North Myrtle Beach votes to ban beach tents

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH -- Tents might no longer be allowed on the beach in North Myrtle Beach after the City Council gave initial approval Monday to prohibit the use of tents and similar shading devices on the city's beach.

The council voted 6 to 1 with Councilman Bob Cavanaugh voting against the restriction.

Council members and public safety officials said the increased use of tents on the beach this summer has created a safety concern because the tents block lifeguards' view as they observe beachgoers and swimmers, obstruct the pathway used by emergency vehicles to access various areas of the beach in the event of an emergency and make it harder for beachgoers to see lifeguard towers when tents are nearby.

In addition to being a safety issue, Councilwoman Doris Williams said it could also become a legal issue for the city if something happened. She would like to see a permit required for tents to be used during special occasions on the beach.

Other area municipalities are also considering banning the structures, including Horry County, for similar reasons.

"We don't want to compromise safety out there," said Rick Buddelmeyer, North Myrtle Beach's interim public safety director. "Tourists complain about it. They can't see their kids in the water. That's a bad situation. We need to do what we can to remedy the situation.

"When several tents are forming a wall, it makes it hard to get across. At some point, someone's going to need help and every second counts."

The council voted for the ordinance, which requires a second reading before it passes, to take effect Sept. 15 to finish out the summer season and give beachgoers an opportunity to adjust to the changes.

Although Cavanaugh said he agreed with the proposed change to prohibit obstructions of any type within a 25-foot perimeter area around any lifeguard stand, he does not agree with banning tents all together.

He said the council is using the July Fourth holiday weekend - one of the season's busiest on the beach - as the basis for banning the tents.

"The beach is our city's lifeline," Cavanaugh said. "Families with kids need the shade. This is an overreaction to one horrific weekend for the whole year. Most of the year, it is not a problem."

Councilman Jay Baldwin said the tents weren't a problem initially, but they are becoming a problem as more people use them.

Mayor Marilyn Hatley, who said officials in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., eliminated tents on their beach and have not had any problems, said the tents should be outlawed whether it's a popular thing or not to do.

"Just like a hurricane, you have to prepare for the worst," Hatley said. "We have to be prepared and make a decision based on what's good all the time, not just one day."

Several residents agreed that the tents should be banned.

"I'm in agreement with outlawing the tents," said Kathi Rothe, who recalled a time on the beach in the off-season when the wind blew a tent into her leg.