The Outer Banks Voice – KDH Commissioners to set public hearing on request to expand cluster home and cottage court zoning
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on November 12, 2025
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
At their meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Kill Devil Hills Commissioners are expected to schedule a Dec. 8 public hearing on a proposed zoning text amendment that would allow cottage courts and cluster homes in the Town’s Light Industrial Two Zone (LI-2).
In his application, developer George Goodrich cited the goal of the amendment as “providing more affordable year-round housing.”
On Oct. 14, the Kill Devil Hills Planning Board recommended approval of the zoning text amendment. And in an email to the Voice, Kill Devil Hills Assistant Planning Director Cameron Ray said a key factor behind that recommendation was that “multi-family development is already permitted in this zoning district, therefore it is consistent with other approved land uses.”
The proposed amendment would mandate that cottage courts and cluster homes have a minimum lot width of 100 feet and a minimum lot size of an acre.
In a memo to Town Manager Debbie Diaz, Ray also noted that “cottage courts and cluster homes are currently a permitted use in the Commercial Zone, Ocean Impact Residential Zone and as a special use in the Low Density Residential Zone.”
And aside from other forms of multi-family dwellings currently allowed in LI-2, permitted uses in that zone include hotels and motels, clinics or hospitals with a maximum of 30 beds, places of worship, banks and retail businesses.
According to Ray, at this point, no site plans or concept plans for cottage courts or cluster homes have been submitted to the Town by Goodrich. Proposals for such projects would have to go before the Planning Board for review and the Board of Commissioners for approval.
