Horry Council Poised to Adopt Myrtle Beach International Airport Plan

Posted on Tue, Feb. 17, 2004 

Horry Council Poised to Adopt Airport Plan
Myrtle Beach Sun New, SC


Officials say a vote by Horry County Council tonight
could end four decades of dissension between the
county and Myrtle Beach over aviation money and the
airport.

All indications are that the council will approve the
accord, which would split up the city's former
aviation fund and allow the county to move ahead with
a new terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport,
with limits on future expansion.

The city and county have long fought for control of
the aviation fund, which now generates about $1.2
million per year from leases on city-owned
campgrounds. More recently, the two sides disagreed
about expanding the airport, which lies within the
city but is controlled by the county. County officials
want to expand the airport, but city officials fear a
bigger airport could harm residents' quality of life.

The compromise would split the remaining balance of
the fund - about $4 million - between the city and the
county. Future revenues would be split, with 80
percent going toward the airport and 20 percent to the
city. The city voted last month to dissolve the fund
in favor of the deal.

The airport would be expanded with a new 14-gate
terminal. Future expansion would be limited to four
gates. The deal would practically eliminate plans for
a second or third runway.

Also, the county would pay to extend Harrelson
Boulevard to Kings Highway, using money rebated to it
by the city. The city and the county would cooperate
on a planned public boat landing near the airport on
the Intracoastal Waterway. Both bodies would set aside
$100,000 each to study the feasibility of building a
regional airport in western Horry County.

County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland, formerly one of
the plan's sharpest critics, said she will back the
deal if her council does, albeit reluctantly.

Two weeks ago, Horry County Council voted 9-2 in favor
of the plan. That was before the city changed it,
inserting a 30-year expiration date and lifting a $6
million cap the county had imposed on the Harrelson
Boulevard extension.

Some officials, such as County Councilman Harold
Worley, likely never will endorse it.

Worley said the plan gives up too much control of the
airport and would allow the city to use aviation money
to bail out its struggling Radisson Hotel.

Other officials who endorsed the plan share many of
Worley's concerns but worry that further fighting will
delay airport expansion.

County Councilman Mark Lazarus, one of the authors of
the plan, expects it to pass.

"[The compromise] has come a long way," he said.
"Nobody likes all of it, but I think we'll get it
passed."

Also on tonight's agenda:

The first discussion of a proposed nine-month ban on
the issuance of rezonings in District 4. Councilman
Mike Ryan proposed the ban for his district, saying he
worries that large development is out of control. A
ban on rezonings would prevent many large developments
but would not stop new building permits. That means
developments that do not require a rezoning could go
forward.

The area to be affected would be south of U.S. 501,
between the Waccamaw River and U.S. 17 Bypass. It
would not include most of Socastee.

The ban has little chance of passing. Other council
members gave Ryan the support he needed to discuss the
matter tonight but say they won't impose the ban.

Second of three votes to continue the county's ban on
new casino boats.

A final vote to ban new billboards in unincorporated
Horry County to give officials time to write new
rules.

 

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