CODES BARRIER FOR ISLANDER
As owner seeks to reopen, flood plain ordinance causes delay
Debbie Gibson, owner of the former Islander Marina and Restaurant in Mathews County, says she and family members have faced a few stumbling blocks in their quest to resurrect the iconic resort.
Built by Gibson’s father during mid-1960s, the popular getaway overlooking the Piankatank River on Gwynn’s Island closed in 2003 following severe damage in the wake of Hurricane Isabel.
Since, Gibson said, it has been one frustrating hurdle after another toward reaching their goal.
First the original co-executor of the estate, who felt the damage was too great for repairs, suggested the property be liquidated and the family’s hands were tied.
Later in 2013, Mathews County building officials issued a condemnation notice, but it was withdrawn after the family appealed.
Then in 2016, they attempted to get the building permits.
“We’ve had everything thrown at us,” Gibson said. “We’ve been told we’ve had zoning issues. We’ve been told we need a restaurant permit. We’ve been told we need a hotel permit ... and that’s like putting the cart before the horse.”
The latest issue arose earlier this month when the Mathews County Board of Supervisors called a special meeting to reverse a decision to issue building permits, which would have allowed renovations to begin.
In August, the board agreed to give permits, but then changed its mind after hearing from the state’s Department of Conservation Resources and lawmakers.
The board was told issuing permits would violate the local flood plain ordinance and jeopardize county residents’ flood policies issued through the National Flood Insurance Program.
State officials said renovation would cost more than 50 percent of the structure’s value — currently assessed at $3,000, on the county tax rolls — requiring it to be in compliance with current flood plain and building codes.
Gibson said the bigger issue is the ordinance itself, because it doesn’t allow for appeals and needs an overhaul.
“We want to get the entire flood plain ordinance looked at under a microscope at the next board meeting,” Gibson said. “They are going put the correct verbiage in for historic properties ... and so they are going to correct all that, and they are going correct that so there is an appeals process and that will help the entire community.”
County officials say the ordinance is compliant with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “We have a track record to establish protocols to stay in compliance,” County Administrator Melinda Conner said.
“We don’t have latitude or authority to amend the ordinance, without state or federal approval,” she said, though the board considered at its last regular meeting exploring potential amendments allowing for a zoning appeals process.
It would still need an OK from the Department of Conservation of Resources and FEMA, and was tabled for a later date, Conner said. She said the county is still willing to work with the family to renovate the property.
The supervisors had previously decided to issue the permits, citing older building codes, economic necessity and because the Islander would qualify as a contributing structure within the Gwynn’s Island Historic District.
While Gwynn’s Island has been determined informally to be a potential historic district, it has not been formally nominated to the National Park Service, said Randy Jones, spokesman with the Department of Historic Resources.
The district, which is fairly large, needs to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places before FEMA even recognizes it, Jones said.
Gibson says the Islander is a big part of the history of Gwynn’s Island, was built to aid in Mathew County’s changing economy and is still needed.
“We want to do this and our father loved it. He was born and raised here and built this to help Mathews County,” Gibson said. “We want the flood plain ordinance amended, that is our No. 1 priority. All of the supervisors want to see this project move forward. We just can’t see a path.”
“We don’t have latitude or authority to amend the ordinance, without state or federal approval.” County Administrator Melinda Conner