Planning Commission » Members

The Planning Commission meets monthly to discuss and make recommendations on rezonings and land development design modifications. The Commission also has the authority to recommend amendments to the Horry County Zoning Ordinance and Land Development Regulations. Also, the Commission is given the authority by State law to draft and recommend a Comprehensive Plan for the County and various corridor and neighborhood plans.

Zoning Board Of Appeals » Members

The Horry County Zoning Board of Appeals is responsible for hearing all Zoning Variance Requests, Special Exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance, Administrative Appeal Requests and Reconsiderations. The Board meets the second Monday of each month. A filing fee of $200.00 is required for any action by the Board.

The Horry County Zoning Board of Appeals has three specific mandates;

• Determining appeals from administrative decisions of the Zoning Administrator.
• Granting or denying of applications for a Zoning Variance.
• Granting or denying of applications for a Special Exception.

The Zoning Board of Appeals also has the discretion of reconsidering any of the above in the case of an initial denial of a given request. The Zoning Board of Appeals has the authority to make final administrative decisions for Horry County concerning the zoning ordinance, subject to appeal to circuit court.

Variance Request

The Zoning Board of Appeals has the power to hear and decide appeals (requests) for variances when strict application of the Zoning Ordinance would result in “unnecessary hardship”.

A variance allows the Board to modify an otherwise legitimate zoning restriction when, due to unusual conditions, the restriction may be more burdensome than was intended. The variance must not impair the public purpose. To obtain a variance on the ground of “unnecessary hardship” there must at least be proof that a particular property suffers a singular disadvantage through the operation of a zoning regulation.

All of the following conditions must be explained in writing for the Board to support a request;

• Extraordinary Conditions. There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the property. Conditions such as size, shape, topography, drainage, street widening, beachfront setback lines that hinder the economic viability of a property are valid justification for a variance.
• Other property. The extraordinary conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity.
• Utilization. Because of these conditions, the application of the Zoning Ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization f the property.
• Detriment. The authorization of a variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance.

Administrative Appeal Request

This is a request to appeal from a decision made by the Zoning Administrator. It is an appeal from an administrative interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance made by the Zoning Administrator where the applicant believes that the Zoning Administrator is in error.

Examples:

• An applicant disagrees with the Zoning Administrator regarding whether or not a particular use is allowed in a given zoning district.
• The applicant disagrees with the interpretation made by the Zoning Administrator regarding the definition of a term.

Special Exception Request

This is a request to allow specified uses, which may have a potential negative impact on the community, provided certain conditions are met.

Examples:

• To allow commercial mining (as allowed in specific zoning districts).
• To allow outpatient treatment facilities for alcoholism and drug addiction in the OPI district only.
• To allow commercial cruise boats (as allowed in specific zoning districts).

Reconsideration Request

This request is for the Zoning Board of Appeals to reconsider a decision made by the Board, either approving or denying a variance, appeal or special exception. Such request shall be applied for within 30 days of the original ruling.

» Variance, Special Exception, Appeal and Reconsideration Application
» Fee Schedule

Board of Architectural Review » Members

Per the Horry County Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning, Article XVII, the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation (BAR) are the following:

• To review and recommend to the Horry County Council the designation of individual historic properties, buildings, resources, sites, landmarks and historic districts;
• To review plans and applications for construction, rehabilitation and restoration on historic properties, resources or sites, to historic landmarks or buildings, or within historic areas or districts, and any demolition pertaining to or affecting duly designated historic properties, resources, sites, buildings or districts;
• To coordinate with the comprehensive land use area plans;
• To approve, deny or approve with conditions the demolition or alteration of building exteriors, or interiors, if designated as historic. The BAR also shall review proposed new construction in a historic district;
• To maintain an inventory of local historic properties, promote education about historic preservation and procedures;
• To review and comment on National Register of Historic Places nomination and exercise other duties specifically needed by a community.

Parks and Open Space Board » Members

The purpose and objectives of the Horry County Parks and Open Space Board per the Horry County Code of Ordinances (Chapter 15, Article VII, Section 15-124) are:

• To promote the preservation of open space, scenic areas and vistas, greenways, squares, or village greens;
• To promote the protection and conservation of environmental or natural resources;
• To promote the expansion of quality open space for a wide range of recreational opportunities including playgrounds, playfields, plazas, parks, mini-parks, picnic areas, bicycle or hiking trails, or golf courses for all county residents;
• To promote tourism emphasizing open space, recreational sites, and natural resources of Horry County;
• To promote education, awareness, and research relating to environmental and natural resources;
• To assist in coordinating activities of volunteers, organizations, businesses and governmental agencies interested in the preservation of open space, recreational sites, and natural resources;
• To prepare and submit to the Horry County Council for consideration a proposed list of areas of open space, significant environmental and natural resources, and recreational sites to be acquired, leased, preserved, protected, maintained, or developed through a new Horry County Open Space Fund.

Furthermore, as per Section 15-125, the Horry County Parks and Open Space Board has the powers, duties, responsibilities, and jurisdiction to:

• Develop an inventory of all public lands, parks, and all categories of open space, areas for expansion of a variety of recreational facilities, and areas of natural resources in Horry County;
• Submit to the Horry County Council the inventory of public lands, parks, open spaces and a list of resources which should be acquired, leased preserved, protected, maintained, or developed through the Horry County Open Space Fund (see section 15-127) or from grants, revenue, fundraising activities, or other public or private sources;
• Make recommendations to the Horry County Council relating to the Horry County Open Space Fund and the properties which should be acquired, leased, preserved, protected, maintained, or developed;
• Coordinate activities of volunteers, organizations, business and corporate entities and governmental agencies for the identification, conservation, preservation or development of all categories of open space, areas for expansion of a variety of recreational facilities, and areas of environmental and natural resources in Horry County;
• Undertake such studies, plans, activities, and projects as may from time to time be assigned to the board by the Horry County Council;
• Encourage such planning, activities and development as may be necessary or advisable to identify, promote, acquire, lease, preserve, protect, maintain, or develop open space, recreational sites, or natural resources;
• Define neighborhoods, districts, or regions to allocate funds from the Horry County Open Space Fund and to designation areas of need for preservation of open space, recreational sites, and natural resources;
• Appoint committees and subcommittees.

Mt. Vernon

The Mt. Vernon Committee currently meets monthly and is in the process of drafting an Area Plan for the community. Information on the Committee and their work is available at the Planning Department. Please call 843 915-5340 for more information and meeting schedules.