North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Pat Dowling
The North Myrtle Beach City Council met on Oct. 5 at City Hall for a 6:30 p.m. executive session and a 7 p.m. meeting.
During the executive session, City Council received a legal briefing regarding the proposed development agreement for Chestnut Greens, a residential development proposed for the former Possum Trot Golf Course, and Council discussed the appointment of one member to the Planning Commission. Council took no action.
During the meeting, City Council presented a Proclamation and Plaque to Dan Moore for his contributions to North Myrtle Beach. City Council appointed Dan to the Planning Commission on April 22, 1980, and to the Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 6, 1997. After serving his terms on the commission and board with dignity and integrity for 40 years, and always seeking the highest quality of life for North Myrtle Beach residents, Dan resigned as chairman on Sept. 10. Thank you for your service was extended to him.
City Council extended its Declaration of Emergency and Emergency Ordinance for another 60 days. Both were set to expire prior to Oct. 15 and the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Oct. 16, making it necessary to extend the documents at the Oct. 5 meeting. The action simply continues City Council’s actions designed to reduce opportunities for the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
City Council approved a special event permit for an extension of time for the Third Annual Kite Festival.
On May 18, Council approved an application from Kite Brothers, Inc. to hold a kite festival on Oct. 25. Recently, Kite Brothers requested an extension of the event to include Oct. 24. As approved, the event is Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the beach, extending north on the beach from the northernmost boundary of the Horseshoe on Main Street.
The following conditions apply to both event days: (1) Kites may not fly above 400 feet. (2) Kites may not interfere with banner planes. (3) The event may not block the Horseshoe on Main Street. (4) The event area may not block access to the public beach or any homes or businesses.
City Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 23, Zoning, of the Code of Ordinances of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. [ZTX-20-05]. The amendments identify the City Clerk as secretary to the Board of Zoning Appeals and state that a majority of the quorum of the board is necessary to reserve, affirm or reject any matter presented to the board for decision.
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 20, Land Development Regulations of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. [STX-20-02].
The text amendment applies access standards to all forms of development and allows the Planning Commission to consider exceptions for site-specific development plans and minor subdivisions in addition to major subdivisions. In the past, only major developments and subdivisions went before the Planning Commission, leaving other forms of development without an opportunity to seek exceptions.
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning 6.47 acres on Bellamy Road and Highway 17 North [Z-20-10]. The newly annexed property is zoned Highway Commercial (HC).
City Council passed second reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning one lot of 23.39 acres on Anne Street (a.k.a., Tom E. Chestnut Road) [Z-20-8]. The newly annexed property is zoned R-1A (Single-Family Residential Low-Medium District).
City Council postponed first reading of an ordinance to annex and zone 171.24 acres on Possum Trot Road [Z-20-12] until a Special Called City Council meeting on Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.
City Council passed first reading of an ordinance in the ordinary course regarding face-coverings.
Guidelines recently offered by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) regarding the extension of ancillary emergency ordinances call for a total duration not longer than six months without enacting an ordinance in the ordinary course (i.e. an ordinance that is given two public readings).
On June 30, 2020, City Council passed Emergency Ordinance 20-17 requiring individuals to wear face coverings in certain circumstances. The ordinance expired on Aug. 31, 2020. On the same day, City Council passed Emergency Ordinance 20-24, extending the requirements regarding face-coverings, which is set to expire on Oct. 30, 2020.
In light of the MASC guidelines, staff proposes that Council enact an ordinance in the ordinary course with a sunset clause, rather than another emergency ordinance. The sunset clause states that Council may terminate the ordinance by issuing a resolution or it can automatically expire upon termination or expiration of the Emergency Declaration and Ordinance in place in the City of North Myrtle Beach (regarding COVID-19), whichever date is earlier.
