town Hall will also be closed on Monday, January 2 for the New Year's holiday.

Regular recycling collection will occur on Saturday, December 24, and regular trash collection will also occur on Monday, December 26 - consistent with the Town's normal collection schedule.

Did You Know?

The Town maintains 10 water access facilities along the shoreline of Bogue Sound and Pettiford Creek, including the public boat launching facility at the terminus of Manatee Street, a kayak launching facility off NC 58 just north of Taylor Notion Road, and access to Bogue Sound at the terminus of several streets in theOld Cape Carteret and the Bayshore areas. The Town also maintains the Cape Carteret Community Park on Dolphin Street behind Town Hall, and small park facilities on Bahia Lane and Quailwood Court.