Council advances zoning and land‑development changes to formalize TRC and clarify bedroom, storage rules

At its meeting, the North Myrtle Beach City Council approved first‑reading amendments to multiple land‑development and zoning ordinances intended to clarify development‑plan requirements, formalize the Technical Review Committee (TRC) process, and update rules about bedroom counts and outdoor storage.

Staff member Jim described the TRC changes as formalizing what had been an informal working group, moving from sequential department reviews to a coordinated review so applicants and the public have a clearer, more predictable process. Jim said the TRC formalization is split across two ordinances and “helps folks when they come in to develop a piece of property…to have a clear process.”

The proposed zoning amendments remove an old maximum bedroom count and instead use parking requirements to trigger TRC review for larger homes; staff clarified that a home with more than five sleeping areas would be routed to TRC, which then reviews parking and impervious‑surface implications. A staff member explained the intent is to reflect actual use of interior spaces (e.g., offices or libraries that function as sleeping areas) and to require review when density and parking implications increase.

Council also approved consolidating outdoor storage rules (boats, RVs, trailers, and temporary storage containers) and confirmed current practice that temporary containers are allowed with an open building permit for ongoing renovations.

Next steps: Ordinances received first readings and will return for subsequent readings as required by the city code.