Results - February 5 North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

Prior to the start of the February 5 North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting, City Council met in an executive session that included the following agenda items (no action taken):

           

-- A legal briefing to discuss Brandon Mykal Cook vs the City of North Myrtle Beach

-- A legal briefing to discuss Martin and Rhonda Ottoway vs the City of North Myrtle Beach, Et Al

-- Potential litigation in conjunction with other S.C. coastal municipalities and the S.C. Environmental Law Project in opposition to offshore seismic testing and oil and gas exploration

-- Interview of potential candidates for the position of North Myrtle Beach municipal judge

City Council received an update on the activities of North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board from Chairman Tom Walker.

City Council reappointed Tom Walker to serve on the Tree City Board.

City Council approved a special event permit for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, March 17, 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. on Main Street. The North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department manages the festival.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, managed by the North Strand Optimist Club, precedes the festival from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Main Street. City Council approved a special permit for the parade during its January 8 meeting.

City Council approved a Resolution allowing the City to join a proposed lawsuit with other S.C. coastal communities initiated by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) opposing off shore seismic testing and oil and gas exploration. SCELP will file the lawsuit and will represent the City regarding the lawsuit at no charge.

The purpose of the proposed lawsuit is to oppose the issuance of permits by the federal government for seismic air gun testing and oil and gas exploration and drilling off the coast of North Myrtle Beach/Horry County and other South Carolina coastal communities.

City Council approved first reading of an ordinance toannex lands totaling about 0.40 acres identified by TMS # 144-06-03-019 and or PIN # 356-01-01-0014. The lot is currently unincorporated and zoned RE-1 (Neighborhood Retail Services District) by Horry County. The petition also reflects the requested City of North Myrtle Beach zoning district of R-1 (Single Family Residential Low Density).

Property owners Robert and Deena Shartzer have petitioned the City to annex the land, currently occupied by an existing single-family home. Surrounding land uses are highway commercial and mobile/manufactured home residential within the adjacent city parcels, and highway commercial and  residential district MSF 10 within the adjacent unincorporated county parcels. Upon annexation, the parcel would be designated R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low-Density).

City Council passed first reading of an ordinance for a zoning map amendment to apply the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone to the Timber Ridge Village Neighborhood.

Due to support from the residents of the Timber Ridge Village neighborhood, the Planning Department has initiated a request to apply the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone to the 154 lots of the Timber Ridge subdivision. Except for two undeveloped lots and three common area lots, all lots feature single-family homes.

The purpose and intent of the Small Lot Outdoor Living Overlay Zone is to permit owners of small parcels in the R-3 zoning district to utilize outdoor space by constructing unenclosed decks or porches, whether covered or uncovered, to within five feet of property lines. When considering requests for application of this overlay, the average lot sizes of the surrounding neighborhood are considered. Prime candidates for the use of this overlay include neighborhoods with a predominance of lot sizes that are at and/or sometimes below the minimum size for the underlying district.

The subdivision is bordered by a mobile home park to the west (R-3 Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential District), the Grand Strand Airport to the north (LI Limited Industrial District), the North Village Shopping Center to the south (Highway Commercial District), and single­-family homes to the east across 33rd Avenue South (R-1 Single-Family Residential Low-Density District).

City Council passed a Resolution approving a pre-annexation agreement for Lot 32B Riverside Drive. Property owners Brian and Anne Dushanko have requested water and sewer service for their residence at Lot 32B on Riverside Drive. The property is not contiguous to the city limit, and the Dushankos have filed a petition for annexation and zoning designation as R-1 (Single-Family Residential Low Density) when the property does become contiguous to the city's corporate boundary.

The property owners have signed a pre-annexation agreement that would require them to complete the annexation process when possible, but would allow them to receive city water and sewer service in the interim. While the property remains outside the city limits the property owners will pay outside water and sewer rates, which are higher than rates paid by customers located within the city limits. The property owners have also paid toward the extension of City water and sewer service to their property.

City Council passed first reading of an ordinance to approve a Franchise Agreement between the City of North Myrtle Beach and Business Telecom LLC. The proposed franchise between the City and Business Telecom, LLC, (BT) authorizes BT to install and maintain its lines, wires, cables, conduits and other facilities within the public rights of way (ROW) within the city. The initial term of the agreement is for 10 years. Thereafter, the City will have the option to renew the agreement for three additional five-year terms. BT would pay the City is a $750 annual franchise fee, which is set by the South Carolina Code of Laws for municipalities with a population between 10,001 and 25,000 people.