Go-Karts, ATVs, and BMX bikes get green light for race park

A sports and recreation park for go-karts, ATVs and BMX bikes proposed for the Longs area got the green light Thursday night from the Horry County Planning Commission.

The rezoning request for the 200-acre complex at the former Black Bear Golf Club on Highway 9 now moves to the county council for final consideration.

Planning commissioners gave their unanimous approval despite concerns and objections from the property’s neighbors, who fear the noise will be overwhelming and that the clientele won’t be the family friendly folks promised by the developer.

Local residents also questioned how the complex would operate when so much of the property floods during heavy storms and after hurricanes.

Maryann Martin said she lived on a highway in New York for years and that didn’t bother her, but she says this will be a different kind of traffic buzz.

“No one is going to come here to camp from New York and listen to that noise,” Martin said.

Steve Porter lives across the street from the golf course that closed last summer, and said he’s worried the roads can’t handle the increased traffic.

He’s lived there for 30 years, and says the beach traffic is already causing major congestion in the summer months.

Supporters of the development say it has the potential to become one of the top ten racing tracks in the country, and could attract major races and the tourism dollars that come with it.

Jonathan Bellamy told the commission that kart racers are the most respectable, most caring people he’s ever met.

Several supporters brought their children with them to speak in support of the development, and said it was a family sport.

As a stipulation of approval, the planning commission told project representative Steve Powell to meet with neighbors and opponents before the next public hearing in January to reassure their concerns or make changes to the development plans if needed.

The redevelopment of the golf course would include 200 lots for single homes, a campground facility for RVs and host regional racing events on two tracks with spectator stands beneath a 10-foot berm.

The golf course operated for nearly 30 years and closed in August 2016 because it was losing money, said the property’s owner, Kang Zou.

The proposed outdoor recreation park would keep the golf cart trails in place for bike and ATV use, and turn the clubhouse into a bar and restaurant.

The project would include a water feature – giant slide launches into a man-made pond.

Zou and his mother, Chun Lan Li, purchased the property in June 2014 for $1.5 million. They were among the first Chinese owners of golf courses on the Grand Strand, which now numbers 27.

The owners of Black Bear Golf Course are named in two ongoing lawsuits. It’s not known how those lawsuits might affect the proposed development.

A businessman from Singapore, Dong ‘Raymond’ Ou, sued the owners to recoup a $100,000 deposit he made to purchase the golf course. The sale was not completed and the deposit was forfeited, Li said.

Former Black Bear head professional and general manager Patrick Wilkinson is also suing the owners, claiming he is owed more than $14,000 for wages, pro shop merchandise and unpaid revenue from pro shop sales.

Al Blondin contributed to this report.

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Go-Karts, ATVs, and BMX bikes get green light for race park."