Group of residents refile lawsuit against Sunset Beach

SUNSET BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Some residents in Sunset Beach have filed a lawsuit against the town in Brunswick County Court.  

It’s the second such complaint filed by five residents who live along a canal the town is working to dredge.

The five plaintiffs in the suit say in February, the town notified each of the 320 residents that live on the canal that they would have to pay $8,000 to pay for the project. 

Tony Marino is one of the plaintiffs in the suit. He says the town assessed that cost based on parcels, rather than square footage—meaning larger properties have to pay the same as smaller ones.  

“Including the town’s massive parks, like this one here, where they have over 500 feet of waterfront, and yet they’re paying the same as my 50 feet,” Marino noted. 

The new complaint also alleges the town’s dredging worsened conditions for families living on the canal, and that damages exceed $25,000.  

Joe Cantoni filed the initial complaint back in March. That case was later thrown out because the town had not fully approved the proposed assessment.  

Now that it has, residents are once again hoping a judge will grant an injunction while the lawsuit moves forward.  

Cantoni says the cost creates a burden on some residents—especially retirees on fixed incomes.  

“Their tax bills will rise from three or four thousand dollars to 11 or 12 thousand dollars,” he said. 

Cantoni says he and the plaintiffs aren’t opposed to paying a fee but says the system of assessment should be changed to reflect similar projects in nearby beaches.  

“That fee for Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach is about three to five hundred dollars, per year, for each family with a 50-foot canal,” he explained. 

Marino says they’ve tried to address the issue with the town directly, but have gotten nowhere.  

“All we’ve asked is for them to speak to us to try and get to a solution, and our public officials have just not wanted to hear,” he said. 

WWAY reached out to town administration about the lawsuit, but we were told the town does not wish to comment.  

However, Town Attorney Grady Richardson told us he feels the lawsuit has “no merit.”