Plans are under way for Shallotte Point to get a boating access area that should relieve some of the congestion at the county’s southwestern boat ramps. The commission has plans to turn land at the intersection of Brick Landing and Devane Roads into a dual-lane boat ramp on the Intracoastal Waterway.
Plans call for the site to have 24 parking spaces and handicap parking. It will be able to accommodate boats up to 25 feet long and possibly larger.
There is no date set for completion, but the town hopes for a date sooner than later, especially with the access point in nearby Ocean Isle Beach frequently packed. The only holdup is the approval of a Coastal Area Management Act permit for the project, which the commission recently applied for.
Bringing a boat access point to that area of the county has been in the work for years. At one time, Brunswick County tried to purchase the land but then began working with Wildlife Resources to get something started. The county’s focus eventually shifted, so the state agency took full ownership of the project.
The county’s funds dried up, and after a few years, we took another look at the project and were able to purchase the land. The agency paid $846,000 for the property, and the construction of the access area is being funded by a $350,000 state grant.
