Over the next ten months, the Town will work with residents, visitors, and stakeholders to imagine what this space could become. We’ll study the land’s natural features, its trees, trails, and open areas, and pair that knowledge with your stories, memories, and ideas to create a shared vision for its future.
This is more than a planning process; it’s a community conversation. Together, we’ll explore how this space can serve generations to come, whether as a place to gather, reflect, play, or celebrate what makes Duck so special. Your input will help ensure that whatever we create here truly reflects the heart of our community.
We invite you to join us in writing the next chapter of the Herron Property’s story.
HERRON PROPERTY MAPS
PROJECT GOALS
Community- Driven Planning
Inclusive & Ongoing Engagement
The Town is committed to a transparent and inclusive planning process to ensure all voices are heard through a variety of engagement opportunities.
Ways to Get Involved:
- In-Person Events: Attend a community meeting or pop-up event to ask questions and provide feedback in person.
- Project Updates: Stay informed by following project updates through the Town’s website, social media channels, and newsletters.
Blank Slate Opportunity
How to Participate
Online Survey
Community Open House
Stay Connected
Community Engagement Results
Frequently Asked Questions
For many years, the Town has pursued this property with a clear purpose in mind: to preserve it for future generations. Ours is a small community, and with that comes the understanding that opportunities to secure public spaces are rare and precious. Land is finite, and recognizing that, the Town took deliberate steps to protect what remains — not just for today, but for the generations yet to come.
The previous owners rezoned this property to the Village Commercial Conventional District (V-C) in order to enhance its value and broaden its appeal to potential buyers. The V-C District allows for a diverse range of development possibilities.
This zoning designation was created to support limited commercial areas that serve both existing and emerging residential neighborhoods within the Town. Its purpose is to concentrate goods and services in specific areas along state-maintained highways, benefiting both year-round residents and seasonal visitors.
Permitted uses within the V-C District include Town-owned or leased facilities, which may also support recreational activities.
Yes! Community input is a vital part of the planning process. This property was acquired with the future in mind, and how it is ultimately used should reflect the needs, values, and priorities of the people who live here.
Public feedback helps guide Town Council decisions, ensures transparency, and strengthens community ownership of the project. Whether you share a detailed idea or simply voice your support or concern, your input contributes to a broader conversation that shapes the direction of this public space.
Your voice matters—and we want to hear it.
The Town of Duck, NC is engaging Freese and Nichols, Inc, (the consultant) to assess and provide preliminary design ideas for the 1.55-acre property acquired by the Town located at 1165 Duck Road and 101 & 103 Scarborough Lane. The purpose of this project is to obtain community input in how the property should be developed, create up to three conceptual ideas, and narrow down options to one concept that the Town can pursue for design and construction. The project will include a planning-level assessment of natural features on the property and generalized traffic generation and impacts on the existing roadways.
FNI is expected to provide the following services as part of this process:
- Site evaluation.
- Input solicitation – Meetings with Town elected leaders, appointed boards, and appointed staff. Public outreach and engagement to seek suggestions (may be in-person, virtual, surveys, social media, etc.).
- Interim presentation to the Town Council once initial input has been received and synthesized.
- Schematic Design for site layouts based upon input received (up to three options).
- Final presentation to the Town Council of site layout options.
- Site development cost estimates based upon Town Council use determination.
Yes! There are several upcoming opportunities to share your input. Freese and Nichols (FNI) and the Town are hosting stakeholder meetings and a Community Open House on Thursday, October 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Paul F. Keller Meeting Hall (1200 Duck Road). You’ll be able to review draft plans, talk with staff and planners, and share your ideas for the Herron Property.
In addition, a survey will open on October 6.
More engagement opportunities, including additional meetings and stakeholder conversations, will be announced throughout the planning process. To stay informed, sign up for the Town of Duck eNews for updates and future chances to provide feedback.
The property was acquired through Installment Purchase Financing, structured over a 10-year term at an interest rate of 4.08%.
The Town made a good faith effort to preserve the existing structure. After it was declared surplus by the Town Council, two public auctions were held in an attempt to sell the house for relocation, both of which were unsuccessful. In response, the Town issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the removal of the structure and cleanup of the site.
Throughout this process, safety remained a top priority. The building was evaluated and found to be in unsafe condition, a conclusion that was ultimately confirmed during demolition. Given the significant structural concerns and lack of viable alternatives for preservation, removal was determined to be the most responsible course of action.
Some materials from the original structure were retained for historical preservation purposes. Clearing the site now provides greater flexibility for future public use of the property, in alignment with the Town’s long-term goals.
The decision-making process involves multiple stages of public and stakeholder engagement. Freese and Nichols (FNI) will begin by hosting a public workshop, conducting stakeholder meetings, and distributing a community survey to gather input. Using this feedback, FNI will develop up to three alternative development scenarios for the property. These scenarios, along with a summary of the public input, will be presented to the Town Council for review. Based on the Council’s guidance, FNI will then prepare a final conceptual plan for the preferred scenario, including a high-level cost estimate.
The Town was first approached about purchasing the Herron properties in early 2018. Town Council held closed session discussions in April, May, and June of that year. On June 20, 2018, the Council authorized a purchase agreement. However, due to unresolved issues among the property’s multiple co-owners, the necessary seller signatures were never obtained. As a result, the Council voted on October 3, 2018, to revoke the purchase agreement.
Most recently, the property was discussed at the following public meetings:
October 18, 2024 – The first open session mention of the purchase occurred when the Town Council called for a Public Hearing regarding the financing.
October 30, 2024 – A Public Hearing was held, followed by the approval of the financing resolution.
November 6, 2024 – As part of the Consent Agenda, the Council approved the resolution to enter into the purchase agreement for the property.
January 8, 2025 – Under New Business, the Council authorized Town staff to pursue auctioning the house with a specific removal deadline and to issue a Request for Proposals for the removal of all structures, foundations, and debris from the site.