Planning commission elects officers, approves zoning text changes and multiple subdivision plats

The North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission elected Silvio Catulli chairman and Callie Jean Wise vice chairman and approved a package of zoning text amendments and subdivision plats at its meeting.

Suzanne, a city staff member, summarized a zoning text amendment that would allow residential accessibility ramps, home elevators and residential lifts to project into front or rear yards up to 50% of the required yard depth so long as applicable building codes are met. "This would allow them to have a ramp or a lift project not more than 50% into the yard," Suzanne said, describing the intent to accommodate residents whose mobility declines after their homes were built to the front setback.

Commissioners also approved an amendment restoring perimeter landscape requirements that had been inadvertently deleted in 2009. Suzanne said the amendment adds back a 10‑foot landscape depth requirement along specified roads and reintroduces a provision allowing required plantings to be moved outside the minimum perimeter area when a plan shows more than the minimum is provided.

The commission approved a revision to extend a parking fee‑in‑lieu option beyond the Main Street Activity Center to additional activity centers identified in the comprehensive plan. Suzanne said the change would let developers in those activity centers pay into a parking development fund rather than provide on‑site parking. Jim, a staff member, noted that the collected fees are placed in the same account as other enhancement and beach parking fees.

On land use approvals, the commission recommended or approved several major preliminary and final plats. Among the plats approved were a 40‑lot residential preliminary plat for Phase 2 of the Laurette Tract (Marshfield), subdivisions creating single‑family lots and townhome lots in Grand Dunes North (Phases 4 and 5), a 78‑lot bonded final plat in Sea Chase Point, and final plats for South Wind Cove and other developments. Staff reported that the plats conform to applicable PDD or zoning standards and that construction documents or letters of credit were provided where required.

Some commissioners raised concerns during discussion of the South Wind Cove final plat about proximity to commercial uses and onsite conditions; one commissioner said, "Just because you can do something with a piece of land doesn't mean you should," but staff responded that the plat meets the city's land development regulations and that the commission's discretion at final plat is limited when standards are met.

Votes at a glance

- Election: Silvio Catulli elected chairman (unopposed); Callie Jean Wise elected vice chairman (vote by hand, outcome: approved). - Zoning ordinance text amendment ZTX‑24‑2 (structures projecting into required yards): motion to recommend approval passed (motion: "recommend approval of the zoning ordinance text amendment Z‑24‑2 as submitted"). - Zoning ordinance text amendment Z‑24‑3 (perimeter landscape requirements): motion to recommend approval passed. - Zoning ordinance text amendment Z‑24‑4 (parking fee‑in‑lieu expansion to additional activity centers): motion to recommend approval passed; staff said current fee schedule lists $25,000 per parking space for Main Street and the amendment extends the fee option to the other activity centers. - Preliminary plat SUV‑24‑47 (Laurette Tract/Marshfield, 40 residential lots): recommended/approved; staff found it consistent with prior master plan and block‑length waiver. - Preliminary plat SUV‑4‑66 (Grand Dunes North, Phase 4, 21 residential lots for townhomes): approved. - Preliminary plat SUV‑24‑68 (Grand Dunes North, Phase 5, 72 single‑family lots): approved. - Final bonded plat S‑24‑83 (Sea Chase Point, Phase 2, 78 residential lots): approved; performance bond/guarantee reported. - Final plat S‑24‑85 (South Wind Cove, 45 residential lots): approved; vote recorded as 5‑2. - Approval of meeting minutes for 12/03/2024: motion passed.

The commission heard public comment and staff answered questions about where parking mitigation funds are held and about procedural limits on the commission's discretion at final plat review. Staff and commissioners discussed past enforcement of deleted landscape provisions and whether fee schedules should include inflation adjustments; staff said they would provide the relevant fund information to commissioners.

The meeting adjourned following the regular agenda.