The Outer Banks Voice – Town of Duck Honored with APA-NC Marvin Collins Planning Award

By story submitted on October 23, 2024

In the photo from left to right: Hannah Cockburn, President of APA-NC; Chris DeWitt, AICP, VHB Director/Regional Market Leader; Monica Thibodeau, Mayor Pro Tempore; Richard Wiatt, senior landscape architect/planning and design project manager at VHB; Joe Heard, Director of Community Development; Sandy Cross, senior planner; Hannah Williams, AICP, CZO, APA-NC Awards Committee; not pictured: Janell Henderson, administrator of the Fred Smith Company
(Photo credit: American Planning Association – North Carolina Chapter on Facebook)

The Duck City Living Shoreline and Resiliency Project has been selected as the winner of the prestigious 2024 Marvin Collins Planning Award in the “Sustainability and Resilience” category from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NC). This recognition highlights the city’s innovative project, designed as a model for soundfront owners and coastal communities.

Situated along a prominent quarter-mile stretch of NC Highway 12, the Living Shoreline and Resiliency Project is easily visible to residents, pedestrians and travelers, providing an opportunity for community engagement and observation of its coastal resilience elements along the time.

Key features of the project are designed for replication by both private landowners and other communities. Notably, the use of living shorelines as an alternative to reinforced bulkheads can be implemented at various scales, while the addition of sidewalks and bike lanes promotes safer transportation. The project also includes elevating NC Highway 12 and constructing a stone revetment to mitigate flooding and erosion issues, increasing the community’s overall resiliency and sustainability. Additionally, several stormwater management components can be duplicated by property owners and local governments.

The Living Shoreline and Resiliency Project has significantly improved the sustainability of the Duck community by reducing shoreline erosion, restoring coastal wetlands, providing transportation alternatives, elevating roads, and implementing advanced stormwater solutions.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from APA-NC,” said Director of Community Development Joe Heard. “This project represents a significant investment in the future of our community and demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and resilience. This important project would not have been possible without the efforts and support of many in our community, including Senior Planner Sandy Cross, Duck City Council, VHB Design Engineering, Fred Smith Company Construction and our many funding partners . We believe this project can serve as a model for other coastal communities facing similar challenges.”

The APA-NC Marvin Collins Planning Awards are named for a distinguished planner who has made significant contributions to the field. The awards are considered the highest honor in planning in North Carolina and recognize the outstanding work of individuals and organizations.

To learn more about the Living Shoreline and Resiliency Project, visit https://www.townofduck.com/living-shoreline-and-resiliency-project/