North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Prior to the April 15 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, Council members met in executive session for a legal briefing regarding Code of Laws of South Carolina, Section 57-9-10. Council took no action.
During the April 15 meeting, Mayor Marilyn Hatley presented a Proclamation naming April 2019 as National Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month. She called on citizens to dedicate themselves to the task of improving quality of life for all children and families.
Mayor Hatley said abuse and neglect affect about 679,000 American children annually. It is a serious problem affecting every segment of any community, and finding solutions to the problem involves everyone. Child abuse and neglect have long-term psychological, emotional and physical effects.
Effective prevention activities succeed because of meaningful connections and partnerships created between child welfare, education, health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses and law enforcement agencies.
City Council provided Employee Longevity Awards to Public Safety Sergeant William Norton (15 years of service) and Master Building Inspector Andy Bell (5 years of service). The awards occur in five-year increments for employees who provide excellent customer service.
City Council approved a motion to appoint North Myrtle Beach resident Ray Skidmore Jr. to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
City Council approved a special event permit for the 14th Annual May 11 Mayfest on Main, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main Street. For event information, visit www.mayfestonmain.com.
City Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance prohibiting single-use carryout plastic bags at retail establishments in the city. The ordinance is effective January 1, 2021. This allows retail establishments to expend their current stock of single-use carryout plastic bags and transition to reusable, recyclable or compostable alternatives.
City Council passed second reading of a Zoning Ordinance text amendment creating an overlay district defining architectural, signage, landscaping, pedestrian amenities, lighting and parking standards for the center of activities.
The 2018 North Myrtle Beach Comprehensive Plan identifies important corridors in the city that can benefit from establishing design standards to encourage quality development. The five focus areas are Main Street, 17th Avenue South, 37th Avenue South, Sea Mountain Highway and Little River Neck Road. The amendment rests on the concept that growth and development occurring in these areas over time should follow the community’s vision and take the form of walkable, mixed-use centers to serve local neighborhoods and hospitality needs.
The ordinance creates an overlay district defining architectural, signage, landscaping, pedestrian amenities, lighting and parking standards for activity centers.
City Council passed second reading of a Zoning Map amendment applying the Priority Investment – Focus Area Design Standards Overlay (PI-FADO) to 601 Main Street. The underlying zoning of the 6.4-acre parcel was Planned Development District (PDD) for an approved but unbuilt project called Town Center on Main. Located at the entrance to Main Street, the parcel is highly visible to people in vehicles and pedestrians and has about 400 feet of frontage on Main Street.
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance rezoning 6.4 acres of land at 601 Main Street from Planned Development District (PDD) to Highway Commercial. The property is vacant and undeveloped and was previously zoned Highway Commercial prior to creation of the Town Center on Main PDD in 2016. The Highway Commercial zoning district provides commercial opportunities to the traveling public and areas where large-scale commercial projects may occur with minimal impact on contiguous residential development.
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 20, Land Development Regulations, of the City’s Code of Ordinances. Previous land development regulations specified standards governing access and connectivity for commercial and high-density residential development in the city. The standards prohibited any corner lot having less than 150 feet of frontage on a heavily traveled street from having driveway access to that street.
At the discretion of the city engineer, the amendment allows driveway access to a corner lot from the more heavily traveled street when the frontage along that street is less than 150 feet. When making an exception to this standard, the city engineer will require any design modifications to the site plan deemed necessary to maximize safe and efficient access. If the corner lot fronts a S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT)-owned road, SCDOT approval of the access is required. City requirements may be more restrictive than SCDOT requirements.
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance establishing a Non-Warranty Deed rescinding the Road & Drainage Dedication Deed dated October 17, 2018 and recorded March 6, 2019, at Deed Book 4189, Page 1558, Horry County Register of Deeds.
The Blackwater at the Dye Club townhome development utilizes privately owned and maintained streets and drainage systems within its subdivision. As part of the project closeout process, and without the city’s awareness, the subdivision’s project engineers inadvertently recorded a deed dedicating the streets and drainage systems to the City.
City Council passed first reading of a proposed ordinance to amend the Prince Resort sign at the Cherry Grove Pier. The current sign is located adjacent to a vacant oceanfront lot. If left there, it would maintain grandfathered status. However, the beach and pier access will shift south to accommodate the new Hampton Inn & Suites hotel and a new sign and location is necessary.
