New retail development, box store planned for Myrtle Beach

A new shopping center is under development on a vacant lot between Coastal Grand Mall and Wal-Mart that would include at least one major retail establishment and several additional businesses and restaurants.

The 34-acre lot, now covered in weeds, at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Robert Grissom Parkway is being developed by Pine Island Point.

Carol Coleman, director of planning for the City of Myrtle Beach, said the development will likely encompass several hundred thousand square feet of space with at least one major box store.

“I don’t think they have any leases in place, but they have an idea for an anchor store,” Coleman said. “They don’t even have a building, so they can’t make any promises.”

“They are also asking (the city) for medical office space as one option on one portion. If that doesn’t happen, they can have a back-up plan with retail,” Coleman said.

The agent for the developer did not return a call for comment on which stores and restaurants are being courted for the new development.

Asked what shopping experience Myrtle Beach is missing, Coleman said “there are a lot of shopping opportunities we don’t have, but it’s going to be driven by the market.”

Developers will ask the city to rezone the property as a planned development for commercial use that would allow for construction of a box store. Additionally, the zoning would require that developers include plans that would benefit the public, such as infrastructure like landscaping, crosswalks and traffic signals.

“We have not determined what the public benefit will be, but this (zoning request) gives us the opportunity to have that discussion with them,” Coleman said.

The zoning request is consistent with the neighborhood, Coleman said. The property for the development backs up to Wal-Mart, and is across the street from the mall. Other box stores also line the neighborhood, including Costco and Best Buy.

The public hearing for the zoning request before the planning commission is scheduled for April 19. The rezoning also requires public input at the city council level.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 1:00 AM with the headline "New retail development, box store planned for Myrtle Beach."