During a public hearing at the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen on Thursday, Sept. 13, the board unanimously approved a resolution granting a perpetual easement for the Sprunt-Willetts Cottage located at 207 N. Lumina Ave. The staircase and chimney on the northern side of the c.1937 beach cottage encroach a total of 6 ft. into the Charlotte Street right of way on the street end of the western side of N. Lumina.
The application for granting the permanent easement was being pursued by both the seller of the property, the Willetts, and the potential buyers, the Suggs, because the Suggs plan to complete a major restoration of the cottage if the easement was granted.
If the easement was not granted the Suggs had no interest in purchasing the historically designated home because they said moving the staircase and chimney would totally change the appearance of the home and possibly jeopardize the historic designation and their intentions to pursue a national historic designation.
The total size of the easement is 6 feet wide by 17 feet. The passage of the resolution begins the process of advertising the resolution for a minimum of 10 days and the board will approve a final draft of the easement agreement at a special meeting on Sept. 27.
