Results: September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

During the September 18 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, City Council approved a special event permit for the 14th Annual Irish Italian Festival, September 30, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Main Street. Food and arts & crafts vendors, two stages of live entertainment, street performers, dance groups, all surrounding an Irish Italian International theme.

City Council approved a special event permit for the Endless Summer Festival, sponsored by the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, October 28, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Main Street. Entertainment, arts & crafts and food vendors, children's area with community stage, and carnival rides.

City Council approved a special event permit for the North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event October 12, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Boulineau's Food Plus parking lot and Nixon Street.

City Council passed second (final) reading of a proposed ordinance to amend the Barefoot Resort Planned Development District (MJPDD-17-02) as it applies to the Tuscan Sands neighborhood. Homeowners had expressed an interest in building porches or patios farther into their rear yards, but space was limited due to a 20-foot setback requirement. The amendment reduces the rear yard setback from 20 feet to l0 feet in the Tuscan Sands neighborhood to allow for unheated/un-air conditioned patios or porches that meet specific standards. However, the 20-foot rear setback would remain for heated or air conditioned living space.

City Council passed second reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 23, Zoning, of the Code of Ordinances of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (ZTX-17-06). The amendment creates a new overlay zoning district — the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay — that addresses setbacks for the construction of decks and porches within the R-3 zoning district. The overlay district exists in the zoning text only, with no initial application to specific properties at this time. When an applicant requests that the overlay be applied to their property or if the city proposes its application to specific areas of the city, the request would be processed as a typical rezoning application. The Planning Commission would provide a recommendation to City Council as to whether the district makes sense on a case-by-case basis, applying certain criteria.

City Council passed first reading of a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow wireless personal telephone transmission antennae on buildings less than 120 feet in height.

Section 23-110 of the zoning ordinance regulates personal cell phone transmission antennae and accessory equipment located atop flat-roofed buildings that are 120 feet or taller, provided the antennae project no more than 6 feet above and the accessory equipment does not protrude above the lowest parapet wall. Currently, antennae or equipment on buildings that are less than 120 feet are prohibited, unless the property is zoned PDD, requiring a major amendment, or publicly owned utilities or property.

In the past few years, the city has heard from some cell phone carrier representatives that there is a need for better cell phone coverage citywide. Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G data use by cell phone customers has greatly expanded and gaps in coverage persist.

City staff proposed a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow wireless personal telephone transmission antennae on buildings shorter than 120 feet in height provided the antennae employ a stealth or concealment design that mimics architectural features consistent with the building design and/or is complementary to the building architecture. Supporting equipment required at ground level must be screened from view.

This text amendment would not change the existing code regulating antennae or accessory equipment located atop flat-roofed buildings greater than 120 feet in height; those standards would still apply. The amendment does not address allowing freestanding transmission antennae beyond the existing standards already in place.

City Council passed first reading of request to rezone 11.66 acres of land located on Ye Olde Kings Highway from R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low Density) to R-2B (Single-Family Residential Medium Density). The property is currently undeveloped.