Planners seek to amend streets rule

One of three priorities given the North Myrtle Beach planning department is “Evaluate recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan process and initiate ordinance amendments to implement plan goals.” One of the findings from the just completed Comprehensive Plan update was poor implementation of the Complete Streets policy. Recommendations include improving implementation with emphasis on the need to retrofit existing streets.

The Complete Streets policy provides improvements in bicycle/pedestrian access and safety. It was adopted in 2008 when South Carolina was the second most dangerous state in the nation for bicyclists and pedestrians. Today it is fourth. The policy, in its present form, fits the updated vision of the Comprehensive Plan well.

The NMB planning department, with unanimous approval by the planning commission, have introduced an amendment to weaken the Complete Streets policy. Amendment STX-15-06 will fully exempt some projects based solely on the number of lots involved. This sort of unaccountable exemption is explicitly discouraged as a worst practice in Complete Streets policy. Planners argue that the policy wasn’t intended to burden minor projects with the cost of installing sidewalks or other improvements. They seem to not share the vision of the city plan.

Shouldn’t the city staff be embracing the city plan? What is the purpose of a plan that planners won’t follow?

I urge everyone to attend the North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 to voice their feelings about this issue.

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Planners seek to amend streets rule."