A new business bringing "alternate" transportation options to a Brunswick County beach town has been approved.
Oak Island Town Council recently approved a business license for a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) rental business. Though council approved the license under certain conditions, two council members pushed back after the business owner announced plans to eventually add e-bikes and more to the mix.
Town resident Dustin Owens is opening High Tide Motorsports to provide short-term UTVs, commonly known as side by sides, rentals for tourists on vacation.
"It opens the door to more of a selection for transportation across the island," Owens said. "And it's not going to be for everybody, but it's just going to be an alternate option."
Owens said UTVs
are a safer option for recreation vehicle compared to low speed vehicles, like golf carts, because they feature reinforced durable caging, doors, windows and seatbelts. The UTV is also climate-controlled with all seats facing forward in the direction of travel.
A UTV can also go the posted speed limit, councilmember Chasey Bynum added.
Oak Island Chief of Police Charles Morris II said a UTV is considered "a little" safer than a low speed vehicle because of the roll-cage.
"However, it doesn't reach the level of a truck or standard vehicle," Morris said.
Officials question who benefits
Council members questioned how the business will benefit existing businesses and residents, Councilmember Terri Cartner stating some residents asked the town deny the request.
"I'm tired of these itinerant businesses coming on our island," Cartner said.
Councilmember Bob Ciullo and Cartner expressed desire for new businesses that benefit residents more than tourists, such as amenities, apparel and home furnishing stores, as well as full service restaurants.
"This is not what our community is asking for," Ciullo said, noting the town denied a banana boat rental business proposed several months ago due to similar concerns.
Currently, UTVs are legal on roads with a posted speed limit of 55 miles-per-hour or less.
Why would the town deny the business when the vehicles are legal and unable to go faster than corvettes already driving on town roads, Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Craft countered.
"We have a reputation of not being friendly to businesses that want to come to Oak Island," Craft said.
Council concerns addressed
Each vehicle will be compliant with all state regulations, including vehicle dimensions and safety standards. Like a normal car, Owens said the fleet will be annually inspected to maintain North Carolina tags and titles.
Renters and drivers must be at least 25 years old, Owens said. Though 16-year-old individuals can legally operate UTVs, Owens said he will enforce "pretty strict guidelines across the business and a zero-tolerance policy" in a "thorough" contract.
A rental vehicle will be immediately revoked if an underaged driver is discovered or the renter disobeys the contract, Owens said. A GPS tracker will also be on each vehicle, so "out of control" speeding will result in a rental pickup as well, Owens added.
Asked about noise, Owens said UTVs give off a similar noise level as a regular pickup truck.
Conditions set by council
With staff and town attorney guidance, council approved the business license under several conditions: Owens can only have five UTVs in his fleet, the vehicles must be stored offsite and registered in Oak Island, and the minimum driving age is set at 25 years old. In addition, Owens is to use in-town gas stations and vehicle repair shops. Two councilmembers voted in opposition.
Owens will have to come back to town council if he wants to make any changes to the council-set conditions, such as adding more UTVs.
"The primary idea of the whole business is to be more of a golf cart and e-bike business, but just a few select of the side-by-sides as an alternate option," said Owens.
Owens could still open the business in another jurisdiction and operate in Oak Island if council denied the proposal, Bynum said. However, he would not be paying Oak Island property tax.
Additional details
Once open and operating, the business will store the vehicles off island and deliver them directly to customers. Hours of operation will be seven days a week between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., but renters can use the vehicles at any time.
Owens said the company will also offer monthly rentals for residents during slower months.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 'Alternate' rental business approved in Brunswick beach town
