Wrightsville Beach public meetings in 2025

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee will review the invoice from Ironman 2026 for special event permits, parking, and facility use. They will consider approving payment of $7,995 covering site preparation, facility reservations, parking fees, permit fees, bike check‑in, race‑day fees, and a refundable security deposit. Payment is to be submitted within 14 days of the event as noted on the invoice.

• Site prep and facility reservation fees of $175 on Oct 14 and Oct 15
• Parking fees on Oct 16: Waynick Blvd. (6 spaces @ $25), 650 S. Lumina lot (17 spaces @ $30) totaling $1,310
• Special event permit fee $800 and bike check‑in facility reservation $350 on Oct 16
• Parking fees on Oct 17 race day: Waynick Blvd., S. Lumina lot, Nathan St. totaling $1,310 plus permit fee $800
• Refundable security deposit of $2,000

Planning Board

The Wrightsville Beach Planning Board will discuss a text amendment to the town’s commercial lighting standards. The amendment proposes changes such as lowering pole heights, adding lumen caps, and requiring photometric plans for new or redeveloped parking lots. The Board will review these revisions and decide whether to recommend adoption to the Board of Aldermen.

• Pole height for parking‑lot fixtures reduced from 30 ft to 18 ft; wall‑mounted fixtures capped at 10 ft above first finished floor
• Wall‑mount height for commercial building exteriors reduced from 20 ft to 10 ft above grade
• Motion‑sensor floodlights limited to 700 lumens with auto‑off within 10 minutes
• Landscape/decorative lighting capped at 300 lumens, must be aimed and shielded
• Photometric plan required for all new or redeveloped commercial parking lots

Bridge Replacement Committee

The Bridge Replacement Committee will receive updates from a transportation consultant, the WMPO, and emergency‑response officials. It will then define the committee’s roles and responsibilities, brainstorm issues affecting the bridge and town traffic, and outline next steps including a special‑events discussion.

• Traffic count updates from transportation consultant Chad Kimes
• Emergency‑response “heat map” and alternative response plan from NC Fire Chiefs Consulting
• Discussion of next steps for the town traffic study
• Brainstorming of issue list (emergencies, traffic, deliveries, services, evacuation, school access, events, boat traffic, communications)
• Special‑events discussion led by Haynes Brigman

The Bridge Replacement Committee approved the minutes of the August 11, 2025 meeting. The committee reviewed GFT Engineering traffic analysis data and discussed planning issues for the three bridge replacement projects. It scheduled the next committee meeting for March 16, 2026, and noted a possible earlier meeting in February. No formal votes were recorded.

• Approved minutes of 8/11/25 meeting (no vote recorded)
• Set next Bridge Replacement Committee meeting for March 16, 2026 (no vote recorded)

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The committee will discuss several special event permits for 2026 beach activities. The agenda also includes discussions on tennis and pickleball court lighting and a proposal for a Veterans Memorial Garden.

• Wrightsville Plunge for Communities in Schools of Cape Fear (Jan 1, 2026) at beach access 36
• Shipman/Ward Wedding (Jan 31, 2026) at beach access 16
• O’Neill East Coast Grom Tour (March 21, 2026) at beach access 29
• Naming of Town Assets Application: Lee’s Nature Park by RILO Foundation
• Proposal from the Harbor Island Garden Club for a Veterans Memorial Garden

Planning Board

The Wrightsville Beach Planning Board discussed a text amendment to the town’s commercial exterior lighting standards. Board members voted to adopt revisions that lower fixture heights, set motion‑sensor limits, require photometric plans, and unify the holiday lighting window. Additional provisions address lighting for outdoor sports fields and update terminology for modern fixtures. Staff will incorporate the agreed changes into a revised draft for future Board of Aldermen consideration.

• Reduce pole height from 30 ft to 18 ft and wall‑mounted fixtures to ≤10 ft above grade
• Require photometric plans for new or redeveloped commercial parking lots and significant lighting changes
• Limit motion‑sensor flood fixtures to 700 lumens with auto‑off within 10 minutes
• Unify holiday lighting window to Monday before Thanksgiving through January 10, removing the Halloween period
• Outdoor sports fields: eliminate 65‑ft reference, require photometric plan and Board of Aldermen approval, consider 30‑40 ft height cap

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee approved special event permits for the Wrightsville Beach Elementary School Fall Festival and two surf contests. The committee also discussed the naming of a new park and the scheduling of pickleball open play.

• Approval of special event permits for Fall Festival and surf contests
• Discussion on naming Lee's Nature Park by RILO Foundation
• Pickleball open play schedule set for Courts 1–5
• Upcoming events include Triathlon, Bark in the Park, and Bike Rodeo
• Farmers Market Rules and Regulations to be updated

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The committee approved the minutes from the June 5, 2025 meeting. Members agreed on an Open Play schedule for pickleball courts 1‑5 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Aldermen approve the special event permits for the Wrightsville Beach Elementary School Fall Festival, the Carolina Pro‑Am Stand‑Up Paddleboard Surf Contest, and the WBLA Surf Contests. The meeting was then adjourned.

• Approved minutes of June 5, 2025 (unanimous)
• Open Play schedule set for courts 1‑5 on Tues/Thurs/Fri (agreed)
• Recommended approval of three special event permits (unanimous)
• Meeting adjourned (unanimous)

Bridge Replacement Committee

The Bridge Replacement Committee approved the minutes from the May 5, 2025 meeting. Members were updated that NCDOT is exploring alternative delivery methods for the bridge replacements and that right‑of‑way acquisition has begun, with a “let date” projected for spring 2028. GFT Engineering reported traffic and pedestrian counts that will be used to assess lane‑closure impacts, and emergency‑response consultants will develop a heat‑map and alternative response plan. The next meeting was set for November 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

• Approved minutes from May 5, 2025

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The committee approved the minutes from the May 1 meeting. It recommended approval of three special event permits (YMCA Triathlon, NC Holiday Flotilla, and Board Riders surf contest) and the recommendation was approved. Members agreed to cancel the July 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting was then adjourned unanimously.

• Approved May 1 meeting minutes (unanimous)
• Recommended approval of three special event permits (all approved)
• Cancelled July 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting (agreed)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Marketing Committee

The committee reviewed the FY 24-25 marketing plan and discussed the proposed FY 25-26 plan. A motion by Nicholas Montoya, seconded by Amber Moshakos, was carried unanimously. The FY 25-26 marketing budget of $1,046,512 was approved for recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.

• Approved $1,046,512 FY 25-26 marketing budget (unanimous)

Bridge Replacement Committee

The Bridge Replacement Committee approved the minutes from the February 3, 2025 meeting. Members discussed traffic‑count data, an emergency‑response consultant, and coordination with NCDOT and the Coast Guard. The committee rescheduled its next meeting for August 11, 2025. No other formal actions were taken.

• Approved minutes of Feb 3, 2025 meeting
• Rescheduled next meeting to Aug 11, 2025

Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee approved its meeting minutes and recommended approval of three special event permits. It also approved installing a pet‑locator scanning station at the municipal complex. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended renaming Island Drive Park to “Durwood Sykes Sunset Park,” pending next‑of‑kin permission.

• Approved meeting minutes (all members approved)
• Recommended approval of three special event permits (all members approved)
• Approved installation of a pet‑locator scanning station at the municipal complex (motion passed)
• Unanimously recommended renaming Island Drive Park to Durwood Sykes Sunset Park, contingent on next‑of‑kin permission