Sun-News from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina • 1

Mrs Catherine Lewis SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA'S GRAND STRAND THREE TIMES A WEEK Price Freeze Violation Call Toll Free (800) 922-8810 Weekend Edition 11000 PER YEAR VoL No 15 MYRTLE BEACH NEWS EST 1935: MYRTLE BEACH SUN E8T-150- MYRTLE BEACII a 29577 SATURDAY JULY 14 1973 20 Page Would Affect Beach Scenic Beauty Body Found After Info From Convict I City Seeks To Define Term ment to pin down where to measure grade He said that awfully hard to define what we have in and noted that further additions on foe amendment may be forthcoming from the Planning and Zoning Commission City Councilman Ned Donkle agreed that there was still some confusion as to which streets would be used to measure grade in each particular instance still say better pass this one and then keep on he added The ordinance amendment as passed by Council requires that fences or hedges be not more than 3 Vi feet in height measured from the adjacent or closest street sidewalk or property line and may project into or enclose any required front or tide yard to a depth from the line equal to the required depth of the front and-or-tide yard A similar fence or hedge not more than eight feet in height may project into or enclose all other required yards and other areas except on oceanfront lots where fences or hedges shall be limited to a height of three feet measured from Ocean Boulevard In regard to retaining and sea walls approved amendments to the zoning or Council) are the most receptive been to Plyler said that he would review of foe matter of increasing parking requirements at the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting In other action on zoning ordinance changes foe Myrtle Beach City Council: Approved an amendment designating mobile homes (trailers) for single-family occupancy only City Building Inspector Gary Wiggins said that the change was necessary because of foe development of duplex mobile homes Deleted the phrase or any closer than a distance of 15 feet from any other property from section 32-5 of foe zoning ordinances Vismor said the phrase was not applicable where used an error in section 32-6 of foe zoning ordinance concerning C-2 areas so that front yard setback would be 30 feet instead of 40 feet as previously set forth Redefined in zoning restrictions so to allow a closed facility for storing beach gear The definition of had previously read beach shelter with an open tide facing the Continued on Page 3-A dinances specify that such walls may be constructed the height of said walls do not exceed three feet (measured from the adjacent street sidewalk or property line except for ocean front lots where height limits for all yards shall not exceed six inches above the Further amendments went on to restrict the height of fence or hedge and retaining wall combinations to 34k feet from front and tide yards and eight feet for rear yards Turning to zoning changes the Council passed several amendments setting down Increased parking requirements for some residential and resort units The amendment changed the parking requirements on condominiums townhouses and apartments from one space per unit to 144 spaces per unit and changed requirements on motels rooming and boarding houses and hotels from one space per unit or guest room to one space per dwelling unit plus one space for each 10 units and if containing a restaurant or lounge one space for each 250 feet of gross floor space devoted to such use Several members of Council questioned Plyler and City Planner Dan Vismor continued now you (foe NATIONAL PRESIDENT VISITS BEACII Arthur Sparks (center) president of the National Association of Retired Government Employees visited Myrtle Beach Thurs day to address a local chapter of the organization Standing with Sparks are Jack Meunier (left) past president of the local chapter and Jack Ziegler president For Commerical Course In Residential Area Farms Granted Zoning Request A former Myrtle Beach AFB serviceman has led law enforcement officials to the remains of an unidentified woman in the Myrtle Beach vicinity Wednesday The skeletal remains of the young woman were found in a wooded area several miles west of the city by State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) officials and Horry County deputies after they were given the location of her body by Donnie Burl Lemons currently serving time for murder in another death Lemons was being questioned at SLED headquarters Tuesday night about a murder in New Mexico when he volunteered information that led to the discovery of the body According to Myrtle Beach Police Chief WC Newton a nearly complete skeleton was found and the remains have been sent to medical and dental authorities for identification feel that we may possibly know who the person Newton said we give out names until we definitely clear the matter Newton said that law enforcement officials had carefully searched the area around the skeleton for clues concerning the case sifted the area with a finetoothed comb but we may have to go back and search some The police chief added that although no official cause of death had been determined stabbing or strangulation was Continued on Page 3-A Hit-And-Run Injures Youth A Myrtle Beach youth was slightly injured in a hit-and-run bicycle-automobile accident on Highway 501 Wednesday night According to police reports Carey Rogers III 15 of Rt 1 in Myrtle Beach was struck while riding his bicycle along the highway about 9:15 pm He was taken to Ocean View Memorial Hospital with a slight abrasion on his right forearm and a possible dislocated shoulder No arrests have been made in connection with the hit-and-run accident Gail Goodwin 19 of Cadwin SC was struck and injured by a car while crossing 11th Avenue North at Ocean Boulevard Thursday afternoon She was taken to Ocean View Memorial Hospital with injuries to her left hip and back The car driven by a juvenile from Akron Ohio was heading west on 11th Avenue after making a left turn from Ocean Boulevard when it hit the pedestrian The Myrtle Beach City Council acted Tuesday to at least partially resolve the problems that have been plaguing the city in trying to determine ground level for sloping lots particularly along Ocean Boulevard At its quarterly planning and zoning meeting Tuesday night the Council passed an amendment to the zoning ordinances which specifies the height of fences hedges and retaining walls In relation to the adjacent or closest street to such structures Previously the height of walls and fences had been judged in relation to the highest level of the property In presenting the amendment to the Cbuncil Justin Plyler chairman of the City Planning and Zoning Commission said that the amend- defense of the rezoning petition Plyler said his group has recommended approval of the petition because they felt the course would enhance the area and lower the density of population in the development Vismor agreed that a pitch and putt would create a low-intensity population area would give needed green space" he said is our feeling that given the buffer zone it would have no adverse effect on surrounding A motion to accept foe rezoning petition was made by John Singleton and seconded by Allison Farlow Councilman Cook cast foe only opposing1 vote to the motion remarking that as long as he was for enough homes for he felt justified in opposing the measure At its quarterly planning and zoning meeting Tuesday night the Myrtle Beach City Council also: a request by Gerald Wallace to change the zoning of several lots in foe Long Bay Section of Myrtle Beach from A-3 to A-5-2 for the purpose of constructing an apartment building Ac- Continued on Page 3-A Delay In Rate Hike Costing City Money to rezoning the tract so that it could be used as a golf course because iff the congestion and traffic such a course would create pitch and putt creates a distraction traffic and he said had understood' it would be a country club golf course When told it was to be a pitch and putt their views changed a great Dunaj also asked that Council consider the locations of Ocean View Memorial Hospital and Ocean View Baptist Church in relation to the golf courses He said that the course would destroy the quiet areas around the church and hospital Another area citizen Dino Thompson brought to the attention foe fact that foe C-2 area could be used for other purposes besides a golf course if Myrtle Bqpch Farms changed their mind about the land's use in foe future going to happen to the land- 20 years from Thompson asked bringing out the fact that the C-2 zone could also be used to put up a shopping center Justin Plyler of foe Myrtle Beach Planning and Zoning Commission and City Planner Dan Vismor both came to the Rezoning necessary to allow Myrtle Beach Farms Company to develop a large residential and golf course complex in the northern section of the city was granted by the Myrtle Beach City Council it Its quarterly planning 'and zoning meeting Tuesday night The Myrtle Beach Farms petition asked for rezoning of several segments of a tract between Cane Patch Swash and 76th Avenue According to the zoning passed by Council a portion of the tract currently zoned A -3 (multifamily dwellings) was rezoned C-2 (commercial) while another portion of the A-3 area was rezoned A-l (singlefamily dwellings) According to Bill Sigmon vice president of Myrtle Beach Farms the portion of land rezoned C-2 would be used to construct a par 3 or pitch and putt golf course while the A-I zoned area would be developed into a residential community A 40-foot buffer of trees and shrubs would separate the course from the rest of the development Sigmon said that the company asked for an enlargement of the A-l zone to meet Myrtle demand for single family dwellings almost sold out of single family he said City Councilman Charlie Cook launched an opposition to the Myrtle Beach Farms plan'on the basis of this need for homes am Myrtle Beach formally adopted the rates on May 1 1973 and agreed to wait until July 1 to put them into effect in order that taps could be purchased by developers and builders under the present price for building in the near future However when the June price regulations were released the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was contacted unofficially and they said they believed the increase would be a violation of the new regulations City Council met in their regular session on July 3 and agreed to withhold any action on foe increase until a formal ruling could be given City Attorney John Copeland was asked to contact the proper By JOHN CARRIKER SUN-NEWS Editor With President Nixon's pre-Phase IV price regulation guidelines being used to halt inflationary increases the City of Myrtle Beach possibly has suffered a loss of $8120 for the month ot July through tie freezing of water and sewer rate hikes which were to become effective July 1 1973 Uncertainty still exists on the answer to when the new rates will be adopted and the longer the delay foe more money will be lost by the city These hinds were to be used to improve present water and sewer facilities and to finance the construction of more to meet foe critical needs of the municipality diametrically opposed to taking 38 acres into a C-2 zone Cook said have no land for homes We have 1000 locations for golf got 21 and going on 31 the need for residential sections arises Myrtle Beach Farms would be the first to realize where the needs Sigmon responded Cook complimented Sigmon on the responsible job Myrtle Beach Farms had done in developing the Beach but added still cannot see taking away 40 acres of prime residential land for a lighted golf The councilman also noted that taxes on par 3 golf courses average less than $300 per year while taxes on a residential community of the same size would bring in $30000 per year in city revenue An area resident Richard Dunaj also voiced opposition Strand Mayors Proclaim Week For Chamber All five mayors of the incorporated municipalities on South Grand Strand have signed proclamations designating the week of July 16-21 as Chamber of Commerce Week The observation coincides with the beginning of the Greater Myrtle Beach annual membership drive and all five resolutions call on citizens give full consideration to active membership support for the Chamber of Commerce to help ensure that its program will be productive and beneficial to our entire Joining Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark Garner in issuing the proclamations were Georgetown Mayor Higgins Myrtle Beach Mayor Robert Zdge Surf side Beach Mayor Ralph Freeland and Atlantic Beach Mayor Millard Rucker All proclamations recognize substantial contribution to the promotion development and given to foe municipalities by the Chamber as wen as the Chamber's program to promote the Grand Strand one of the world's outstanding all-year vacationlands to work for many needed community improvements and to help provide for the total needs of all our citizens" The Greater Myrtle Beach Chamber now has over 1000 member organizations Goal of the current membership drive is to meet the 1973-74 budget of 1386000 including $168000 in membership dues ifidifFS authorities and present their ruling to Council at a future meeting But the main concern is how to replace the monies which are being lost through foe delay Through Wilbur Smith and Associates of two year study the city expected to realize $96434 more from rates on water annually over foe present income of $315940 per year or a monthly average of $8120 The new rates which are the first alterations in price since 1966 have been designed to the burden of residential and commercial users as far as cost for service for water and Bill Johnson of foe firm explained The majority of the residences in the city will not be affected by the increases however the structure has been revamped where multi-unit facilities and out-of-city users would pay their appropriate shares Breaking down the new rate structure for water users of 20000 gallons per month are on the same rate as before This would incorporate almost all of the single family residences as 23 per cent use 5000 gallons 12 per cent use 8000 18 per cent use 13000 and 17 per cent use 20000 Cost for users of 20000 to 50000 gallons per month will be 60 cents per thousand gallons Twenty per cent now fall in this category Cost for users of 50000 to 100000 gallons per month will be 50 cents per thousand gallons Six per cent will fall in this category Cost for users of 100000 to 200000 gallons per month will be 40 cents per thousand while those over 200000 will pay 30 cents per thousand All the former are based on bimonthly rates New tap fees for water were also approved They are: $300 for a 44 inch tap $400 for a 1 inch tap $600 for a Ilk inch tap $900 for a 2 inch tap and one and one-half foe actual cost of labor and material for anything over 2 inches A minimum monthly water bill was authorized based on the size of the meters Size meter and minimum cost respectively are: 44 inch $556 1 Inch $1112 14k inch $3760 2 Inch $4446 24k inch Continued on Page 3-A' (Spindrift answers questions from our readers on subjects of interest to residents of the Grand Strand Readers may call or write to pose their questions Names must be disclosed but only initials are used in print Questions and their phrasing are subject to editing Call 448-8351 or write to Spindrift Box 408 Myrtle Beach to ask a question Ed What type of protection is there for animals located in such places as the commercial animal confine north of Myrtle Beach? Is there a humane society or any organization of this area for the protection of such animals? KEM Washington DC The Grand Strand Humane Society of Myrtle Beach knows of no jurisdiction at present over such places However this will be called to the attention of the president of the Hhumane society of this area and they will make inquiries into the situation For further information write the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services Box 1771 Columbia SC 29202 Attention: Dr Harry Jordan You will be able to obtain information on conditions these ODBflBBCd OB Page 2-A STILL CROWDED As July moves into its hottest days the beaches of the Grand Strand remain full High temperatures the threat of a gas shortage gone and the attractiveness of a beautiful beach have- all been factors to the thousands of people visiting the area (More photos on Page 2-A).