Board approves plan to relocate 47‑inch live oak for Circle K redevelopment with arborist oversight

The Horry County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a proposal to allow removal and relocation of a 47‑inch diameter live oak at 610 Atlantic Avenue to permit redevelopment for a Circle K convenience store. Staff told the board the county arborist inspected the specimen and found it healthy; the tree’s 47‑inch DBH would normally require mitigation of 29 replacement trees (2.5‑inch caliper) or an $8,700 fee in lieu.

Rob Shelton of the Bellamy Law Firm, representing the applicants, said the owner has identified a specialty tree‑moving company with prior experience in large oak transplants and proposed relocating the tree to an adjacent parcel owned by the same property owner. "They have a tremendous success rate as well," Shelton told board members. A board member moved to approve the request subject to staff conditions plus an additional requirement that the tree‑moving plan be presented to and approved by the staff arborist before any work starts. The motion passed on roll call; several members voted yes and one member was recorded absent. The board instructed staff to ensure replacement or fee‑in‑lieu compliance per the Horry County zoning ordinance before final site plan approval.