During
the April 4 meeting of the North Myrtle Beach City Council, Mayor
Marilyn Hatley presented a Proclamation proclaiming April as National
Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in North Myrtle Beach. The
Mayor was joined by members of the North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club, who
work tirelessly to support programs and initiatives that help to prevent
child abuse and neglect.
Mayor
Hatley said that during one year, 678,932 victims of child abuse or
neglect were reported nationwide. She reminded those attending the
meeting that child abuse can have long-term negative psychological,
emotional, and physical impacts. She encouraged effective child abuse
prevention activities that create meaningful connections and
partnerships between child welfare, education, health, community, and
faith-based organizations, businesses and law enforcement agencies. She
cited the necessity for communities to make every effort to promote
programs and activities that benefit children and their families.
“Prevention remains the best defense for our children and families,” Mayor Hatley said.
Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance to amend the lease agreement between the City and Apex Water Park, LLC.
The
leased area now also includes a small portion of land (about .08 acres)
adjacent to the lake that will accommodate the placement of a building
to serve as an observation area for guests and visitors. Apex
anticipates that it will serve prepackaged food and beer and wine to its
guests within the observation building. The leased area also includes
an additional area of the lake parallel to the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure
zip line for the operation of a wake-surf boat. The motorboat will not
exceed 12 mph when in operation, and its wake will be used to teach
people to surf.
Apex
is also authorized to place outside advertising signs or banners on
each of the towers supporting the cable system for the wake ski amenity;
on the ramps and sliders floating on the lake; and on the railings
around the observation building, the pro shop and the motor control
buildings.
The amended lease provides that all sponsorship revenues will be considered part of the gross revenues under the lease.
Council passed second reading of an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance text, Section23-42, regarding overflow parking.
The
amended ordinance exempts parking lots intended as noncommercial
surplus or overflow parking in association with another use from having
to be improved with concrete or asphalt. To qualify for the exemption,
parking stalls must be located on a parcel of land that is separate from
the principal use it supports, and cannot contain stalls otherwise
required to satisfy the minimum parking requirement of that use.
Additional performance criteria will also have to be met.
Parking
lots intended as a commercial, principal use of land are still required
to meet all improvement standards, meaning concrete or asphalt, and the
use of landscaping still apply.
Council passed second reading of an ordinance
amending the Zoning Ordinance text, Sections 23-18 and 23-36 to exempt
banners as prohibited signage within public park and sports complexes.
Council approved a special event permit for
Wheel to Surf. Sponsored by Coastal Carolina Adaptive Sports &
Recreation, this adaptive surfing event for people with disabilities
will be held on the beach at 27th Avenue South on May 14, 9:00 a.m.-
4:00 p.m.
Council approved a special event permit for
the Anderson Estep Cherry Grove Surfing Championship. Sponsored by the
Northern South Carolina Eastern Surfing Association, the event will be
held north of the Cherry Grove Pier in the designated surfing area on
April 23, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. A beach sweep will also be held to clean
up trash on the beach and in the area around the pier.
City Council tabled until its May 2 meeting the second reading of an ordinance to
annex and zone one lot located adjacent to the Parkway Group PDD (PDD),
which is located west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Council wants to
wait until an associated Development Agreement has been completed before
giving second reading to the proposed annexation and zoning.
City Council tabled until its May 2 meeting the second reading of an ordinance
for a major amendment to the Parkway Group Planned Development District
(PDD) to allow changes to the previously approved phase known as the
Waterway Hills Tract and to add a newly annexed area known as the Wilson
Chestnut Tract. The area is referred to as “Grande Dunes North” in the
PDD, which is located west of the Intracoastal Waterway. Council wants
to wait until an associated Development Agreement has been completed
before giving second reading to the proposed ordinance.
City Council tabled until its May 2 meeting the second reading of an ordinance
to amend the Parkway Group Planned Development District (PDD) to allow
changes to the previously approved residential tracts known as Seashore
Farms and L.L. Chestnut, referred to as “Waterside” in the PDD. Council
wants to wait until an associated Development Agreement has been
completed before giving second reading of the proposed ordinance.
Council passed first reading of an ordinance to
amend the current Zoning Text Section 20-40, Existing Adjacent
Streetscapes, to extend the time period for retroactive installation or
fee in lieu for street trees and sidewalks from 24 months to 36 months.
Council passed first reading of an ordinance
to amend the Zoning Text to create a new overlay zoning district to
recognize historical lot development patterns of several existing R-1
(Single- Family Residential) District neighborhoods that were subdivided
prior to the existence of the City of North Myrtle Beach Incorporation
and establishment of zoning.
Staff
has proposed a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to create a new
overlay zoning district that respects the historical lot development
pattern of several existing R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low-Density)
District neighborhoods subdivided prior to City incorporation and
establishment of zoning, and to make accommodation allowing
reestablishment of that pattern with respect to lot sizes and setbacks.
The key changes would be to allow a 5,000 square foot lot size, and 5
foot side setbacks, recognizing that this lot size is historically
prevalent in many neighborhoods.
Specifically,
staff is recommending a “floating” overlay zone, where the overlay
district exists in the Zoning Text but is not mapped, with no initial
application to specific properties at this time.
The benefits of establishing a zoning district as a floating zone are as follows:
- No city-initiated rezoning of anyone's property
- Far less burdensome notification and processing
- Considered permissive rather than prescriptive.
Property
owners choose whether to apply for the overlay zone on their property.
Surrounding property owners are notified and can have their say on a
case-by-case basis during public hearings and public comment periods.
Processed
like a typical rezoning application, the Planning Commission would
provide a recommendation to City Council as to whether or not the
district makes sense on a case-by-case basis.
Council passed first reading of an ordinance that would amend an ordinance
adopted on March 21 approving a Master Trust Indenture ("MTI") for the
Cherry Grove Municipal Improvement District ("District") financing. The
purpose of the amendment is to follow up on a recommendation made by
Muni-Cap to have the bonds secured not only by assessments, but also by
the City's full faith, credit and taxing power. Adding that additional
security will require official action by City Council, and that action
needs to occur as soon as practical to avoid any delay in the current
schedule for implementing the dredge. Once a lender has been chosen, the
final details of the bonds will be set forth in a "Supplemental
Resolution", also approved by City Council. After that, the financing
can proceed to closing.
During the public comment period of the meeting, Grand
Strand resident Fred Nesta presented Mayor Marilyn Hatley with a framed
copy of a bill passed by the S.C. General Assembly last spring
officially designating October of every year as Italian American
Heritage Month in South Carolina. The bill recognizes the many vital
contributions of Italian Americans to the state. Nesta was highly
instrumental in getting the bill passed.
A
member of Grand Strand Lodge 2868 of the Order of Sons of Italy in
America and a past national state deputy of the order, Nesta’s goal is
to have a copy of the bill displayed in every Italian owned business in
the state, and in city and county governments. He has been raising funds
to accomplish his goal.
Also during the public comment period, Bennie
Swans, John Bonsignore, and others from a coalition formed to help
enhance positive relations between law enforcement and the community in
Horry and Georgetown Counties spoke to City Council about their desire
to sponsor a relaxed event in the north strand area that would bring
young people in closer personal contact with north strand police
personnel. The event would include food, games, and other relaxed
interactions. Young people would have the opportunity to experience
north strand police personnel interacting with them on a more personal
level, and police would have the opportunity to learn more about what
interests and drives today’s north strand area youth.
The
coalition first held an event designed to bring law enforcement and the
communities they servce closer together with a 2015 dinner at The Pine
Lakes Country Club in Myrtle Beach. Although relations are much better
between area police departments and residents of all ages than they are
in some other parts of the country, the coalition believes that holding
these types of events will continue to stress support for law
enforcement, and improve accessibility of young people to law
enforcement for help and guidance.
As plans develop, more information will be made available to the public.
