RESULTS: April 4 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

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.

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