Myrtle Beach taps new planning director

The deputy director of planning and zoning for Horry County will be joining Myrtle Beach next month as the city’s new planning director.

Carol Coleman, who has been with Horry County for 10 of the past 12 years, will replace Myrtle Beach Planning Director Jack Walker, who retired abruptly in June after 31 years with the city.

Coleman said she applied to be Myrtle Beach’s planning director because she has great respect for the city’s accomplishments.

“They’ve done a lot of really progressive things over the years,” she said.

She said she plans to hit the ground running, adding that looking at the realignment of U.S. 501 will be at the top of her priority list when she starts.

“Realigning 501 to have a new gateway into the downtown area – that’s probably where I’m going to put a lot of energy,” Coleman said.

County spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said officials have not decided on a timeline for replacing Coleman. She said she anticipates the county will advertise for the position in the near future.

“We are excited that Carol Coleman has accepted our offer,” City Manager John Pedersen said in a statement. “She brings a solid track record in planning to Myrtle Beach. Working in Horry County's planning department, she's already familiar with the area and the challenges and opportunities that exist.”

Coleman was one of more than 100 applicants for the job. Walker, Myrtle Beach’s first planning director, said he left the city because of what he called growing tension between the planning commission and City Council.

Coleman began her career in planning in Greenwood in 2000 as a planning and Census intern. She worked for Anderson County, the Greenwood County Economic Alliance and the city of Clemson before beginning her work with Horry County in 2003 as a senior planner.

She left Horry County in 2004 and worked for about a year-and-a-half as director of planning and code enforcement for Georgetown County before returning to Horry County in 2006 where she is now the deputy director of planning and zoning.

“It was a difficult decision to make,” Coleman said. “I’m leaving a fabulous staff here. ... But it would have been a great disservice to myself if I didn’t at least try.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach taps new planning director."