Board of Zoning Appeals

CITY OF NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CITY HALL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MEETING Thursday, August 12, 2021 5:00 PM MINUTES William McGonigal, Chairman City Staff: Roger Quinn, Vice-Chairman Ben Caldwell, Zoning Administrator Mendel Bell Chris Noury, City Attorney Cynthia Lover Allison Galbreath, City Clerk Joe Reaves Andy Thomas, Absent Wyman Wise, Absent 1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL: Chairman McGonigal called the meeting to order at 5:03 PM. 2. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: Chairman McGonigal called for a motion to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2021 meeting. The motion was made by Mr. Reaves and seconded by Mr. Bell. The motion passed 5-0. 3. COMMUNICATION: Mr. Caldwell stated he received three emails relating to Appeal #A1-21 after the packets had been sent out. He distributed copies to the Board. Mr. Caldwell stated Variance Items #V25- 27 had asked to be postponed to the next meeting. 4. OLD BUSINSS: None 5. NEW BUSINESS: A. SWEAR IN THOSE PERSONS TO SPEAK: Mrs. Galbreath swore in persons to speak at the beginning of the meeting. B. VARIANCE #V20-21: Application by Gorden Evans for a variance to reduce the required rear setback from 15’ to 5’ at 3908 Dunes Street zoned Resort Residential, R-4 District. Mr. Evans stated he and his wife had owned this home for 40 years as a vacation home. He stated they would like to make it their retirement home and would like to add on a bath, laundry area, and more living space to provide more of a permanent home. Mr. Evans was an old, small lot that was angled and odd shaped. He requested a variance to have a setback of 5’ at the rear of the property. This would help to increase property values and the neighbors did not have a problem with this addition. Ms. Lover asked what he was wanting to build, because there was not a sketch in the packet. Mr. Evans stated he thought they needed to get a variance before designing what they wanted. Ms. Lover stated she needed to see what they would be building to see if it could be built without a variance, before a variance could be granted. Chairman McGonigal stated he didn’t need a professional drawing, but they needed to demonstrate a hardship to the land in order for a variance to be granted. Mr. Bell agreed and stated Mr. Evans had a hardship due to the size and odd shape of the lot. He asked Mr. Evans to provide what the structure would look like on the property in order to see what would be built. 1  Chairman McGonigal called for a motion. Ms. Lover motioned to postpone Variance #V20- 21 to a later meeting in order to give the applicant enough time to submit a drawing of what he would be building on the property and what kind of variance he would be asking for. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bell. The motion to approve passed 5-0. C. APPEAL #A1-21: Appeal by the Tidewater Plantation Design Review Board of a decision of the Zoning Administrator that a proposed cupola on the roof of a proposed home is a necessary mechanical feature. The location of the property is 4628 South Island Drive. Mr. Quinn recused himself from the discussion and vote due to a conflict of interest. The Board discussed with the applicant that there would need to be a minimum 3-1 vote in order for the appeal to pass. If they postponed the meeting, there could be the possibility more Board members would be in attendance to vote. Amanda Bailey, attorney for the applicant, via Zoom, asked for the appeal to be postponed in order for a full Board to be present and for her to be able to be in attendance. Sheri McAllister, attorney for the homeowner, objected to the postponement, because her client had driven down from Virginia for the hearing. She conferred with her client and they decided the appeal could be postponed, but requested a special called meeting to be as early as possible. Mr. Caldwell stated advertising was a 14 day process. He would provide the Board with the earliest date possible to the Board by Friday, August 13, 2021. Chairman McGonigal called for a motion. Ms. Lover motioned to postpone Appeal #A1-21 to the next scheduled meeting or a special called meeting date. The motion was seconded by Mr. Reaves. The motion to postpone passed 4-0. D. VARIANCE #V25-21: Application by Sharon Goodwin for a variance to reduce one of the front yard setbacks from 20’ to 10’ at 2603 Camp Street zoned Mobile/Manufactured Home Residential, R-3 District. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Caldwell stated the applicant asked to postpone the variance to the next scheduled meeting. E. VARIANCE #V26-21: Application by Phillip Hornbeck for a variance to remove trees greater than 24” in diameter on a vacant lot proposed for development at 10500 Highway 90 at the corner of Robert Edge Parkway and SC-90. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Caldwell stated the applicant asked to postpone the variance to the next scheduled meeting. F. VARIANCE #V27-21: Application by Mark Stoughton, Jr. for a variance to remove trees greater than 24” at 1170 Possum Trot Road zoned Planned Development, PDD District. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Caldwell stated the applicant asked to postpone the variance to the next scheduled meeting. Chairman McGonigal called for a motioned to adjourn. The motion was made by Ms. Lover and was seconded by Mr. Bell. The motion passed 4-0 (Mr. Quinn had not yet entered the room from being recused.). The meeting adjourned at 5:22 PM. Respectfully submitted, Allison K. Galbreath City Clerk NOTE: BE ADVISED THAT THESE MINUTES REPRESENT A SUMMARY OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MEETING AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPRESENT A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING. 2