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Business owners say state medians on Highway 17 would divide Atlantic Beach and limit access
Summary
Business owner Brent Clark and council members warned a state plan for medians on Highway 17 would limit left-turn access, harm businesses and isolate residents; Clark proposed town and private funding for sidewalks on both sides if the state will not split its improvements.
Brent Clark, a local business owner representing the Crazy Horse Dollhouse, told the Atlantic Beach council that the state's proposed medians on Highway 17 would leave only a single left-turn across town and would effectively divide the town's east and west sides.
"The median, the way or the state has drawn it, there's only one left-hand turn from town line to town line," Clark said, warning that the plan would force residents and customers to take long detours or make U-turns in neighboring North Myrtle Beach to access parts of Atlantic Beach. He said business owners supported sidewalks and would be willing to contribute financially to sidewalks on both sides of the highway if sidewalks could be installed independently of the state’s median plan.
Councilwoman Carla Taylor, who said she lives on the west side, said the median plan raised the same access concerns and suggested adding a traffic signal at 30th to improve safe left-turning opportunities. Councilwoman Jacqueline Gore echoed concerns about business impacts and cited examples from neighboring towns where medians hindered local access.
Clark recommended the town consider funding sidewalks on both sides of the highway and discussed matching the state’s planned east-side improvements so the town would not be split by median-only work. The council did not vote on a formal position during the meeting; council members signaled interest in further discussion and potential coordination with state planners and local property owners.
