Commission recommends city council approve Peppertree Ocean Club mural with smaller 'Ocean Club' script

The North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission recommended April 21 that city council approve a major PDD amendment allowing a painted building-mounted mural for Peppertree Ocean Club, while asking the applicant to reduce the size of the text reading "Ocean Club."

Staff described the request as an amendment to a 1988 PDD that did not previously address building-mounted signage. The applicant said the design would be painted on the façade rather than mounted and that they could reduce the script size if necessary. “They're proposing to try and do this mural and add Ocean Club,” the applicant (S10) said when describing the submitted design.

Commissioners debated whether the text would be counted as signage or treated as a mural, how the PDD interacts with the city's 100-square-foot signage standard, and the precedent for allowing large building graphics on PDD properties. Several commissioners suggested a compromise that would keep the turtle image as the visual focal point while reducing the width and prominence of the Ocean Club script.

“ Would everybody be happy with the recommendation to city council that the sign, quote, unquote, sign be as proposed with the exception that the script Ocean Club be smaller? ” the Chair (S6) asked during deliberations. After discussion a motion was made to recommend approval with that condition and the commission voted in favor.

Why it matters: The commission’s recommendation affects how the city treats large building graphics on oceanfront PDD properties and may set a precedent for other PDDs with large facades. City council will make the final determination about whether to adopt the amendment and any sizing limits.

What comes next: The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to city council for final action; staff noted that city council will decide the specifics of measurement or limits if they choose to approve the request.