Atlantic Beach ponders reopening Boulevard

Town officials in Atlantic Beach are looking at the possibility of opening Ocean Boulevard and allowing access through town at both ends of that road from North Myrtle Beach.

State transportation officials have approved plans to open the road, but the town's council has not acted on the plans.

The topic of reopening the boulevard resurfaced recently after Town Councilman Donnell Thompson suggested the council discuss it.

"We're waiting to hear from the town," said Mark Hoeweler, assistant executive director at Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments in Georgetown. "There's no pressure on town officials to move forward, but we would like some lead-in time before October 2012 for a decision. If the town is not going to go forward with the project, we would like time to use the money toward another regional project."

The project is part of the town's master plan and the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study's Transportation Improvement Program. There is $600,000 budgeted in TIP for fiscal year 2013 - which begins October 2012 - for the project, Hoeweler said.

The town's master plan, which was adopted in 2007, calls for the connection through Atlantic Beach to be near Second Avenue with connections from 29th and 32nd avenues, if the boulevard is opened.

The road was closed during segregation to keep black vacationers in Atlantic Beach - the only beach where they were allowed to swim - from intermingling with whites on either side outside the town.

In the years since the end of segregation, the road has never been reopened and has more been viewed as a symbol of the town's unwillingness to cooperate with its neighbors. North Myrtle Beach surrounds Atlantic Beach, and U.S. 17 is the only way in and out of the tiny town.

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley said Friday that an open Ocean Boulevard would help improve traffic flow.

For years, Atlantic Beach residents, property owners and town officials have debated opening the road. Several residents have said there is no advantage in Atlantic Beach having the road opened, while some others see opportunity for economic prosperity.

"I don't see what the debate is about," said Mike Kelly of Conway, who owns property in Atlantic Beach and whose father was one of the town's founders. "It makes sense. Investment dollars to improve the quality of life in the community, or economic prosperity is not going to happen when you got one way in and one way out. Those days are gone.

"More importantly, it's a public safety issue," Kelly said. With the aging population in town, how are you going to get those people out in an emergency and in the event of an evacuation? When you bring people in, you want to be able to evacuate them out safely and you want to be a good neighbor."

Although Thompson has asked the town to talk about opening Ocean Boulevard, Town Manager William Booker has asked that the issue be deferred to the town's planning commission for its members to study and make a recommendation on the issue to the council.

Hoeweler reviewed plans for the proposed project last week with the town's planning commission, which has new members, after Booker's request.

Commissioner Daryl Stevens said commissioners were wondering about effects on zoning as the town considers future development.

No development plans are before the town, Booker said Friday.

The planning commission took no action during its July 15 meeting, and likely will have more discussions and public hearings before making a recommendation to council, according to officials.

"We're trying to figure out a way to do a survey to see what property owners are for or against it," Planning Commission Chairwoman Reta Trent said Thursday.

Trent said she doesn't think a survey will be conducted before the commission's Aug. 19 meeting.