Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Atlantic Beach updates: ARPA solar delay, water transmission plan, paving timeline and Aspire 2036 draft
Summary
Town staff reported an ARPA-funded Ocean Boulevard solar-lighting project delayed by custom pole manufacturing; North Myrtle Beach’s $10 million water-transmission project will bring a 30-inch line through Atlantic Beach starting July 2026 and may affect paving plans and Bike Fest staging. Diamond Shores presented the Aspire 2036 comprehensive-plan draft with housing, resilience and preservation goals.
Community engagement officers and planning consultants provided updates Jan. 5 on several infrastructure and planning projects that could reshape Atlantic Beach’s near-term construction calendar and long-term land-use planning.
Titus Leaks, community engagement officer, said work on the ARPA-funded Ocean Boulevard solar project is at a standstill while manufacturers produce custom pole bases and mounting flanges; some pole components and fixture arms have been received and Spectrum will provide the internet service. “We did apply for an extension which has been granted...the deadline was January 31st, but now...it’s been pushed out to April 1st,” Leaks said.
William Booker reviewed paving priorities and coordination with North Myrtle Beach and the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Booker said North Myrtle Beach secured a $10 million grant for a water-transmission line that will route a 30-inch pipe through Atlantic Beach to terminate near 27th Street. He said staging begins roughly 90 days before the July 2026 start date and that the work is expected to take about 120 days. Booker recommended coordinating paving (30th Avenue, Third Street and other streets) to avoid redoing pavement after the water line installation.
Diamond Shores consultant Ashley Cowen presented the draft Aspire 2036 comprehensive plan and highlighted key findings from the background research and housing analysis. The draft cites 283 housing units (based on 2023 ACS data), a 59% vacancy rate attributed largely to seasonal rentals, and that 71% of occupied units are renter-occupied while 29% are owner-occupied. The plan identifies eight goals including preserving historic small-town character, encouraging balanced residential and commercial development, improving resilience and prioritizing infrastructure upgrades west of Highway 17. Cowen noted draft maps of contributing historic structures, a change-detection map showing structures demolished since 1998 and implementation timelines tied to potential funding sources.
Councilmembers and staff said they will continue to coordinate schedules for paving and water work to limit disruption during key events such as Bike Fest and that residents will be notified as contractors and staging plans are finalized.
