A.C. Hall's map of what could
have been.
Imagine
downtown Pine Knoll Shores—not one commercial area with an office building,
library and fire station but discreetly situated buildings and shops nestled in
the maritime forest along a wide boulevard with landscaped median. As you turn
off Salter Path Road onto this boulevard, a road on your left leads to a
multi-story commercial building with a top-floor restaurant, offering both
sound and ocean views. Farther north off the boulevard is a road to a marine
center in the Roosevelt Natural Area. Veering northwest to a municipal complex,
the boulevard goes all the way to Bogue Sound and ends at a bridge to the
mainland.
Before the
bridge, on McGinnis’ point, is a resort lodge owned by A.C. Hall, current owner
of the Atlantis Lodge. The bridge and lodge are ideas A.C. Hall talks about.
His 1978 planning-map in town hall reflects his vision of the boulevard.
A.C. Hall drawing of alternate
views of downtown PKS
Today, we
access Pine Knoll Village commercial area from Salter Path Road. The boulevard
is wooded, two-lane Pine Knoll Boulevard. It does have roads leading off it to
the aquarium and town hall, but the rest of “downtown” has faded into history.
In place of the multi-story commercial building with a top-floor restaurant is
Pine Knoll Village residential area, a looped cul-de-sac with 11 single-family
homes and 3 single-family lots.
The
property appears to have been clear cut, a sign the intention was to extend
Pine Knoll Village commercial area. Also, lots are level and large, ½ to ¾
acres each. However, at some time in the 80’s, plans changed. Original
covenants for a residential area, drawn up by Whitford, Kirkman and Jenkins law
firm, are dated March 1, 1989.
Kathleen
and Kenneth Kirkman were the property owners. (Kenneth Kirkman was a local
attorney representing the Roosevelts at the time) The assumption is that they
bought the land from the Roosevelts, drew up covenants to maintain standards
for the area and created Pine Knoll Village Homeowner Association.
The
Kirkmans also owned the property that is now Pine Knoll Village commercial area
and developed that area, but they sold the remaining Pine Knoll Village land to
Sammy Ballou for residential development. Sammy said he thought the land he
bought had originally been intended for mixed use with plans for homes as well
as commercial building, but what he bought was a plat for a residential
subdivision, which came to be zoned R-3. Sammy put in a road, brought in water
and electricity. He then began building homes and selling lots, starting with a
spec house in 1989. He recalled building about four houses. On lots he sold,
other houses went up throughout the 1990’s. The most recent home was completed
in 2006.
Sammy
Ballou’s signature appears on Pine Knoll Village Homeowner Association’s
original bylaws. Initially, the association maintained Pine Knoll Circle as a
private road, but in March 1994, the town assumed responsibility for the road,
its right of ways and streetlights. The homeowner association does not own any
common areas. In fact, there has been discussion of the association dissolving.
Should that occur it would be one of the only residential areas in Pine Knoll
Shores not to have a Homeowner Association.
Natalie
Parmiter, a resident and past president of the Pine Knoll Village Homeowner
Association, described Pine Knoll Village as a quiet, peaceful cul-de-sac
surrounded by woods. On the north side, there is a lagoon, not visible from the
road. The large lots allow houses to be some distance from one another and add
to the quiet atmosphere. With the Roosevelt Natural Area around Pine Knoll
Village, it’s not uncommon to see wildlife, including deer, in the
neighborhood.
Another
perk for living in Pine Knoll Village is that residents have a timeshare
ownership for one week at the Whaler Inn, so they, like all timeshare owners,
can use its amenities, including a beach access, year round.