Myrtle Beach Planning Commission to hold hearing on Superblock zoning

Residents and business owners will have a chance Tuesday to weigh in on proposed changes that would limit drinking establishments in the Superblock area.

The Myrtle Beach Planning Commission will have a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the first floor conference room of Myrtle Beach City Hall at 937 Broadway St.

An ordinance halted new business licenses for bars in the area in October to give the Planning Commission time to come up with zoning regulations that would limit that type of business in the Superblock.

The Superblock has been identified as an area of downtown bound by Ninth Avenue North, Main Street, U.S. 501 and Broadway Street. Also referred to as Five Points, the 6-acre block is home to a few shops, a café, the Downtown Redevelopment Corp., a comic book store, a video production company, a law office and seven bars.

Bar and nightclub owners say they felt targeted by the city with the latest moratorium and through increased police presence at their establishments; they have questioned the city’s motives. City leaders say the latest moratorium was enacted to help lower crime in the area and to protect the city’s family-friendly reputation.

Reach Weaver at 843-444-1722 or follow her on Twitter @TSNEmily.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 11:19 AM with the headline "Myrtle Beach Planning Commission to hold hearing on Superblock zoning."