Horry County South Carolina

IMAGINE 2040

Your County. Your Voice. Our Future.

Comprehensive Plan Ordinance # 54-19 Adopted unanimously by Horry County Council December 10, 2019

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IMAGINE 2040

VISION STATEMENT

"Horry County will sustain and enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors by fostering healthy and safe communities, preserving our natural assets and rural heritage, encouraging business growth and economic diversification, and providing services and public facilities that will protect and strengthen our future."

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... i-ii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1.1 AUTHORITY OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS ...................................................................... 1.1 PURPOSE AND INTENT ....................................................................................................... 1.1 - 1.2 PLANNING AND REGULATORY HISTORY ....................................................................... 1.2 - 1.3 THE PROCESS ........................................................................................................................ 1.4 - 1.6 IMAGINE 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE .................................................................... 1.4 PUBLIC INPUT ................................................................................................................. 1.5 ADOPTION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS .......................................................................... 1.6 GUIDE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ......................................................................... 1.6 - 1.9 THE VISION ..................................................................................................................... 1.7 OVERARCHING GOALS OF THE PLAN ....................................................................... 1.7 PLAN ELEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 1.8 - 1.9 PLAN AMENDMENTS, REVIEWS, AND UPDATES ......................................................... 1.9

CHAPTER 2: POPULATION

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 2.1 POPULATION GROWTH ...................................................................................................... 2.1 - 2.5 MUNICIPAL GROWTH ................................................................................................. 2.1 POPULATION CHANGE ............................................................................................... 2.2 POPULATION DENSITY ............................................................................................... 2.3 POPULATION PROJECTIONS ...................................................................................... 2.4 SEASONAL POPULATION ........................................................................................... 2.5 ACADEMIC STUDENT POPULATION ........................................................................ 2.5 POPULATION GROWTH FINDINGS ........................................................................... 2.5 DEMOGRAPHICS ................................................................................................................... 2.5 - 2.14 AGE AND SEX ................................................................................................................. 2.5 - 2.7 RACE ................................................................................................................................ 2.8 HOUSEHOLDS ................................................................................................................. 2.8 - 2.9 EDUCATION .................................................................................................................... 2.9 - 2.10 INCOME ........................................................................................................................... 2.10 POVERTY ......................................................................................................................... 2.11 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ........................................................................................ 2.12 VETERANS ...................................................................................................................... 2.13 HEALTH ............................................................................................................................ 2.13-2.14 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................... 2.14

CHAPTER 3: CULTURAL RESOURCES

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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................3.1

HISTORY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION......................................................3.1 - 3.5 AMERICAN INDIANS 3.1 EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT 3.1 - 3.2 THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC 3.2 GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE 3.3 EMERGENCE OF A BEACH COMMUNITY 3.3 MYRTLE BEACH AIR FORCE BASE 3.3 HISTORY MUSEUMS 3.3 HISTORIC PRESERVATION 3.4 EVENTS 3.4 - 3.5 HISTORY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FINDINGS 3.5

RURAL CULTURE............................................................................................3.6 - 3.8 AGRICULTURE 3.6 - 3.7 NATURE: WILDLIFE, HUNTING AND FISHING 3.7 - 3.8 CHICKEN BOG 3.8 RURAL CULTURAL EVENTS 3.8 RURAL CULTURE FINDINGS 3.8

BEACH CULTURE...........................................................................................3.9 - 3.12 ATTRACTIONS 3.9 GOLF 3.9 - 3.10 MOTOR SPORTS 3.10 - 3.11 CAMPING 3.11 SEAFOOD 3.11 BEACH CULTURE EVENTS 3.11 - 3.12 BEACH CULTURE FINDINGS 3.12

ARTS CULTURE............................................................................................3.13 - 3.15 ARTS CULTURE EVENTS 3.14 - 3.15 ARTS CULTURE FINDINGS 3.15

FAITH-BASED CULTURE................................................................................3.16 FAITH-BASED CULTURE EVENTS 3.16 FAITH-BASED CULTURE FINDINGS 3.16

CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................................3.17

CHAPTER 4: NATURAL RESOURCES

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INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................4.1 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.................................................................................4.2

WATER RESOURCES......................................................................................4.2 - 4.11 WATERSHEDS AND WATERWAYS 4.2 - 4.3 WETLANDS 4.3 - 4.4 BEACHES AND MARSHES 4.5 - 4.6 SURFACE WATER QUALITY 4.6 - 4.8 FLOODPLAIN 4.8 - 4.10 WATER RESOURCES FINDINGS 4.10 - 4.11

AGRICULTURE..............................................................................................4.11 - 4.13 CROPLAND 4.12 FARMLAND PRESERVATION 4.12 AGRICULTURE FINDINGS 4.12 - 4.13

FORESTLAND...............................................................................................4.13 - 4.15 WILDFIRES 4.13 - 4.14 FIREWISE 4.14 URBAN FORESTRY 4.14 - 4.15 FORESTLAND FINDINGS 4.15

SOILS...........................................................................................................4.15 - 4.16 DRAINAGE 4.15 MINING 4.15 - 4.16 SEPTIC SUITABILITY 4.16 SOIL FINDINGS 4.16

SPECIES HABITAT........................................................................................4.17 - 4.21 THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES 4.17 - 4.18 INVASIVE SPECIES 4.18 CONSERVATION LAND 4.18 - 4.19 NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS 4.20 HABITAT FINDINGS 4.20 - 4.21

ENERGY.......................................................................................................4.21 - 4.23 AIR QUALITY 4.21 WIND ENERGY 4.21 - 4.22 SOLAR POWER 4.22 OFFSHORE DRILLING 4.22 ENERGY FINDINGS 4.22 - 4.23

CONCLUSIONS...............................................................................................4.23

CHAPTER 5: HOUSING

PAGE NUMBER INTRODUCTION ............................................................................5.1

HOUSING ANALYSIS......................................................................5.1 - 5.8 HOUSING UNITS .................................................................5.1 HOUSING TYPES ................................................................5.1 - 5.2 OCCUPANCY AND VACANCY ................................................5.3 HOUSING CONDITIONS ........................................................5.4 DENSITY AND FORM ...........................................................5.4 - 5.6 DEVELOPMENT TRENDS .....................................................5.6 - 5.7 HOUSING ANALYSIS FINDINGS ............................................5.8

COST AND AFFORDABILITY...........................................................5.8 - 5.12 HOUSING COSTS .................................................................5.8 - 5.9 COST BURDEN ....................................................................5.10 - 5.11 FAIR HOUSING ...................................................................5.11 - 5.12 COST AND AFFORDABILITY FINDINGS .................................5.12

SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE...........................................5.12 - 5.14 HOMELESSNESS .................................................................5.12 - 5.13 EMERGENCY HOUSING SOLUTIONS ....................................5.13 RAPID REHOUSING .............................................................5.13 PUBLIC HOUSING ................................................................5.13 HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION - HOUSING ...........................5.13 REHABILITATION PROGRAM SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE FINDINGS ...................5.14

REVITALIZATION EFFORTS.............................................................5.14 - 5.15 NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS ......................................................5.14 NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM ......................................5.14 - 5.15 COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION FINDINGS .............................5.15

CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................5.15

CHAPTER 6: COMMUNITY FACILITIES

PAGE NUMBER INTRODUCTION ............................................................................6.1

GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES.......................................... 6.1 - 6.2 GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL FACILITY FINDINGS ...................6.2

UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE..................................................6.2 - 6.11 POWER SUPPLIES ................................................................6.2 - 6.3 POWER FINDINGS ................................................................6.3 WATER SUPPLIES ................................................................6.3 - 6.5 WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS ................................6.5 WATER AND SEWER FINDINGS ............................................6.5 STORMWATER ......................................................................6.6 - 6.7 STORMWATER FINDINGS .....................................................6.7 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE ..........................................6.8 TELECOMMUNICATION FINDINGS .........................................6.8 SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL ........................6.8 - 6.10 SOLID WASTE FINDINGS .......................................................6.11 UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FINDINGS ........................6.11

EDUCATION FACILITIES..................................................................6.11 - 6.16 DAYCARE FACILITIES ...........................................................6.11 PK-12 EDUCATION ...............................................................6.12 - 6.14 HIGHER EDUCATION ............................................................6.14 - 6.15 LIBRARIES ............................................................................6.15 - 6.16 EDUCATION FINDINGS .........................................................6.16

RECREATION AND LEISURE FACILITIES.........................................6.17 - 6.19 PARKS AND RECREATION ....................................................6.17 - 6.18 SENIOR CENTERS ................................................................6.18 - 6.19 RECREATION AND LEISURE FINDINGS ................................6.19

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES...............................................................6.20 - 6.21 HOSPITALS ............................................................................6.20 - 6.21 ELDER CARE FACILITIES ......................................................6.21 HEALTH CARE FINDINGS .....................................................6.21

CONCLUSIONS.................................................................................6.21

CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC SAFETY

CHAPTER 8: TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER 9: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PAGE NUMBER INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................9.1

EXISTING PLANS...................................................................................9.1 - 9.2 ECONOMIC PLANNING EFFORTS 9.1 SPECIALIZED STUDIES AND PLANS 9.1 - 9.2 EXISTING PLANS FINDINGS 9.2

WORKFORCE..........................................................................................9.2 - 9.6 EDUCATION AND SKILLS 9.2 - 9.3 EMPLOYMENT TRENDS 9.3 - 9.4 WAGES AND EARNINGS 9.4 COST OF LIVING 9.5 COMMUTING PATTERNS 9.5 WORKFORCE FINDINGS 9.6

ECONOMIC BASE ANALYSIS................................................................9.7 - 9.14 MAJOR EMPLOYERS 9.7 START UP AND SMALL BUSINESSES 9.7 - 9.8 EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY 9.8 KEY EMPLOYMENT SECTORS 9.9 TOURISM 9.9 - 9.10 HEALTHCARE 9.10 CONSTRUCTION 9.10 - 9.11 MANUFACTURING 9.12 - 9.13 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY 9.13 - 9.14 PROJECTED INDUSTRY GROWTH 9.14 ECONOMIC BASE FINDINGS 9.14

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES...............................................................9.15 - 9.18 COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION 9.15 - 9.16 INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING CENTERS 9.16 - 9.17 OPPORTUNITY ZONES 9.17 ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FINDINGS 9.18

CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................................9.18

CHAPTER 10: PRIORITY INVESTMENT

PAGE NUMBER INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................10.1

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLANNING...................................................10.1

FUNDING SOURCES...............................................................................10.1 - 10.6 GENERAL FUND 10.2 SPECIAL FUNDS 10.2 - 10.3 INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS 10.3 - 10.4 HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES 10.4 RIDE TAXES 10.4 - 10.5 BONDING 10.5 GRANTS 10.5 DEVELOPER FEES 10.5 - 10.6 SPECIAL TAX DISTRICTS 10.6 FUNDING SOURCES FINDINGS 10.6

CAPITAL PROJECT NEEDS....................................................................10.6 - 10.11 BUDGETED CIP PROJECTS 10.7 - 10.8 UNFUNDED PROJECTS 10.9 - 10.10 RECURRING AND LIFECYCLE MAINTENANCE COSTS 10.11

PROJECTED FUNDS AND GAPS............................................................10.12

CONCLUSIONS..........................................................................................10.13

CHAPTER 11: LAND USE

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INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 11.1

PLANNING & REGULATORY HISTORY ........................................ 11.2 - 11.5 LAND USE PLANS ................................................................ 11.2 DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ........................................... 11.2 - 11.5 PLANNING AND REGULATORY FINDINGS .......................... 11.5

DEVELOPMENT TRENDS ............................................................. 11.6 - 11.15 REZONING TRENDS ............................................................. 11.7 URBAN AND SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS ....... 11.8 RURAL DEVELOPMENT ....................................................... 11.8 CURRENT LAND USE .......................................................... 11.8 - 11.10 GROWTH STRATEGY ........................................................... 11.11 COMMUNITY INPUT ............................................................ 11.11 - 11.13 LAND SUITABILITY ANALYSIS ............................................ 11.14 - 11.15

FUTURE LAND USE ...................................................................... 11.16 - 11.28 SCENIC AND CONSERVATION AREAS ............................... 11.19 RURAL ................................................................................... 11.20 RURAL COMMUNITIES ........................................................ 11.21 RURAL ACTIVITY CENTER ................................................. 11.22 SUBURBAN ........................................................................... 11.23 NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY CENTER ................................. 11.24 COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS ............................................... 11.25 MIXED USE ........................................................................... 11.26 COMMUNITY ACTIVITY CENTER ...................................... 11.27 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER ............................... 11.28

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ....................................................... 11.29

CHAPTER 12: GOALS AND STRATEGIES

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VISION STATEMENT ...................................................................... 12.1

OVERARCHING GOALS OF PLAN ............................................... 12.1

OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES .................................................. 12.2 - 12.13 COMMUNITY CHARACTER ................................................. 12.2 - 12.3 RURAL PRESERVATION ....................................................... 12.3 REVITALIZATION, REDEVELOPMENT, AND INFILL ............ 12.4 HEALTHY, LIVABLE COMMUNITIES .................................... 12.4 - 12.5 SAFE COMMUNITIES ........................................................... 12.6 - 12.7 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES .......................... 12.7 - 12.8 MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION ..................................... 12.8 - 12.9 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY .................................... 12.9 - 12.11 ECONOMIC GROWTH .......................................................... 12.11 - 12.12 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ............................................. 12.12 - 12.13

RESOURCES

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SPECIAL THANKS

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SPECIAL THANKS

Horry County would like to thank the following persons, who have generously committed their time, knowledge and dedication to the people of Horry County, for which this Comprehensive Plan serves as a guideline for the future. The following people have been involved with the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, and/or are members of Planning Commission and County Councilmen:

IMAGINE 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE

PLANNING COMMISSION

COUNTY COUNCIL

Additional thanks to Horry County Planning staff, the staff from participating jurisdictions, including the elected and appointed representatives from those jurisdictions, and the people of Horry County.

PLANNING STAFF

PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS

City of Conway City of Loris City of Myrtle Beach City of North Myrtle Beach Town of Atlantic Beach Town of Aynor Town of Briarcliffe Acres Town of Surfside Beach Brunswick County Columbus County Georgetown County Marion County

REGIONAL PLANNING GROUPS

Grand Strand Area Transportation Study Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Horry County is rapidly changing. Our beautiful beaches, warm climate, and low taxes have attracted vacationers and retirees to make Horry County their permanent or seasonal home. In light of the growth that is occurring, Horry County is taking proactive steps to plan for the future. The IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan emphasizes the principles of sustainable development, focuses on community design and character, maximizes and efficiently expands public infrastructure together with services, and brings people closer to job centers, while encouraging thoughtful development and redevelopment.

Horry County’s population and housing stock have more than doubled over the past 30 years. In 2018, the US Census identified the County as part of the 2nd fastest growing Metropolitan Statistical Area in the nation for the third year in a row. By 2040, our year-round population is expected to nearly double again, reaching up to 584,500 permanent residents. If residential growth patterns continue as they have over the last few decades, more than 200,000 of the 275,000 anticipated new residents are likely to make unincorporated Horry County their home. 45% of that growth could be accommodated in unincorporated properties that have already been zoned for major residential developments; however, Horry County and the municipalities within it will need to plan for at least another 63,000 units. Long-term trends reveal that on average 210 new homes are constructed and 650 new residents relocate to Horry County monthly. These numbers were far exceeded in 2017, as more than 4,200 new single family homes were constructed and an estimated 11,800 people moved to Horry County. Increased housing demand and a lack of available supply, compounded by a shortage in construction workers and materials following the Recession, has resulted in higher home sale prices and a shortage of affordable housing. From 2012 to 2018, the average single-family home jumped from $154,500 to $238,000, exceeding sales prices prior to the economic downturn. The increase in home prices has forced working residents to live further away from their jobs, having an adverse impact on the cost of living and quality of life for our largely tourism based workforce. Conversely, retirees relocating to Horry County are often purchasing more expensive homes closer to the beach. These residents often have a higher expectation of service provided by the County compared to those living in rural areas.

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While Horry County will inevitably continue to attract new residents, the lack of diversity in the age of our population, coupled with strained infrastructure and services, presents a challenge to economic growth. Seniors aged 55 and older make up 37% of our population in comparison to 28.9% statewide and 27% nationally. This segment of Horry County’s population is growing more rapidly than other segments. In fact, little-to-no growth is occurring in the 20-29 year old age bracket, and slow growth is occurring for those 30-54 years old. With more than 18% of our residents living below the poverty level, it is evident that Horry County needs to diversify our economy and expand the number of wage earners and entrepreneurs. The County must offer a variety of housing types to attract a diverse range of income earners, age groups, and family types to stay or relocate here. These efforts are necessary to stabilize our economy and our communities, which will have positive secondary impacts on public safety and housing security.

In recent years, new development has consumed more than 53 square miles of land. As large tracts of land for residential subdivisions near urban centers have become scarcer and as housing costs have been driven up, more people are beginning to locate further away from city centers and other significant centers of community activity. New subdivisions, many of which were approved for development over a decade ago, are emerging along major corridors outside of established suburban and urban cores. Residential growth without nearby commercial and employment centers strains the local tax base, congests roadways, increases public safety response times, overcrowds schools, and limits the ability to equitably provide recreation and other desired public facilities and services.

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Planning can be a challenging task to undertake in a County of our size with such a wide range of development intensity between urban and rural communities. Existing residents have placed an emphasis on the need for infill development and redevelopment to minimize the cost for additional infrastructure and public services. They have expressed the need for job centers and economic growth. They have also indicated the desire to preserve the landscape and lifestyle of our rural communities. All of these factors, along with public safety, natural hazards, and community health were considered when developing the IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan and are embodied in the vision of this plan.

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The location and form in which growth occurs will have a strong bearing on the quality of life for our existing and future residents and the experience of our visitors. In order to preserve a way of life for our rural residents and cultivate a sense of place in our suburban and urban areas of the County, there must be a change in how density is perceived. Strategically placed density in already highly developed areas must be considered, as it will ultimately reduce the cost to upgrade infrastructure and the cost of services, attract businesses and young professionals, offer a mixture of housing options, improve health through walkability, and foster character and a sense of place. Allowing for increased density and infill development in urban and suburban areas will have a positive impact on our economy, especially if it repurposes failing commercial areas and former shopping malls.

In some areas of the County, such as golf course communities, redevelopment may be more challenging, as public safety, stormwater, and separation and buffering of differing uses must be considered in the rezoning and development review process. By allowing for growth to occur in areas where infrastructure and services are already available, it will also reduce the demand for greenfield development in rural areas of the County; thus preserving rural lifestyles, farmland, and important natural resources that help retain floodwaters. Recent floods have revealed the vulnerabilities of our residents, economy, roads, and stormwater infrastructure, but it has also revealed our County’s resilience to adversity.

This plan will allow Horry County to take a proactive role in determining the fate of our communities, economy, roads and infrastructure, services, and quality of life. The IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee and staff thoroughly reviewed the changing conditions of the County and gathered public input to develop this plan, the heart of which can be defined by the Vision, Future Land Use Map, and the Goals, Objectives, and Strategies. Not only does it address recommended land uses, it exceeds state planning criteria by including an additional chapter on Public Safety. It also provides a foundation for the development of future planning initiatives, such as:

• Comprehensive Road Improvement Plan;
• Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan;
• Parks and Open Space Plan;
• Greenways & Blueways Master Plan;
• Beach Management Plan;
• Historic Preservation Plan;
• updates to the Garden City and Little River area plans; and
• additional neighborhood and area plans.

In order to successfully implement this plan, there will need to be changes to County regulations that will support variation in design, density, and development practices, making quality development more practical. The plan will need to be supported through policy and land use decisions. It will require strategic updates to the zoning ordinance, land development regulations, and rezoning review criteria to ensure that development and infill results in quality design that does not adversely impact existing communities, provides a greater sense of place, expands housing options and affordability, ensures safe and healthy communities, and supports economic growth. Ultimately, this plan provides a roadmap for the future of Horry County, exemplifying the ability of the Independent Republic to define its own destiny and continue to be an attractive place for people to live, work, and play.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

Horry County is under intense development pressure. Population projections predict an increase to more than half-a-million residents in Horry County by 2040. Future development, services, and infrastructure must be thoughtfully planned. The IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan can best be described as a framework for the County's future. It will directly inform current and future decisions. The purpose of the Horry County IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan is to enable government officials and citizens to effectively manage natural, cultural, economic and fiscal resources in light of growth, change and an inexact future. IMAGINE 2040 defines the County's biggest assets and challenges for the future while making recommendations about the type and character of development appropriate in different areas of the County.

The goals, objectives and strategies in this document are aimed at promoting safe and healthy communities that preserve and build on the County's unique sense of place; and promoting sustainable economic opportunities that allow all County residents to thrive and prosper. IMAGINE 2040 identifies ways to maximize the County's strengths and improve weaknesses. It is a vital document because it contains guidance for the development of the County over the next 10 to 20 years. The Plan provides this guidance by outlining recommendations and implementation strategies which are supported by data and technical analysis developed through a public review process. This plan is a living document. In addition to a statutorily required five-year review, it will be continually monitored and updated to respond to changing conditions and best available information.

AUTHORITY OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS

In 1994, the County was granted the authority by the State of South Carolina to prepare and maintain a comprehensive plan through the South Carolina Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act (S.C. Code Title 6, Chapter 29). The Act consolidated formerly separate legislative acts regarding the local authority to create comprehensive plans. The comprehensive plan is adopted by ordinance as a means to guide public policy, forming the legal basis for any future land use ordinances, including rezoning requests. In order for local land use regulations to be valid, they must be adopted in accordance with a locally adopted plan. That plan is based upon and includes appropriate studies of the location and the extent of present and anticipated population, social, economic and environmental resources, and the current issues and concerns of the community.

PURPOSE AND INTENT

The IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan will guide public decision-making affecting the quality of life in Horry County through the year 2040. The Plan identifies the community's vision for the future. The vision articulates the essential components of the quality of life in Horry County, as identified by the community, and serves as the touchstone for the Plan. The various elements of the Plan are designed to accomplish this vision by articulating goals for the future regarding the pattern, quality, and intensity of land uses, the provision of public facilities and services, economic development, availability of housing, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. The Plan also establishes strategies or actions and implementation tools to enable the County to achieve the vision set out in this Plan. The components of the Plan focus on real actions the County can achieve given the appropriate time and resources. The strategies in the Plan are tied together in a comprehensive manner and are executed through both the land use and priority investment chapters.

"It is the function and duty of the local planning commission... to undertake a continuing planning program for the physical, social, and economic growth, development and redevelopment of the area within its jurisdiction. The plans and programs must be designed to promote public health, safety, morals, convenience, prosperity, or the general welfare as well as the efficiency and economy of its area of jurisdiction. Specific planning elements must be based upon careful and comprehensive surveys and studies of existing conditions and probable future development and include recommended means of implementation."

-South Carolina Local Government Planning Enabling Act of 1994

History of Planning in Horry County

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• 1976

  • 1972 - Village of Barefoot Traders Opened (rebuilt as Barefoot Landing in 1988)
  • 1975 - Home Rule Passed allowing for the creation of County Council and the election of commissioners
  • 1975 - Myrtle Beach Airport Opens
  • 1975 - First Horry County Council was elected
  • 1976 - Clear Pond Fire, largest wildfire in SC history, burned 30,000 acres
  • 1976 - Briarcliffe Acres was incorporated

• 1983

  • 1979 - Little River Blue Crab Festival started
  • 1979 - Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival started
  • 1981 - Conway Riverfest started
  • 1983 - Horry County Planning Commission first established

• 1995

  • 1984 - Horry County Railroad Line Established to continue rail service to Myrtle Beach
  • 1985 - Horry County celebrated 250 years since Kingston Township was opened for settlement
  • 1987 - Zoning first established in urban areas
  • 1987 - The Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve was purchased from International Paper
  • 1989 - Hurricane Hugo, September
  • 1993 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Closed
  • 1993 - Coastal Carolina University Established as independent from University of South Carolina
  • 1994 - South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act was passed
  • 1995 - Broadway at the Beach Opened
  • 1996 - Hurricane Fran, September
  • 1997 - Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge was established, December
  • 1998 - The Carolina Forest Development Agreement was signed
  • 1998 - Hurricane Bonnie, August
  • Zoning extension along western corridors (through 1999)

Horry County has a long history of land use planning. The County established zoning for the urbanizing areas in 1987 and later adopted zoning for the entire County in 2002. This document builds on comprehensive and regional planning efforts conducted over the last 40 years. Horry County's first comprehensive plan was adopted in 1976, with subsequent plans being adopted in 1983, 1995, 1999, and 2008. IMAGINE 2040 relies upon those previous efforts and the many neighborhood and area plans that have been developed in recent years to guide quality growth.

PLANNING AND REGULATORY HISTORY

The history of land use planning in Horry County has evolved over the last few decade. The 1976 Land Use Plan was the first land use plan adopted in Horry County. This plan was intended to provide a framework for the growth and development of the County with recommendations for which areas of the county should be reserved for specific types of development and preservation. The 1976 plan divided the County into 14 planning districts, for which a detailed analysis of existing conditions and future potential was outlined.

The 1976 Future Land Use Plan was followed by the 1983 Land Use Plan. Dividing the County into eight planning districts, this Plan outlined critical areas of concern in each district as well as outlining the current residential growth in each district. The 1983 Plan contained an even more detailed analysis of existing land uses and their future potential. This Plan was

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

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the first to include a Future Land Use Map and future land use designations as well as outlines for potential policy guidance.

The 1995 Comprehensive Plan was the first truly comprehensive plan written for Horry County. Just four years later, the 1999 Comprehensive Plan was adopted. The first of the "modern" Comprehensive Plans, this Plan followed a similar format to IMAGINE 2040, including the population, economic, natural resources, cultural resources, community facilities, housing, and land use chapters. This was the first Plan to outline goals and implementation strategies.

The latest Comprehensive Plan, Envision 2025, again follows a similar format to IMAGINE 2040 in that it contains many of the same chapters (with the exception of the Transportation and Priority Investment Chapters which were new additions mandated by the State of South Carolina, and the Public Safety Chapter which is an addition determined necessary by the IMAGINE 2040 Committee). The Land Use Chapter from Envision 2025 followed a corridor strategy which highlighted urban, suburban, and rural roadways as well as urban, transitional, and rural areas for future types and intensities of development. An important component of Envision 2025 was the designated Economic Activity Centers, many of which have transitioned into the IMAGINE 2040 Future Land Use Map.

THE PROCESS Creating this Comprehensive Plan was a three-step process during which planning staff and IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee Members conducted a thorough inventory of existing conditions, updated statistical information, researched, and drafted each of the twelve chapters. Multiple opportunities for public comment were provided throughout the process. A timeline (shown below) and process graphic (shown to the right) explain this in greater detail.

IMAGINE 2040 STEERING COMMITTEE The IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee was established by the Planning Commission in December 2017. The fourteen-person committee was comprised of a variety of expertise, including real estate, economic development, environmental, agricultural professionals, and community

Comprehensive Planning Process

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volunteers. The Steering Committee met eleven times spread over six months. Each meeting was open to the public and advertised on the County Meetings Calendar. Meeting topics included specific examinations of each of the twelve chapters. Meetings were held on the following dates: January 11th, 3:00-4:30pm February 22nd, 4:30-6:00pm March 29th, 4:30-6:00pm April 19th, 4:30-6:00pm April 26th, 4:30-6:00pm May 31st, 4:30-6:00pm June 28th, 4:30-6:00pm July 12th, 4:30-6:00pm July 26th, 11:00am-3:00pm August 16th, 4:30-6:00pm

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Chapter 1: Introduction - 1.4

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

PUBLIC INPUT

Public participation and community involvement is an important component in the comprehensive planning process. The Public Input Summary details all of the key public participation findings.

Public input for the IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan was gathered via four main methods:

1. Public Meetings. Open houses were held at four locations over the course of a two week period at the beginning of the rewriting process. A fifth open house was held in June to summarize findings and the draft Plan chapters. Open houses were held on the following dates: January 25th, 2018 5:00-6:30pm January 29th, 2018 5:00-6:30pm January 31st, 2018 3:00-4:30pm February 5th, 2018 5:00-6:30pm June 14th, 2018 5:00-6:30pm

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January 25th Open House at the Government and Justice Center in Conway, SC Source: Horry County Planning and Zoning

2. Online and Paper Surveys. A 27 question online survey addressed topics of general demographics, visioning, land use, visual preferences, redevelopment, as well as future needs and concerns. A paper version of the survey was produced and was available at the Planning and Zoning Office, public open houses, and various community groups to distribute. Data gathered from the National Citizens Survey (NCS) was used to influence the IMAGINE 2040 survey. Targeted advertising was used to distribute the survey link. The NCS was also used to influence the IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

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3. Public Comments. The public was encouraged to submit comments throughout the planning process. Comment forms were available at each of the Open Houses and Steering Committee Meetings. In addition, the public had the opportunity to provide comments via a Land Use Mapping Workshop that took place in May. The public was encouraged to email additional comments to IMAGINE2040@horrycounty.org, call and speak directly with a planner, or mail comments to the Planning Department.

4. Land Use Mapping Workshop. With the assistance of staff, the Committee oversaw the Land Use Mapping Workshop with invited attendees from a various institutions, corporations, industries, agencies, local governments, and the public. Approximately 143 potential participants were invited via email and/or letter. Of those 143, 104 participants RSVP'ed their intended attendance before the event. There were approximately 119 total attendees, not including staff and facilitators. Many IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee Members were also in attendance. Attendees were broken into groups, each representative of a wide array of disciplines, and given instructions for mapping future land uses. Groups were asked to map a variety of future development types as well as determine potential locations for needed community services and facilities. Attendees of the Land Use Mapping Workshop were asked to identify locations where they desired future residential, commercial, industrial, downtown districts, conservation, recreational uses, and commu-

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May 10th Land Use Mapping Workshop at the Government and Justice Center in Conway, SC Source: Horry County Planning and Zoning

nity services and facilities. Participants were grouped at 11 tables to consider future land use patterns and the potential land implications of growth in unincorporated Horry County. Maps included current land uses as well as approved housing developments and numbers for estimated to-be-built multi-family and single-family units in each approved development.

Public Engagement

Equally important to encouraging and receiving public input was maintaining open communication and keeping the public informed about the current status of the comprehensive planning process. An email-update list was created via a surveymonkey.com sign-up form for those interested in staying updated. Social media posts advertising the open houses, IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee Meetings, distributing the survey link, and email update sign-up were frequently posted on the Horry County Planning and Zoning Facebook page.

Press releases with links to the online survey and information about the open houses were released in December and January. Social media posts were frequently released adversing the survey and open houses. Fliers were distributed at County owned properties including libraries and recreation centers throughout the County. Post card fliers were mailed to over 400 local churches advertising the open houses and survey. An advertisement was run on the Government Information Channel. The survey and open houses were also advertised on the Horry County Government web-page as well as at various other public functions and community group meetings.

Please see the separate Public Input Summary document for additional analysis and findings from the public input opportunities.

Another aspect of maintaining open communication was the creation and maintenance of the IMAGINE 2040 webpage. The webpage link was shared multiple times throughout the process on social media pages, in community groups, and contained links to the County Meeting Calendar and Survey. Along with email, the webpage served as the primary avenue to share updates and the status of the Plan.

ADOPTION AND PUBLIC HEARINGS

The draft IMAGINE 2040 was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission on December 6, 2018. The Planning Commission held two workshops in addition to the public hearing and 30-day public comment period. The following were the meeting dates:

October 4th, 2018 5:30-7:00pm Draft distribution October 25th, 2018 4:30-6:30pm Workshop November 29th, 2018 3:00-4:30pm Workshop December 6th, 2018 5:30-7:00pm Public Hearing

After recommendation by the IMAGINE 2040 Steering Committee and the Planning Commission, the Plan was presented to Horry County Council on the following dates:

July 29, 2019 Workshop First Reading August 13, 2019 Second Reading September 3, 2019 Public Hearing November 21, 2019 Workshop December 10, 2019 3rd Reading and Adoption

GUIDE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Plan is a guide for public decision-making. Specifically, the County's elected and appointed officials should use the Plan to evaluate future proposals or policy changes to ensure consistent decisions are made. Furthermore, the Plan provides guidance to land owners and developers on what is appropriate development in the County. This Plan contains a few terms that are used to describe the various policy recommendations:

Vision: the comprehensive, overarching statement of the desired future of the County. The ultimate set of ideals to which the County should aspire.

Goal: a statement of desired end-state or target. Tied very closely to the vision statement and focused on a specific element of the Plan. Provides particular guidance for where the County should be in the future, and sets the tone for the individual strategies for each chapter.

Objective: a recommended course of action or task the County or its designated agency could undertake in pursuit of a Goal and the Vision. Provides focused and achievable guidance on specific topics under the Plan element headings. Ties the implementation of the Plan to the Goals and Vision.

Strategy: specific courses of action to achieve a specific Objective.

The Plan is provided as a comprehensive guide for the County but specific recommendations may apply more in one circumstance than another. The Plan dedicates a chapter section to each element that includes background and conclusions that informed the development of the goals, objectives, and strategies.

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

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THE VISION The vision for IMAGINE 2040 touches on all of the major topics examined by the Committee as well as those highlighted through public input. The vision for Horry County is as follows:

"Horry County will sustain and enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors by fostering healthy and safe communities, preserving our natural assets and rural heritage, encouraging business growth and economic diversification, and providing services and public facilities that will protect and strengthen our future."

OVERARCHING GOALS OF THE PLAN The guiding principles of the Plan enhance and promote the vision. The principles are the overarching goals of the Plan and are as follows:

Community Character 'Promote a sense of place within our existing and emerging communities by preserving and cultivating their unique character and identities.'

Rural Preservation 'Preserve rural areas and lifestyles, along with natural resources and assets, through land use decisions and policies.'

Revitalization, Redevelopment, and Infill 'Encourage and support community revitalization, redevelopment, and infill development that stabilizes and improves property values, promotes additional reinvestment, and enhances quality of life for our residents.'

Healthy, Livable Communities 'Foster the development of healthy, livable communities in which residents and visitors alike have access to a variety of housing and transportation options, facilities and services, culture and arts, and recreational and natural assets.'

Safe Communities 'Protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors by providing adequate public safety facilities and services, enforcing and improving regulations, and minimizing incompatible land uses.'

Community Facilities and Services 'Coordinate growth and infrastructure improvements to efficiently and equitably meet the public facility and service needs of our existing and future populations.'

Mobility and Transportation 'Promote development patterns and fund infrastructure projects that result in a well-integrated and maintained transportation system.'

Environmental Sustainability 'Encourage and incentivize sustainable development activities that minimize and mitigate the impact on the natural environment and avoid adverse impacts on existing development.'

Economic Growth 'Develop a more diversified and resilient economy that supports the recruitment and retention of businesses, encourages new investments, capitalizes and expands upon our existing niches, and ultimately results in greater economic stability of our residents and local businesses.'

Community Engagement 'Create an environment in which residents, businesses, and other stakeholders are engaging and informed of planning efforts, regulatory changes, infrastructure projects, and volunteer and partnership opportunities.'

PLAN ELEMENTS

Comprehensive Plans in South Carolina are required to have a minimum of nine elements – population, land use, natural resources, cultural resources, transportation, economic development, affordable housing, community facilities, and priority investment. In addition to these required nine elements, IMAGINE 2040 includes a public safety chapter.

The Population Chapter analyzes historic and current population, demographic trends, and provides reasonable projections of future population growth. This includes the number, size, and characteristics of households, education levels, income characteristics, race, ethnicity, sex, and age distribution. Each of the following chapters of this plan utilize these projections to help shape their recommendations.

Population

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• Historic trends and projections
• Number, size, and characteristics of households
• Education levels and trends
• Income characteristics and trends
• Race, ethnicity, sex, and age distribution and statistics.

The Cultural Resources Chapter focuses on preserving and enhancing the County’s cultural resources. This includes historic sites and structures, beach culture, agricultural heritage, the visual and performing arts community, cultural and outdoor facilities; special events, venues and festivals; historic places and buildings; cultural groups, societies and organizations; unique areas of natural, scenic or archaeological value; and various educational, religious or entertainment offerings.

Cultural Resources

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• Cultural and outdoor facilities
• Special events, venues, and festivals
• Historic places and buildings;
• Cultural groups, societies and organizations;
• Educational, religious or entertainment offerings.

The Natural Resources Chapter examines the physical environment of Horry County and discusses the need to balance development with ecosystem concerns that will provide healthy functioning landscapes and water features for future generations. The following informational topics are analyzed soil types; wetlands; coastal resources; agriculture; forest land; plant and animal habitats; floodplains; scenic areas; and air and water quality.

Natural Resources

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• Soil types
• Wetlands
• Coastal resources
• Agriculture and forested land
• Plant and animal habitats
• Floodplains

The Housing Chapter includes an analysis of the location, type, age, condition, tenure, and affordability of housing. It also includes an analysis of the regulatory environment to determine unnecessary barriers to the provision of affordable housing.

Housing

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• Analysis of the location, type, age, condition, tenure, and affordability of housing
• Analysis of the regulatory environment
• Analysis of affordable housing

The Community Facilities Chapter provides an assessment of existing conditions, projects future needs based on projected population growth, and provides recommendations on how to implement and fund these proposals. It analyzes existing and future needs for water supply, waste water treatment, solid waste collection and disposal, medical services, general government facilities, education facilities, parks, and libraries.

Community Facilities

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• Water supply, waste water treatment
• Solid waste collection and disposal
• Medical services
• General government facilities
• Education facilities
• Parks and libraries

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

Public Safety

The Public Safety Chapter provides an assessment of existing services by Police, Fire and Rescue, Animal Control, and Emergency Management. It highlights existing needs, projects future needs based on population and development trends, and provides recommendations on how to better serve the people of Horry County in the future.

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• ● Police
• ● Fire
• ● Rescue
• ● Animal Control
• ● Emergency Management

Transportation

The Transportation Chapter offers strategies to maximize the efficiency of the County's road network while promoting policies for alternative transportation choices to reduce dependency on automobiles. It provides an analysis of the County's existing road network while assessing existing deficiencies, and outlining future needs.

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• ● Analysis of the County's existing road network
• ● Assesses existing deficiencies
• ● Projects Future needs

Economic Development

The Economic Development Chapter promotes diverse, resilient economic policies that encourage quality job creation which allow citizens to remain in Horry County in employment that requires knowledge, talent, training, and compensates with higher-paying jobs. This chapter provides an analysis of the current economic condition while focusing on how to build on the County's existing assets along with diversifying its economic base.

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• ● Analysis of the current economic condition
• ● Focuses on how to build on existing assets
• ● Encourages diversifying the economic base

Priority Investments

The Priority Investment Chapter ties the capital improvement needs identified in other chapter to forecasted revenues for the next ten years. It is, in essence, a ten-year Capital Improvements Plan that is meant to guide the County's five-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and annual budgeting processes.

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• ● 10-year Capital Improvements Plan
• ● Guides the five-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
• ● Guides annual budgeting processes.

Land Use

The Land Use Chapter outlines policies that build on the recommendations of previous plans, land development studies, and public input. The recommendations within this element are critical to providing Horry County direction. This chapter provides an analysis of existing development patterns, recent planning, plan implementation efforts, a vision for future land use, and growth management policies.

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• ● Analysis of existing development patterns
• ● Analysis of recent planning
• ● Analysis of plan implementation efforts
• ● Creates a vision for future land use and growth management policies

PLAN AMENDMENTS, REVIEWS, AND UPDATES

In accordance with the provisions of the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act, the Planning Commission must review the Comprehensive Plan at least every 5 years, and update the Plan when appropriate, or at least every 10 years. Beyond the required 5-year review, Planning Commission and County Council may opt to update the Plan or components of it if there are significant changes in the economy, development trends, or the completion of major infrastructure projects. All area, community, and neighborhood plans, in addition to specialty plans like the Historic Preservation Plan, Parks and Open Space Plan, and Beach Management Plan shall be adopted as amendments to the Comprehensive Plan.

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CHAPTER 2: POPULATION

INTRODUCTION The population chapter examines population trends and describes the demographic composition of Horry County residents. Population growth and composition influences land use decisions, determines housing and infrastructure needs, and impacts the local economy. Horry County’s population continues to grow, an increased demand for public safety, community services, and facilities will also increase, as well as the desire for cultural resources along with access to natural spaces. Studying a community’s population is fundamental to any comprehensive plan. Horry County will need to continue to monitor the permanent and short-term population into the future to inform decision-making.

POPULATION GROWTH According to 2015 population estimates, Horry County has approximately 309,199 permanent residents. The County has experienced rapid growth since the 1970s, adding over 250,000 permanent residents since that time. In just the last 15 years, there were seen an influx of over 100,000 residents. The County has one of the highest population growth rates in the State and is now the fourth most populous county in South Carolina, behind Greenville, Richland, and Charleston counties respectively.

The 2015 total population estimate reflects a 14.8% increase or 39,908 more people since 2010. This reflects growth that occurred even during a major economic downturn. These numbers are only expected to escalate. The population is projected to grow to 584,500 by 2040. While the projections were refined by the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments and Horry County Planning and Zoning, population growth is occurring faster than anticipated. It is important to note that the 2020 population projections are already being surpassed that were developed in 2017 by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board. Note that these population numbers and projections do not account for seasonal population, including snowbirds that live in the area for the cooler months and tourist and seasonal work population during the summer months. These estimates will need to be revisited after the release of the 2020 Census.

MUNICIPAL GROWTH Over the last three decades, all municipalities, with the exceptions of Atlantic Beach, Aynor, and Surfside Beach, have gained population; however, unincorporated areas have accounted for most of the growth in recent years. As of 2015, there were 76,118 people that lived in area municipalities, while 233,081 lived in unincorporated Horry County, making up 75.7% of the total County population.

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Sources: Historic population - Census. Projections - SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and Research, and Horry County Planning & Zoning.

Incorporated vs. Unincorporated Population Growth, 1980-2015

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Source: American Community Survey, 2011- 2015

Municipal Population Growth, 1980-2015

US Census 1980-2010; American Community Survey 2015 Estimates (ID #B01003)

POPULATION CHANGE

Historically, Horry County’s population has primarily resided along the beach front and near area waterways. Since the 2000 Census, Horry County’s population has grown further away from the beach, along major highway corridors. Burgess, Socastee, Forestbrook, and Carolina Forest have seen the most growth. Conway, Little River, and the Hwy 90 corridor have also seen considerable population growth. These areas are expected to see an increase in development into the future, as many new subdivisions have been preliminarily approved in these growth areas, but remain to be constructed.

Population growth from 2011-2015 was mainly being driven by individuals that were relocating to Horry County from neighboring Southern States (50,959 people), other counties in South Carolina (30,959 people), and from the Northeast (31,379 people). Since 2010, an estimated 139,319 people moved to Horry County. It is estimated that for domestic migration roughly 36 out of every 1,000 residents and for international migration roughly 369 out of every 1000 residents remain in Horry County (US Census Bureau, migration rates calculated by Governing July 2017).

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Source: American Community Survey, 2011- 2015

Chapter 2: Population - 2.2

CHAPTER 2: Population

POPULATION DENSITY New residents are largely moving into the areas east of the Waccamaw River to be close to the beach. This is due, in part, to those area's proximity to job centers, housing opportunities, and zoning regulations.

The map below delineates areas of high population density and urban land use resulting in a representation of the "urban footprint." There are two types of urban areas: 1- urbanized areas that contain 50,000 or more people; and 2- small urban clusters that contain at least 2,500 people, but fewer than 50,000 people.

⬚ figure Source: American Community Survey, 2011-2015

⬚ figure This map displays population density per square mile. Source: 2015 Population Estimates by Census Block Group.

Chapter 2: Population - 2.3

POPULATION PROJECTIONS

Population projections enable the County to take present action to accommodate future conditions. Projections can help determine the demand for future facilities and services. Making plans in a rapidly changing, high growth area such as Horry County is difficult. Population projections through 2035 were derived from the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. The 2040 projections and distribution of growth throughout the County was further refined by Horry County Planning and Zoning. Estimates show that the Myrtle Beach CCD (County Census Division) and Floyds CCD will grow the least, both with 55.7% increases (or roughly 59,060 and 1,788 people respectively). The Conway CCD will grow the second least with a 63.2% increase (or roughly 29,049 people). The highest population growth rates are projected to be Conway East CCD with 130.5% (or roughly 104,734 more people) and the Longs CCD with a 367.6% increase (or roughly 27,908 more people). By far, the greatest number of residents will live in Conway East and Myrtle Beach CCDs, accounting for roughly 60% of the population by 2040.

These estimates were developed in 2017 and will need to be revisited when the 2020 Census data is available. If seasonal population is included, these numbers easily reach over 1/2 million on any given day during peak tourist season.

Source: 2017, SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and Horry County Planning & Zoning. Numbers highlighted in yellow were provided by the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, while 2040 projections and the breakdown by County Census Division, shown in orange, were developed by Horry County Planning & Zoning.

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Source: 2017, SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and Horry County Planning & Zoning.

CHAPTER 2: Population

SEASONAL POPULATION

According to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, approximately 17.95 million tourists visited the Grand Strand area in 2016. The chart below illustrates that 2016 was an all-time high for the number of visitors to the Myrtle Beach area with numbers steadily increasing since 2009. Also noted from the graph is the decrease in visitors following the recession in 2008. It is important to note that these numbers include visitors for the entire Strand (including the South Strand, which includes parts of Georgetown County), not just those who visited Horry County (Myrtle Beach 2016 Economic Impact Study, 2017).

Estimated Number of Visitors (in millions)

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Source: D.K. Shifflet & Associates for Statistical Abstract for the the Myrtle Beach Area, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce survey shows that most visitors originate from within a one day car drive. North Carolina alone provides 15% of visitors, while 55% come from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia (Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce Conversion Study, 2013). The primary travel party type to Myrtle Beach is families at 61% and the average length of stay along the Grand Strand was six days for leisure travelers and three days for business travelers. Further, approximately 85% of visitors were under the age of 65, with 50% between the ages of 35 and 54.

Horry County’s Solid Waste Authority (SWA) calculates the equivalent full-time tourist population for a six day stay to be roughly 96.51% of the resident population (Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan, 2018). Using the same calculation method, the full-time tourist population in 2040 will be roughly 564,100 people. Adding the projected full-time tourist population to the full-time resident population projection for 2040 shows a population of roughly 1.15 million people.

ACADEMIC STUDENT POPULATION

In addition to the tourists that visit the area each year, Coastal Carolina University (CCU) and Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) have been experiencing a growing student population. The traditional academic year starts at the end of August and continues until the beginning of May. For academic year 2016-2017, CCU and HGTC had a combined total enrollment of 19,828 students.

Student Enrollment in Horry County by Geographic Origin

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Source: Coastal Carolina University, 2016

Typically, students reside in Horry County during the academic year. Of all undergraduate students (9,747) at CCU during fall semester 2016, 49% were out-of-state residents. Of all graduate students (732) at CCU, 21% were out-of-state residents (CCU, 2016). Comparatively, 16.6% of HGTC's students are not originally from South Carolina (HGTC, 2016).

CCU will continue to have an impact on Horry County. Their Master Plan indicates a target enrollment of 12,500 students in 2021. Coastal Carolina Alumni data indicates that the number of CCU graduates with valid County addresses, who graduated between 2000 and 2017, is 6,622.

HGTC has three locations: Georgetown, Conway, and Myrtle Beach. With a combined offering of over 80 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs, HGTC is the fourth largest of 16 technical colleges in South Carolina.

POPULATION GROWTH FINDINGS

Between 2000 and 2015, the population of Horry County has grown more than twice the growth rate of South Carolina. Population projections anticipate that this high growth rate is expected to continue over next several decades. By 2040, Horry County is projected to add yet another 275,000 people to its current population, nearly doubling in year round residents.

As population density increases in urban and suburban areas, services and facilities will need to expand to meet growing demand. Horry County will also need to continue to address the needs of seasonal and academic student populations.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Population composition is an important part of the this chapter because it takes into account special populations with unique needs. Sex, race, ethnicity, age, household composition, education, income and poverty together help describe residents.

AGE AND SEX

Consistent with the National trend, baby boomers make up

Chapter 2: Population - 2.5

a large portion of the population. Using the 2016 population estimates published by The United States Census Bureau, the proportion of people ages 55 and older in Horry County is roughly 37%, compared to the South Carolina average of 28.9% and the national average of 27%. Similarly to the national average, Horry County has roughly 2% more females age 55 and older compared to males. Interestingly, the death rate is higher than the birth rate in Horry County. For every four births there are roughly five deaths.

Interestingly, Horry County’s population of 20-29 year olds has remained relatively stagnant. This could be due to the fluctuation of student population, the desire for college age young adults to move elsewhere for higher education, and the Census’ difficulty in capturing college students unless local to Horry County. In addition, the sharp contrast in population between 20-29 year olds and 30-54 year olds could be due to people moving back to the area after completing college or influx of non-locals moving into the area.

In 2011, the County’s ages 55 and older population exceeded its ages 30 to 54 population. Compared to other high tourist and retirement destinations, Horry County’s median age is slightly lower than Florida destinations and slightly higher than other South Carolina destinations. The map to the right illustrates the elderly population density which accounts for people ages 65 years and older. These areas are consistent with development trends (see Land Use Chapter). Many retirees live in these areas due to their proximity to tourist amenities, service facilities, and the beach.

Change in Age and Sex Composition from 2010 to 2016

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Source: American Community Survey, 2010 - 2016

Median Age Comparison to Other Tourist and Retirement Destinations

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

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This map displays Population Density for People 65 years and older, shown by Census Block Group. Source: 2015 American Community Survey.

Chapter 2: Population - 2.6

CHAPTER 2: Population

Age Distribution in Horry County, 2010 to 2015

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey

Population Composition by Age and Sex United States, 2010 ⬚ figure South Carolina, 2010 ⬚ figure Horry County, 2016 ⬚ figure

The map to the right illustrates the density of children under the age of 18. Mapping density such as this helps determine where services (such as schools and playgrounds) are needed. A notable trend, male children ages 19 and under out number female children. This is consistent to the national average. Areas that have higher children densities are also consistent with development trends (see Land Use Chapter). These areas are in greater demand and can place a higher demand on services and facilities. These statistics help Horry County predict and supply needed services for children, families, and seniors.

According to estimations based on average life expectancy, the overall population of the "Baby Boomer" generation, born roughly between 1945-1965, will greatly diminish between 2033 and 2048. While this will potentially impact the State and country significantly, it is expected to have less of an impact on Horry County. This is mostly due to the continued probability that Horry County will remain a retirement destination for future generations.

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Source: American Community Survey, 2010 - 2016

This map displays density of children per square mile by Census Block Group. Source: 2015 American Community Survey

RACE Horry County's racial diversity remained relatively the same between 1990 and 2015, with minor fluctuations in composition. The white population percentage has been slowly decreasing (note that the population is rising, but the percentage is decreasing), but remains close to 80%. Similarly, the Black or African American population percentage has been steadily decreasing from approximately 17% to roughly 13%. Hispanic or Latino populations have been steadily increasing from under 1% in 1990 to 6.1% in 2015. Starting with the Census in 2000, respondents for the first time were given the choice of selecting one or more race categories to indicate their racial identities. Persons who responded to the category “Two or More Races” have slowly increased from 2,105 persons, or 1.1% of the population in 2000, to 4,574 persons or 1.5% of the Horry County populace in 2015. Some of the decrease in White and Black or African American identified races could be attributed to the inclusion of the “Two or More Races” and “Other” categories as well as the increase in “Hispanic or Latino” category.

The map to the right illustrates areas of high minority population density. In other words, areas where minority populations live in close proximity to each other. The highest density minority populations can be found primarily in the City of Conway, the City of Myrtle Beach, and in Socastee. Other dense minority populations can be found in Burgess, Carolina Forest, the area surrounding Conway, Longs, Loris, and North Myrtle Beach.

Racial Composition of Horry County, 1990 to 2015

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey and Demographic Estimates 1990 - 2015

HOUSEHOLDS The U.S. Census Bureau defines a “Family Household” as a category that has at least one member related to the householder either by birth, marriage, or adoption. Contrary, “Non-Family Households” consist of people either living alone or households in which members do not have any natural or marital kinship to the householder.

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This map displays density of minorities per square mile by Census Block Group. Source: 2015 American Community Survey.

CHAPTER 2: Population

The household composition of South Carolina compared to the neighboring states of North Carolina and Georgia is consistent across the various categories. South Carolina has fewer total housing units than the other two states, at 1,815,094, with Georgia and North Carolina both over three million total housing units. In the category of “with children under 18,” South Carolina (30.7%) is slightly below North Carolina (31.5%) and Georgia (34.8%).

Percentage of Family and Non-Family Households, 2015

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Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

South Carolina, and specifically Horry County, also have household compositions consistent with national averages. In 2015, 64.4 %, or 76,467 Horry County residents were living within family households, while 35.6% (42,270) were living in non-family households either alone or with partners of any unmarried relationship. Over the last forty-five years, the number of traditional family households has been steadily declining. Married couple (husband-wife) households have been losing their overall share at a parallel rate. The U.S. estimate for family households is 66.8%, compared to the Horry County estimate for family households of 64.4%. Horry County is just over the national average of 33.2% for non-family households at 35.6% (ACS, 2011-2015). The chart on the top right illustrates the household composition of Horry County in 2010 and 2015 respectively.

Household Composition of Horry County, 2010 and 2015

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Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015, Occupancy Characteristics

The average household size grew from 2.37 to 2.43 between 2010 and 2016, a strong indication that family sizes and non-traditional households are growing in our area (see chart below). Little River and the Myrtle Beach CCDs average less than 2.3 people per household, while all other areas of the County on average range from 2.53 to 2.72 people per household. This is reflective of where retirees live versus families with children. The overall County average household size is 2.37.

Household Size According to CCD

Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

EDUCATION

In comparison to national education attainment numbers, Horry County fares better in high school attainment but low in educational attainment for 25 years and older with at least a Bachelor's degree. As illustrated previously, the population of 20-29 year olds in Horry County has remained consistent while other age brackets have steadily increased. Much of this consistency could be due to students graduating high school and moving away to find work or to seek higher education.

The chart below describes the educational attainment of Horry County. Over roughly 88.5% of Horry County residents 25 years and older have received at least a high school diploma or its equivalent compared to the national average of 86.7%. In comparison, 22.8% of the population of 25 years and over possessed a bachelor's degree or higher in 2015, compared to the national average of 29.8%.

Educational Attainment in Horry County, 2015

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Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015, Educational Attainment

Horry County reported in 2016 that they had a 81.1% graduation rate. The graduation rate is based on the percentage of students enrolled in 9th grade four years earlier, meaning roughly 18.9% of students drop out, were held back, moved

Chapter 2: Population - 2.9

away, or failed to complete the full diploma after 4 years. In 2016, Horry County Schools officials reported that 78% of those that graduated planned to attend college.

INCOME

This section analyzes income on a county and regional level. The greater Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions expand over state and county boundaries and also include Brunswick and Columbus counties in North Carolina. Income levels in Horry County have increased substantially from 1989 to 2015. While this seems optimistic, in reality most of this increase is due to inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, the dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 2.41% per year. Prices in 2015 are 81.3% higher than prices in 1990. In other words, $24,959 in the year 1990 is equivalent in purchasing power to $45,261.72 in 2015, a difference of $20,302.72 over 25 years. This means that the purchasing power of the median income has actually decreased by 4.4%.

In 2015, the median household income in Horry County was $43,299, slightly lower than the state average of $45,483. Although Horry County has been gaining overall population, the median incomes of households still remain below the state average.

Regional Household Income Comparison

Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

A more precise way of analyzing and comparing local with regional and state income patterns is on a per capita basis. Whereas the “Median Household Income” represents a middle value that results in two evenly distributed income groups, one below and one above the median value per household, the “Per Capita Income” reflects the average obtained by dividing the entire income of Horry County by its total population. Consequently, within a more diverse society it represents a more suitable variable.

In both 1999 ($19,949) and 2009 ($24,790), Horry County had the highest per capita income in the six-county area of northeastern South Carolina; however in 2015 ($24,094), Horry County had the third highest. The County’s per capita income dropped by $696 from 2009 to 2015, placing it below the state’s per capita income of $24,604. Some of this change can be attributed to the economic downturn during that same time period. With much of the economy and jobs reliant on the housing and tourism industries in Horry County, the downturn had a significant impact on housing prices and production, as well as tourism (see section on Seasonal Population) thereby resulting in lower income and fewer jobs in those industries.

Regional Household Per Capita Income

Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015, Median Household Income

Median Household Income Distribution, 2015 ⬚ figure Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

Income distribution is reflected in the pie chart above. Amongst all household income brackets in 2015, those between $35,000 and $74,999, the group considered Middle to Upper Middle Class, were most represented at 37.2%. Yet, 39.7% of households in Horry County made less than $35,000, and 14.1% made less than $14,999 per year in 2015. 4.4% of households made incomes of more than $150,000 in 2015.

Another element of income to note is the pay disparity between sexes. The chart below illustrates the average incomes of both sexes for various educational attainment levels in Horry County. It is important to note that while no data on racial income disparities is available for Horry County, nationally, and in South Carolina, there are income disparities between races.

Median Earnings Based on Educational Attainment and Sex

Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

CHAPTER 2: Population

POVERTY

The percent of the population living below the poverty level in the United States is 15.5%. South Carolina (17.9%) and Horry County (18.1%) both have higher poverty rates than the national average. South Carolina is ranked 15th in the US for the highest percentage of the population below the poverty level, and Horry County is ranked 34th in South Carolina for percentage of population below the poverty level. In 2015, the official poverty threshold for a family of four in South Carolina was $24,250.

The number of all people living below the poverty level in Horry County in 2015 was 51,988 persons or 18.1% of the overall population. The relative percentage of people living below the poverty level in Horry County is the least within all the surrounding counties except Brunswick County, North Carolina with a smaller value of 16.3%. Horry County's Poverty Level is just over the percent of the population below poverty level for South Carolina (17.9%) and North Carolina (17.4%).

6.3% of Horry County residents below the poverty level worked full-time, year-round in the past 12 months, 41.5% worked less than full-time, year-round in the past 12 months, and 36.9% did not work. As the amount of residents below poverty level increases, in particular the number of residents unemployed below the poverty level, the amount of expendable money by residents decreases. Thus leading to negative economic impacts for the County. It is important to note that many social services allocated by the state allow families to qualify even if they do not fall below the poverty level. For example, in order for the children of a family of four to qualify for full Medicaid the family must make less than $32,319. Poverty is not solely an urban issue. This largely impacts rural communities with limited access to jobs. This fact is well illustrated in the map to the right, which shows large low to moderate income areas throughout rural Horry County, Socastee, and within the cities of Conway and Loris.

Percent of Population Below Poverty Level for Horry County and South Carolina, 1989-2015

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Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

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⬚ figure Source: HUD. 2011-2015 American Community Survey. 2019 Update.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

One of the most important elements of analyzing population data is recognizing trends and overlaps. In order to prevent discriminatory negative public health, or environmental effects on vulnerable and minority populations, Horry County must first determine where these populations are concentrated and where these discriminatory impacts are likely to exist. It is important to note that these areas are not framed in negative terms and should not be considered an obstacle for potential growth. Minority and vulnerable populations want vibrant businesses that add to their economic base without harming their individual health and well-being. In addition, they have similar needs in terms of community character and quality of life standards.

Looking at the following maps, it is obvious that there is a correlation between the percent minority map (to the far right) and the low-to-moderate income map (previous page). The areas highlighted are places that have greater percentages of minorities than the state average. Knowing where low-to-moderate income areas are can help with prioritizing public program, housing, and infrastructure improvements. It is also an important qualifying factor for many grant applications.

Limited English proficiency (map to the middle right) refers to anyone above the age of 5 who reported speaking English less than "very well," as classified by the U.S. Census Bureau. Nationwide, the Limited English population represented 8% of the total U.S. population ages 5 and older. In South Carolina, this number is less than 6% of the population. In Horry County, it was less than 2.2% of all households (2,514 households) in 2015. Despite these numbers being low, there are areas of the County that have a greater percentage of households with low English proficiency than state averages.

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Horry County Planning and Zoning utilizes the EPA's Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJSCREEN) to review rezoning cases (https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen). While this tool informs staff of population and environmental concerns based off of national averages, Planning and Zoning staff also work to identify when areas exceed state percentages. The trends in this population data need to be continually analyzed and monitored by staff. Findings should be taken into account for rezonings, potential residential development, mining, outdoor shooting or other public nuisance activities, and economic development.

Chapter 2: Population - 2.12

CHAPTER 2: Population

VETERANS Horry County is the home to roughly 27,341 veterans according to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. This accounts for roughly 25,435 males and 1,906 females. Horry County Veterans Affairs reports that only 7,784 veterans in the County receive Veteran Benefits, of those roughly 93% are male.

Veteran Benefits by Sex ⬚ figure Source: American Community Survey 2012-2016

The highest number of veterans served in the Vietnam era and the second highest in the Gulf War, roughly 12,153 and 4,017 respectively. When compared to similar southern tourist and retirement destinations, Horry County has statistically more veterans than other SC destinations, but fewer than FL destinations.

Number of Veteran Residents Comparison ⬚ figure Source: American Community Survey 2012-2016

HEALTH Obesity In 2013, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control found that on average 32% of adults (age 18 and older) in Horry County were overweight, while 37.4% were obese. Comparatively, the SC averages were 34.7% and 31.8% respectively. This means that while Horry County has fewer adults who were overweight, there are approximately 3% more obese compared to the entire state. Children’s overweight and obese percentages were comparable to state averages.

Obesity and Diabetes Rate Comparisons ⬚ figure Source: American Community Survey 2012-2016

Percentage of Overweight and Obese Residents in Horry County and South Carolina ⬚ figure Source: South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, 2013 Horry County Obesity Fact Sheet

The availability of parks and access to natural spaces has been proven to have a positive influence on physical and mental health. Community design with the availability of open spaces and recreation areas strongly influence people’s level of physical activity, which directly correlates to weight. Individuals that live in walkable communities spend more time doing physical activities than those that live in neighborhoods that are not walkable.

In addition, living close to parks and other recreational facilities consistently correlates to higher activity levels for adults and youth, resulting in lower obesity rates (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2016). Designing walkable communities with access to outdoor spaces is important to consider with future development, as the rates of obesity have risen dramatically since the 1970s. Providing access to recreation and natural spaces will have a positive influence on the physical health of residents and visitors of the County.

Mental Health While there are many physical health benefits of living near and utilizing recreational assets, the mental health benefits of spending time in nature does not always require the same physical activity. Scenic views, such as the beach or waterways, are known to have restorative and mental health benefits (Lothian, 2010). For so many people, this is why they vacation at the beach and eventually retire here. Numerous studies document the positive impacts that recreation can have on mental health, from reducing depression and relieving stress, to improving quality of life in a variety of ways, to helping people to feel better about both their surroundings and themselves. Increased happiness and respect for the natural environment can also result in an increased sense of community pride.

Disability

In 2015, there were 47,339 people, or 16.4% of the total population, in Horry County with a disability. This is compared to 12.4% in the US and 14.4% in South Carolina. The majority of residents with a disability are 65 years of age and older (75.5%). This can be explained by the increase in the elderly population in the County over the past 25 years. Further, 31.7% of veterans in Horry County are with a disability.

Employment Status by Disability Status

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Source: American Community Survey 2011-2015

The chart above illustrates the employment status of the Horry County population with a disability. Of the disabled population, 16,413 or 35% were not in the labor force as of 2015. As the number of residents not in the labor force increases, the amount of money expendable by residents decreases and the amount expended on social services increases.

Nationwide, 1 in every 59 children has been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nearly one-fifth of all Americans -- more than 56 million men, women, and children -- have a physical, sensory or intellectual disability and 38.3 million have a severe disability (US Census, 2010). People with disabilities constitute the nation’s largest minority group. There are over 4,000 individuals with Autism and intellectual disabilities in Horry County (Medicaid Secondary Data Study Conducted by SOS and Dr. Stephen Firsing of CCU).

CONCLUSIONS

Continued monitoring of population trends is necessary. This information should be utilized to inform public service needs. It can also be used to evaluate impact of government decisions on specific communities.

Analyzing the latest demographic data by age groups, it becomes apparent that Horry County’s population is growing with the most increase happening during retirement ages. This fact, combined with population projections, indicates that the County will need to take a special focus on providing services. While still providing for the needs of school-age children, Horry County must position itself to provide physical and social support to older residents. The aging population will seek recreational and human service facilities that are readily accessible from their homes; many may desire smaller housing units close to shopping and community services with fewer lawn maintenance needs.

As areas between the Waccamaw River and coast become more densely populated, it will become increasingly important to monitor and predict the needs of residents in the Burgess, Forestbrook, Socastee, Carolina Forest, and Little River areas. Safety services, parks and recreational services and facilities, housing, and land use will all need to reflect the growing and changing needs of these populations. As household demographics change, so will their housing needs.

In addition, as population continues to steadily rise, it will become ever-more important for Horry County officials and staff to continually improve development and zoning regulations to reflect increasing needs of long term residents as well as seasonal and academic populations.

Horry County should coordinate with Coastal Carolina University and Horry Georgetown Technical College to encourage and promote long-term retention of young professional and post high school educated populations. In addition, addressing and mitigating the potential causes of income gaps between males, females and races should be of priority.

Continuing to monitor and improve environmental justice issues is also critical in Horry County. Planning and Zoning staff must continue to work to identify when areas exceed state percentages and take this information into account for rezonings and potential development.

Decisions made by the County government will need to reflect the changing needs of this more diverse and growing population, particularly those needs regarding income, age and ethnicity.

CHAPTER 3: CULTURAL RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION

From shag dancing to folk art, Horry County celebrates its culture in a variety of ways. The County is fortunate to be steeped in history and culture. Managing cultural resources means preserving history and heritage, public art, music, and physical spaces devoted to cultural activities, such as churches, museums, libraries and art galleries. Planning for the future of cultural resources is of the utmost importance because preserving the individual character and significance of each of these places and practices contributes to the overall community essence of the County.

The Cultural Resources chapter catalogs and analyzes various cultural resources including facilities, special events, festivals, and cultural groups. As the population continues to grow, it will become necessary to protect and promote the irreplaceable heritage of Horry County and its people, as well as sustaining and enhancing the functions provided by the various cultural facilities and organizations that exist.

HISTORY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION

While several Indigenous peoples inhabited this area centuries before European settlers, Horry County's relative isolation geographically from inland South Carolina has greatly influenced its development and settlement. Isolation for Horry County's early population was exacerbated by the border of the County to the south and west by the Little Pee Dee River, the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and bisection by the Waccamaw River. In addition to this, it is dominated by natural wetlands and swampy conditions. None-the-less, several Native American tribes and European settlements established themselves, and with innovations in agriculture, technology and industry Horry County began to grow in population.

AMERICAN INDIANS

Historically, Horry County's original inhabitants were several small American Indian tribes including the Pee Dees, Chicora, Sirans, Cape Fears, and Waccamaws. It is estimated that in the early 1600s there were approximately 30 individual tribes existing in South Carolina (SCIWAY, 2018). While very little remains of these tribes, many of the geographic and natural resources retain American Indian names, paying homage to the Indigenous roots of the region.

Two tribes remain and actively work to preserve American Indian culture in Horry County. The Waccamaw Indian People were the first tribe recognized by the state of South Carolina in 2005. In February 2018, their estimated membership was roughly 450 (SouthStrandNews, 2018). Early settlement maps date the Waccamaw Indian People back to the early Dimery Settlement which was located in what is now the Dog Bluff area. They were skilled in animal domestation and often had deer, ducks, geese, and chickens. In communal and private gardens, the Waccamaw farmed and harvested corn, pumpkins, kidney and lima beans, squash, melons, and tobacco (Waccamaw Indian People of Conway, 2018). In 2004, the tribe received roughly 20 acres of their ancestral homeland near the Dimery Settlement and established the Waccamaw Tribal Grounds.

The Chicora Indian Tribe, while not recognized by the State of South Carolina, is one of the oldest tribes that reside in Horry County. Originally located closer to the Horry and Georgetown County lines, the Chicora were known for their river, saltwater marsh, and sea fishing. The Chicora now identify the Hickory Grove area as the Chicora Tribal Grounds where they hold monthly meetings (Chicora Indian People of South Carolina, 2018).

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Annual Cultural Arts Festival and Pauwau Source: https://discoversouthcarolina.com/products/27974

American Indian Cultural Events

Both the Chicora Indian Tribe and the Waccamaw Indian People participate in the Annual Cultural Arts Festival and Pauwau held annually in the fall. This gathering features food vendors , local crafts, handcrafted clothing, and traditional dancing.

EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT

Horry County's geographic isolation, diverse natural resources, and landscapes made it a unique place for many who settled here. From second sons of English noblemen to pirates, fishermen, fur traders, to loggers and farmers, the beauty and wealth of the land has attracted people ever since its exploration and has spurred the development of settlements throughout the territory.

Early European settlement in the 1600s was limited by the natural swampy conditions and Little Pee Dee River boundary (Horry County Historic Resources Survey, 2007). By the early 1700s, European settlement began to concentrate in the Little River area due in part to its location along the King's Highway. It was not until the 1730s, when land grants became available, that widely distributed settling began.

THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

Townships in South Carolina started in 1730 when surveyors employed by England’s King George II laid out eleven townships. At that time, the Kings Town Township encompassed much of what is now the City of Conway. In 1769, the Kings Town Township became part of the Georgetown District, where in 1785 it would become known as Kingston County. It was not until 1801 that the Horry District was founded in honor of Peter Horry, a lieutenant colonel in the Revolutionary War, a brigadier general in the S.C. Militia, and later the area’s representation to the South Carolina State House.

In the 1820s, Henry Buck of Bucksport, Maine moved to the area to start a timber industry utilizing the area’s significant cypress, pine, and hardwood forests. Establishing three mills, one in Bucksport and two in Bucksville, Buck contributed to Horry County’s status as one of the five greatest timber-producing districts in South Carolina and Bucksville becoming the third largest port in South Carolina. In April 1875, the largest wooden ship, the Henrietta, built in South Carolina was built at Bucksville, also known as Middle Mill, bringing further fame to the area.

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The Henrietta, built in Bucksville, spent 19 years on the Pacific Ocean before being destroyed in a Typhon near Japan in 1894.

Source: Horry County Museum

In 1852, Horry County’s became known as the “Independent Republic” stemming from its physical, economic, and political isolation before the Civil War. This isolation likely saved it from the battles and destruction that befell Charleston and Columbia (South Strand News, 2018). However, salt was an important commodity and the County had salt works locations in Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, and Little River. All were destroyed by Union Soldiers, which was a blow to the Confederate cause. Horry County also supplied turpentine, pitch, naval stores, and meat (Ted Gragg, 2018).

In 1868, Horry District was renamed Horry County. In 1869, by order of the South Carolina General Assembly, Horry County was divided into ten townships. Within each of these townships, other communities formed, many preceding the 1869 township creations. Many of these community, township and place names remain on modern day maps. And many Horry County citizens still identify their communities and hometowns by these cultural namesakes.

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Although the County was spared from severe destruction, the post-Civil War years were nonetheless difficult. Due to outbreaks of diseases and generally ailing economy the economic situation was depressed.

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Train Service on Main Street in Conway Source: Horry County Museum

The economic turmoil led to the closure of most of the naval shipyards along the Waccamaw River, and had a negative effect on local employment and income. This was somewhat compensated by the growing popularity and suitability of planting tobacco along with the arrival of the railroad into Conway in 1887 and to the beach in 1901, which provided welcomed relief.

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Historic Tobacco Barn: Drying Tobacco Source: Horry County Museum

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE Many early European settlements in the South were built using slave labor. Horry County’s relative isolation from the rest of South Carolina during the Civil War era meant that by 1810 the population was only roughly 4,300, of whom approximately 32% were enslaved individuals. This is in stark contrast to the nearly 80% enslaved population in the rice plantation counties of Charleston and Georgetown (Horry County Historic Resource Survey, 2007). While Horry County did not have a relatively large enslaved population, there was none-the-less a rich African culture that resonates today. The Gullah culture is a synthesis of African cultures that grew and adapted through the pre- and post- Civil War eras. Mostly of West African decent, the Gullah people developed a creole culture with elements of African languages, cultures and community life. This culture is unique to Southern coastal states because it developed in relative isolation when compared to African cultures in the Northern and inland areas.

EMERGENCE OF A BEACH COMMUNITY A short time after the commencement of railroad transportation, the first hotel named “Seaside Inn” opened. That event marked the start of the Grand Strand’s growing popularity as a vacation destination, spurring tourist-orientated development all along the seashore.

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The Early “Seaside Inn” Source: Horry County Museum

The growing importance of the automobile as a means of transportation led to increased highway construction, improving accessibility. The opening of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which originally was planned to enhance homeland security from the sea, indirectly contributed to the growing attractiveness of the area as a vacation destination. The transformation from an agricultural based economy to a tourist driven destination is largely attributed to the advent of personal transportation and accessibility to the area.

MYRTLE BEACH AIR FORCE BASE In 1940, the Army Air Corps took over the Harrelson Municipal Airport to use as a training facility for pilots. A short time later, the United States Department of War acquired 6,700 acres, including the airport, to establish the Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range. Barracks, a hospital, offices, and other facilities totaling 114 buildings accompanied the base. The site remained active until it was returned to the City of Myrtle Beach in 1947.

The Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was activated in 1956, when many of the original Range buildings were torn down and modernized. Units from the base participated in the Cold War, the Berlin Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis and Operation Desert Storm. The base was closed in 1993 following the National Defense Authorization Act in 1991.

HISTORY MUSEUMS In an effort to educate the public about Horry County history and preserve historic structures, a handful of public and private entities have established museums dedicated to Horry County’s unique history.

The Horry County Museum was established in 1979 to preserve the materials and objects relating to the history, pre-history and natural history of the County. The museum serves over 31,000 visitors each year through permanent exhibits, special events and a myriad of educational programs for school children. The museum relocated from a 6,500 sq ft facility to the historic Burroughs School at 805 Main Street in Conway, in November of 2013. The new location contains 28,000 sq ft and allows for additional permanent exhibits. The site also includes a 600-seat auditorium which hosts educational programs geared to larger audiences, and provides the community with an additional gathering place for cultural and social events.

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The Burroughs School Building, now The Horry County Museum Source: The Horry County Museum

The South Carolina Hall of Fame, dedicated in 1973, was created by the State Legislature to recognize and honor past and present South Carolinians who have made a substantial impact on the State’s progress and heritage. Nominations are taken from the State’s ten districts. Each district nominates one contemporary and one deceased nominee. Recipients have a variety of backgrounds from artists

to athletes; preservationists to statesmen and educators to scientists. The Myrtle Beach Convention Center is home to the Hall of Fame. A full list on inductees is provided at http://www.theofficialschalloffame.com/

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The South Carolina Hall of Fame Source: http://www.theofficialschalloffame.com/

The North Myrtle Beach Museum opened on April 7th, 2013 in the former North Myrtle Beach Library building. The Museum features both a long-term gallery highlighting various aspects of the region’s history and a changing gallery offering short-term exhibits of regional interest. The exhibits in the museum showcase the North Myrtle Beach area’s history including early beginnings, natural history, beach culture, shag dance, and leisure activities.

The Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum and Education Center tells the story of the Myrtle Beach Colored School, a 1932 four-room segregated school that served African-American students in Myrtle Beach for over 20 years. The museum holds artifacts from the school and period, as well as a reference library of African American history. The building also houses adult education programs and continuing education classes.

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor runs from Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida. It was created to recognize the important contributions made to American culture and history by Gullah Geechee African Americans. It was also designated in an effort to help local and state governments as well as public and private entities, interpret Gullah Geechee folklore, arts, crafts and music.

The Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Museums are a series of indoor and outdoor museums of the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. 163 signs throughout the Market Commons district give the history of the former base from 1939-1993. Planes are on display at Warbird Park that once flew out of the base. The museum exhibits with Myrtle Beach Air Force Base memorabilia at the Base Recreation Center, Crabtree Gym and the Wall of Service which honor the men and women, civilian and military, that once served at the Air Force Base.

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Warbird Park Source: http://www.warbirdpark.com/

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

The Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation is empowered with the task of preserving the local buildings, communities, and places of Horry County. These irreplaceable assets are protected by the creation of a list of designated individual properties, sites, landmarks, and historic preservation districts. Currently, there are 260 properties, four trees and one garden on Horry County’s Historical Register along with two historic districts. However, according to the 2007 Historical Survey there are over 2,600 properties that have the potential to be designated as historic. By protecting these properties, the County seeks to safeguard its cultural and social connections, promote the use and conservation of our resources, encourage a general harmony of style, improve property values and strengthen the local economy. Research, in general, has shown that a historic designation is connected with higher property values. For more information please see Horry County’s Historic Preservation Plan.

EVENTS

There are many events in unincorporated Horry County and the incorporated areas that are historically significant. The diversity of events speaks to the diversity of heritages and cultures in the County. The Horry County Museums Quilt Gala in Conway and Annual Pauwau in Aynor both help celebrate unique cultural crafts. The events that emphasize the history and spirit of Horry County’s people are important.

The Horry County Gullah Geechee Heritage Committee orchestrates an annual Gullah Geechee Heritage Film Festival. This festival highlights an eclectic selection of national and international short films . It also helps to promote the annual Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival, a three-day celebration of Gullah Geechee culture featuring round table and panel discussions, a traditional marketplace, festivities with chil-

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

dren’s games and vendors, and a Gospel Explosion and worship service.

One historical event that takes place is the Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking. This event is home to a Democratic political rally held every two years since 1876. Numerous important candidates have stumped in Galivants Ferry including Former Vice-President Joe Biden. The site of the Stump is included in the Galivants Ferry National Register Historic District and is vitally important to cultural heritage.

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Galivants Ferry Stump Speaking Source: Dr. Ryan

In addition, communities throughout Horry County host numerous veteran related festivities including events on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day.

HISTORY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FINDINGS Since the mid-1900s, the importance of the tourist industry in Horry County has grown substantially to become the main revenue generator and land use converter. Over the years, the tourist industry has spread geographically all across the County, resulting in commercial growth along the beach front and suburban residential growth.

As development and population increases, Horry County will need to make a conscious effort to preserve its history and cultural diversity. Educating locals and newcomers about the County’s history and cultural offerings is a critical part of historic and cultural preservation. This can be achieved by preserving the historic name-sakes of the unique communities and sites throughout the County.

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Horry County Communities, many based on historic place names and townships

RURAL CULTURE In Horry County, rural areas account for far more land mass than the suburban and urban areas. They also contain a vastly different traditional and cultural aesthetic. Many rural communities have a culture based primarily on farming and other agricultural related activities. Events such as the Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down and the Loris Bog-Off personify this culture. Numerous family farms have been in the same families for more than 100 years, qualifying them for South Carolina Century Farm status, a state recognition program.

AGRICULTURE For decades, Road-side Markets have greeted tourists as they've entered the County and bid them farewell as they left. Much like the Sweetgrass Basket makers in Charleston County, the stands that line Highways 9, 17 and 501 are a part of the beach experience for nearly all tourists that arrive by automobile. This beach experience is an important mainstay of the rural cultural heritage.

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1940s Horry County Roadside Market Source: The Horry County Museum

Trends in agriculture and forestry have altered the built cultural landscape in the rural areas perhaps more than anywhere else. The naval stores industry involved the cutting and draining of pine sap from long-leaf pines. After the ship building industry, which relied on these naval stores waned, so did the timber industry.

The County was at one time one of the largest producers of lumber in the South. The boom in the lumber industry all but eliminated the long leaf pine from the County. These former forests were converted to tobacco fields. Horry County was one of the largest producers of tobacco in the South and continues to lead South Carolina in tobacco production. As the tobacco industry has waned, new crops like soybeans, peanuts, and wheat have taken its place. Even cotton has seen a resurgence in recent years.

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Horry County Tobacco Barns Source: Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation

Each successive trend has left its mark on both the built and cultural landscape. Tobacco barns still dot farms throughout Horry County, however many of these are falling into dispair and neglect. Each of these industries required full participation from every family member involved in farming operations. This participation fostered deep traditions within families including music, food, religion, and work ethic. As populations that have historically participated in agriculture age, the continuance of farming in Horry County is threatened.

Century Farms The goal of this state-wide program is to honor pioneer farms in South Carolina. Families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years are eligible for this designation. This program was opened up to Horry County in 1976, and by 2017 eighteen farms have been designated as Century Farms. This means that the County has the fourth highest number of Century Farms in South Carolina. This number continues to grow as more farms within the County continue to achieve this designation. By recognizing the value of agricultural lands in Horry County, we are also preserving our agricultural heritage.

Agritourism Agritourism is a growing activity in Horry County and nationally. The County recognized this and passed an Agritourism Ordinance in 2016. This Ordinance was written to allow agritourism activities such as you-pick, farm-to-table, special events, etc... on working farms. Agritourism is an accessory use on agricultural land that is designed to diversify the income stream on farming operations, and to support the primary use of agriculture. This is a temporary use on the property, but typically lasts longer than the time periods allowed by current special events permits in Horry County.

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

The permit is designed to encourage the growth of agritourism while assisting in the preservation of the rich agricultural traditions that exist in the County. By exempting farms from the commercial requirements of landscaping, parking lots, and permanent restroom facilities, it reduces the initial financial risk for the owners and operators wanting to create agritourism activities on their farm for the first time.

Rural Tourism

Freewoods Farm is located in the Burgess Community and plays tribute to African American farming immediately following the end of the Civil War. Freewoods is a 40-acre living farm museum replicating life on small southern family farms 1865 – 1900. Freewoods Farm provides educational and tourism opportunities for locals and visitors to the area.

⬚ figure Freewoods Farm, making lime Source: http://freewoodsfarm.com/NewFiles/PFTLT.html

The LW Paul Living History Farm is a 17 acre, Horry County Museum facility that educates future generations about traditional farming life in the first half of the twentieth century. Visitors to the Farm have the opportunity to sample the everyday life of an Horry County farm family living during this era and to participate in activities that would have been commonplace. Plowing with mules, making lye soap, grinding grits, blacksmithing, curing meat, preserving vegetables, milking cows, and harvesting crops are only a few hands on activities the Farm has to offer. Events at the Farm change seasonally.

⬚ figure LW Paul Living History Farm Source: Horry County Museum

Not only can citizens and visitors visit the living farms and agritourism destination, they can also take The Art + Ag Tour of Horry County. This is a free, self-guided tour of designated farms highlighting farmer’s markets and local artisans. The SC Ag + Art Tour began in 2012, and Horry County became involved in 2017.

NATURE: WILDLIFE, HUNTING AND FISHING

Horry County is home to a large population who appreciates the natural amenities that have led to unique recreational opportunities. This “nature culture” depends heavily on the preservation of open natural spaces, clean and accessible waterways, conservation areas, and wildlife management areas for wildlife viewing, boating, swimming, hunting, fishing. Many rural residents also enjoy equestrian activities, the use of ATVs, and dirt bikes. Such rural amusement activities are essential to providing recreation and entertainment in the rural parts of the County.

Horry County has a variety of scenic locations in which to enjoy nature and view wildlife. The Little Pee Dee River is designated as a Scenic River and is an ideal location to view wildlife by water. The Waccamaw River is another waterway in which to view birds, alligators, beavers, and other wildlife. Even though advisories warn about consumption of fish from these waterways, locals enjoy these waters for swimming and fishing at local boat landings and via private access areas. Further to the south, the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge has a number of locations in which to view threatened bird species, like the Swallow-Tailed Kite and Bald Eagle. Vereen Memorial Gardens also provides a great viewing area of tidal marshes in Little River, and of course, the beach provides a great location to view a variety of migratory birds. Waties Island provides an exclusive wildlife viewing location. While not publicly accessible by car, its beach can be reached by boat.

Hunting is a common sporting activity in rural areas of the County. In 2016, just over 2,800 hunting and sportsman licenses were issued, in addition to over 3,000 combination hunting and fishing licenses (SCDNR). This does not include stand-alone fishing licenses. The hunting of deer, duck,

doves, alligator and bear all require supplemental licenses. Hunting of migratory birds and waterfowl are by far the most popular types of hunting in Horry County. Big game licenses, mainly for deer, are also popular. Hunting typically occurs on private land, in addition to wildlife management areas. While hunting is popular, there are only three outdoor shooting ranges in all of Horry County. Residents in rural communities have expressed concerns over growth and the impact on their ability to safely hunt.

CHICKEN BOG

Food in the south, and particularly in Horry County, is ingrained in culture. From chicken bog to shrimp and grits, a lot of cultural gatherings begin with food. Although the rice industry was much larger in neighboring Georgetown County, it was still prevalent throughout Horry County during the 1800s and early 1900s. As such, rice replaced bread in the diets of many Horry County citizens during these times. Rice was often served with every meal. Of course, this gave rise to a variety of creative ways to serve rice dishes.

⬚ figure Chicken Bog Source: http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Today, the most popular rice dish is an Horry County spin of what is called pileau in other areas, Chicken Bog. It is a staple in many Horry County citizens’ diet today and can be found in many restaurants.

Agriculture has always been a major part of the culture of Horry County. The local farming industry once provided the majority of food for the population. As such, locally grown produce like peanuts, potatoes, and other typical crops became part of the food culture. Collard Greens are grown in the colder seasons and supplement the diets of many citizens today.

RURAL CULTURAL EVENTS

In addition to the many events that are held annually at the Freewoods and LW Paul Living History Farms, are the Loris Bog-Off and Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festivals. Both annual events celebrate the unique rural culture that many long time residents love.

The Loris Bog-Off Festival began in 1980 and is a cooking contest surrounding chicken bog. The many recipes presented each year build on the traditional flavors that families have passed down for generations. The festival also includes music, a car show, vendors and fireworks. The Aynor Harvest Hoe-Down Festival, which began in 1979, is an annual event that celebrates the autumn harvest complete with arts, crafts, food, music, dancing and a parade.

RURAL CULTURE FINDINGS

As the emerging suburban areas continue to develop and grow both in population and amenities, it will become increasingly important for the rural district to maintain and preserve the characteristics that make each rural community unique.

Through programs like Century Farms and incentives for Agritourism, Horry County is preserving and recognizing the value of agricultural lands while also preserving our agricultural heritage.

Rural culture depends heavily on the preservation of open natural spaces, clean and accessible waterways, conservation, and wildlife management areas, as well as the preservation of agrarian ways of life. As environmental concerns rise over development in the urban and suburban areas of the County, extra efforts to protect the rural culture amenities will be needed. Encouraging the development and establishment of recognizable community characteristics (or sense of place) in rural areas will also become increasingly important.

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

BEACH CULTURE

Inarguably, the Beach is the greatest cultural attraction offered in the County. The Grand Strand of Horry County contains more than 30 miles of sandy beach front coastline. The tourism centered development of eastern Horry County has spawned its own beach culture, including the birth of beach music and shag dancing. The almost 18 million annual visitors to the County's beaches have created a cultural climate that allows for unique commercially driven and family oriented attractions. Tourists spend hundreds of millions of dollars on entertainment and recreation in the Grand Strand. Influencing the reputation of the area are the countless world-class golf courses with their upscale lodging and residential communities. A mild climate and diverse natural resources offer a multitude of opportunities for many outdoor activities as well as shopping, dining, and other leisure activities.

ATTRACTIONS

The following cultural attractions represent just a few of the offerings throughout the beach. Ripley's Aquarium is an 85,000 square foot aquarium facility located in the Broadway at the Beach complex in Myrtle Beach. The goal of Ripley's is to foster environmental education, conservation and research while providing fun entertainment for visitors of all ages.

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion is a locally significant historical property that has been located and relocated, built and rebuilt, used and reused by tourists and residents over generations. Originally constructed as an open-air wooden building beside the Seaside Inn in 1908, the site evolved to eventually be the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park where a permanent carnival resided from the 1930s until 2006. Having been a historical landmark and destination for Beach goers for over 70 years, a historical marker stands on the edge of what is now the 1.2 mile Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade. While no longer located in its original location, this park is survived by a handful of smaller amusement park facilities that continue to thrill beach-goers annually. One park, located at Broadway at the Beach carries the Pavilion name-sake.

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The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Source: Myrtle Beach Remembered

The OD Pavilion, originally opened in 1926, is located on the beach front in North Myrtle Beach, houses the Shag Hall of Fame and one of the last open air pavilions on the East Coast dedicated to beach music. The OD Pavilion is also home to a free, ticket driven amusement park of the same name, which claims to be the Grand Strand’s newest amusement park.

Like the rural road-side markets, Beach Stores have been a staple of the tourist oriented attractions for decades. More than 50 beach stores of all varieties dot the coastline selling hermit crabs, t-shirts and beach toys. Each year, newer, bigger and brighter stores are built to attract the tourism market.

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The SkyWheel Source: http://skywheel.com/myrtle-beach-media/skywheel-photos/

The SkyWheel is a 187-foot tall ferris wheel located on the Boardwalk in Myrtle Beach. When it opened in May 2011, it was the second-tallest ferris wheel in North America.

GOLF

Golf is a long-standing recreational activity in the Grand Strand. There are roughly 30 golf courses located throughout the County, including the only publicly owned course, Whispering Pines Golf Club, owned by the City of Myrtle Beach. The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce reported that in 2016 only roughly 12% of visitors to the Myrtle Beach area participated in golf related activities. Due in part to the economic downturn in the early 21st century, the development of golf communities has slowed. It is important to note that golf is typically conceived as a upper-middle class sport. This is because not only does golfing require substantial amounts of time, but also money. The 2013 National Golf Foundation Survey concluded that on average recreational golfers spend between $1200 and $2000 annually on golf equipment (National Golf Foundation, 2013). In addition, golfers spend roughly $4000 annually on golf travel.

According to the 2014 Bureau of Labor Statistics Time Use Survey, American men spend roughly 30 minutes on weekends and holidays participating in sporting activities. Women spend even less, averaging roughly 15 minutes (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Considering an average 18 holes of golf can take upwards of four hours, the disparity is obvious. Retirees spend more time in sport and leisure activities, and the 2013 National Golf Foundation Survey showed that roughly 38% of those that golf were born before 1965 (National Golf Foundation, 2013).

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Whispering Pines Golf Club Source: http://www.northmyrtlebeachgolf.com/

Miniature Golf did not originate in Horry County, but some would argue that it was perfected here. Not only are there numerous courses from Little River to Garden City, the Masters' of mini-golf takes place at the self-professed “World's Toughest Mini-Golf” course in North Myrtle Beach, the Hawaiian Rumble.

Golf Events

Golf represents not only a leisure sport, but a method of fundraising and charity. One might go as far as to call golf a contributor in the “culture of giving”. One such event that raises funds annually is the Horry County Police Golf Classic. This event raises money on behalf of the Police Department for various charitable activities, such as scholarships and the Back-to-School Backpack Program which provides backpacks and school supplies to local students in need.

Another such event is the annual Horry County Golf Outing which raises funds for the Horry County Special Olympic Games. These games are held at Pelican’s Field and support over 400 athletes in track and field events.

Not only do departments in Horry County government raise funds via golf tournaments, many private and charter schools also utilize the County’s golf courses in this manner. This event is the top Celebrity Pro-Am in the country and is hosted by Hootie & The Blowfish annually in April at Barefoot Resort. Monday After The Masters charity contributions focus on education issues in South Carolina and has raised over $3M during its lifetime.

MOTOR SPORTS

In addition to a culture focused on the beach and golf, there is a growing number of citizens and visitors that come to Horry County for its evolving motor sports culture. Seeking the pleasant weather and hospitable tourist amenities, motorcyclists gather three times annually. Also becoming increasingly popular are ATVs and dirt bikes. These recreational activities are not only popular with visitors to the County, but residents are also increasingly involved in long-term riding and building of motor sport activities.

Motor sports includes, but is not limited to; motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, racing, monster trucks, remote controlled cars, motorized boats, and jet skis. Private developers are not the only entities addressing this increasing demand. Motor sports have become so popular that Horry County Parks and Recreation has begun to address the need by incorporating a remote control car racing track at the Socastee Recreation Park. In addition, Horry County Schools has chartered the Palmetto Academy of Learning Motorsports, a public charter high school that focuses on motor sports, collision technology, and graphics with an emphasis on hands-on experience working with race cars, welding, and bodywork.

Motor Sports Events

There are a number of annual events that take place each year featuring unique motor sports themes. Three bike rallies are held each year along the Grand Strand. A Spring and Fall Harley Davidson Bike Week is centralized in Murrells Inlet and North Myrtle Beach. The Harley Davidson event dates as far back as the 1940s. This event features memorial rides for service members and product shows where riders can see the latest and greatest bike customization options.

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

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Harley Davidson Bike Week event in North Myrtle Beach Source: http://www.gotomyrtlebeach.com/

In the 1960s, a group of African American bikers in Atlantic Beach started their own rally known as Atlantic Beach Memorial Day BikeFest. This event has changed names through successive years but continues to be held during the Memorial Day holiday. At its peak, BikeFest attracted as many as 350,000 bikers.

The Wheels of Yesteryear Museum opened on September 30th, 2009 in front of the Myrtle Beach Speedway on Highway 501. This privately owned museum showcases one of the Southeast’s most impressive collections of vintage American-made automobiles.

Horry County is also fortunate to have the Myrtle Beach Speedway which hosts many annual and bi-annual events such as Monster Trucks Beach Devastation, a popular event featuring Monster Truck racing and destruction. The Speedway is also home to weekly NASCAR Whelen All-American Series races during the Spring and Summer, and also the NOPI Nationals in March and July.

CAMPING

Camping is becoming a popular vacation and retirement choice across the country. It is a long standing way for families to vacation frugally with a focus on family time. Similarly, many retirees seek ways to extend their incomes. This has led to an increase in camping and demand for long term Recreational Vehicle (RV) facilities. Camping has developed into a community culture focused on simplicity. Not only is camping frequently utilize the many private and public to the area, but also with residents. Visitors and citizens of the County frequently utilize the many private and public camping and RV facilities along the Grand Strand. Many of these facilities utilize popular tourist areas for beach-front camp sites along with easy access to the amenities and excitement of the beach areas. Private campgrounds plan special and thematic events, some centered around holidays, to encourage everyone to utilize their facilities for long weekends and week long vacations.

There are numerous campgrounds in Horry County that cater to visitors with RVs. Such campgrounds are prevalent near Surfside Beach and off of Kings Road. There are nearly 9,000 campsites available in the County, making up a total of 9% of the vacation accommodations in the Grand Strand (Horry County, 2017).

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Ocean Lakes Family Campground Source: https://www.oceanlakes.com/

SEAFOOD

Local seafood is a mainstay in the diets of residents and tourists who visit the many seafood restaurants. Local blue crabs, shrimp, oysters, and fish can be found in specialty markets and restaurants throughout the Grand Strand. Fishing, crabbing and shrimping are also popular ways to catch local seafood without the necessity of purchasing it. While seafood is a main stay, the fishing industry is small and mainly located in Little River. It is necessary to protect area water quality and marine life to help preserve the fishing industry’s vitality. Currently, this small fishing fleet is competing for dock space and has limited capability to expand due to the lack of dock access and competition for tourism related watersports, tours, casino boats and charter fishing.

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Locally Caught Blue Crab at the Blue Crab Festival in Little River Source: MyrtleBeachOnline.com

BEACH CULTURE EVENTS

Beach culture events are popular with visitors and locals. Some beach culture events focus on the unique seafoods that coastal South Carolina has to offer. The Blue Crab Festival was first held along the waterfront of Little River in 1981. The festival celebrates the blue crab which can be found in the waters of the Little River community. The festival includes food, music, vendors and activities.

The Shrimp Festival is another event held in Little River annually. Many events center around utilizing the exceptional weather and the commercial facilities that the urban beach district of the County has to offer. For example, Myrtle Beach's Hot Summer Nights takes place on the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and features music and family friendly activities that encourage attendees to visit Boardwalk amenities.

Beach Boogie, the BBQ Festival and numerous shag contests held throughout the year celebrate the unique history of dancing in the County.

Other events utilize the urban infrastructure to encourage health and athletics. The Myrtle Beach Marathon uses both City and County locations for family fun, 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, marathon, and relay runs. Athletic tournaments and competitions occur year round.

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Myrtle Beach Marathon Source: mb-vacationrentals.com

BEACH CULTURE FINDINGS The beach culture offers a wide variety of facilities with amenities that are frequented by both tourists and locals. Tourism is not only helps support Horry County economically, but culturally. The urban beach area not only contains a large portion of the cultural facilities, but also a substantial portion of the events. While many of these events and venues are well advertised by private entities, publicly sponsored events rely heavily on word-of-mouth and social media.

Looking into the future, Horry County will need to continue to support beach culture events being held in the incorporated and unincorporated areas. It will also need to ensure that the character of the beach communities is not lost through incompatible development or threatened by rising land costs.

Another important factor in the County's ability to maintain and enhance beach culture and the economy is the threat of hurricanes and other tropical events. The ability of the County to rebuild and continue to provide services to both residents and tourists quickly after a storm is essential.

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

ARTS CULTURE The arts are an integral parts of the County’s vitality. Not only can the arts enrich residents daily lives by providing a deeper understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity, but it can also serve as a grounding force in community identity. The 2017 National Citizens Survey identified that roughly 45% of participants felt positively about the County’s openness and acceptance of diversity. This number was down from 51% in 2015 (National Citizens Survey, 2017 and 2015). Openness and acceptance towards people of diverse backgrounds ranked lowest in District 7 (27% positive) and District 4 (36% positive), and highest in District 10 (56% positive) and Districts 11 and 3 (both at 55% positive). Providing the opportunity to experience and cultivate an appreciation for the arts is a County aspiration.

The Arts include, but are not limited to, literature arts - including poetry, prose, and drama; the performing arts - including music, dance, and theatre; and the visual arts - including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpting. The Culinary Arts can also be included in this broad arts culture category. The majority of more typical arts culture opportunities are located nearer to the beach and urban areas and are centered around the Coastal Carolina University campus.

Coastal Carolina University (CCU) plays a pivotal role in the arts, in addition to producing an array of sporting events, lecture series, and classroom opportunities. CCU faculty and staff create opportunities for their students to produce and experience cultural arts. In turn, the community benefits from student performances, art shows, theater productions and special cultural events on campus. CCU offers an extremely diverse schedule of public cultural events that showcase the creative efforts of their students and present world-class performances and exhibits by professional artists. As Coastal

⬚ figure Coastal Carlina University Source: Unknown

Carolina University’s student body and acclaim grow, so will their cultural offerings.

CCU also houses the 750-seat Wheelwright Auditorium. Built in 1981, with funding from mostly private sources, the theater and music departments of Coastal Carolina use the building throughout the year for student productions and performances. In addition, Wheelwright hosts many University and community events, and houses events from the Long Bay Symphony. The performing arts are also supported privately by groups such as The Carolina Master Chorale, the Atlantic Stage, and at Horry County Schools.

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum opened its doors in 1997 as a contemporary art museum emphasizing the works of living artists. Housed in the Springmaid Villa, the museum provides a full array of educational opportunities in the visual arts such as classes for children and adults, gallery talks, and other activities. Because of Springmaid Villa’s historical significance, efforts to preserve the home led to the creation of the art museum. The home was built in 1924 and was used as a vacation home until 1975. After changing ownership the house was left abandoned until 1984 when it was moved to its current location at the former Springmaid Resort Beach (currently called the Double Tree Hilton Resort). Those who sought to preserve the house envisioned a place in the Myrtle Beach area where the visual arts could be explored and showcased.

⬚ figure The Franklin G. Burroughs Museum Source: http://myrtlebeachartmuseum.org/myrtle-beach-art-museum/

The Rebecca Bryan Art Gallery is located in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards Humanities and Fine Arts Building at Coastal Carolina University, the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery is a public center for the visual arts. The gallery opened in 2001 and holds 6-8 exhibits each year. The exhibits are open to the public and the gallery is committed to its mission of researching, exhibiting and interpreting objects, activities and documents for the purpose of study, education and enjoyment.

⬚ figure The Rebecca Bryan Art Gallery Source: Unknown

The Theatre of the Republic (TOR) is a non-profit, non-professional theatre group with a proud history of providing high-quality, affordable theatre to a wide variety of audiences. Founded in 1969, Theatre of the Republic was designated the “Official Theatre of Horry County” by special state legislation in 1975. In 1999, TOR completely restored and moved into the Main Street Theatre. It is now an anchor of the historic district of Conway.

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Theatre of the Republic Source: www.theatreoftherepublic.com/

The Long Bay Symphony offers diverse and comprehensive programming to the eastern Carolinas region through various entertainment and education opportunities. The Symphony and its education programs serve a diverse audience including minority populations and the disabled.

There are many private groups that promote the arts within Horry County. Among these are the Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild, The Round-Table Art Group, Palmetto Studios Arts Alliance, Myrtle Beach Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, CREATE! Conway, and The Conway Cultural Development Corporation. Many local schools also participate in performing and visual arts programs.

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The Long Bay Symphony Source: Unknown

There are numerous additional venues with music and theater related events including:

• House of Blues
• Legends in Concert
• Carolina Opry
• Alabama Theater
• Medieval Times
• Pirates Voyage
• Crocodile Rocks Dueling Pianos
• Carolina Improv
• GTS Theatre

ARTS CULTURE EVENTS Some of the most popular arts culture events revolve around music. The Carolina County Music Fest is a three day long annual event that features some of the most popular County Music stars and attracts thousands of tourists each year. The South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival takes place in November annually at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and highlights the top names in Bluegrass music.

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Carolina County Music Fest Source: https://carolinacountymusicfest.com/galleries/photos/ccmf-2017-friday/

Many other art culture events revolve around visual arts such as The Annual Art in the Park which is a multi-week event, typically held in October, featuring photographs, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, and other pieces of fine art at Chapin Park in downtown Myrtle Beach.

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The Annual Art in the Park Source: https://allevents.in/myrtle%20beach/5th-annual-art-in-com-mon-spring-festival/1882963175350283

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

Perhaps the most popular arts culture events revolve around the Culinary Arts. Rivertown Wine Around and the Conway Chocolate Walk are two such events which feature local vendors serving rich delicacies and beverages to residents and tourists alike.

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Charlie’s Place Source: http://myrtlebeachjazzfest.com/portfolio/

Crossroads Event Productions / The Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival is considered a top priority event to help preserve the history of Carver Street. Influential R&B and jazz icons such as Little Richard, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday and Ray Charles have performed there. The man responsible for bringing these artists to Carver St. was legendary Black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald (second from the right, in the photo). Mr. Fitzgerald owned and operated Charlie’s Place, a supper club, that was a staple on Carver St. in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s on the “Chitlin Circuit”. The “Chitlin Circuit” was a string of performance venues that were deemed safe for Blacks, especially in the south, to perform during segregation.

ARTS CULTURE FINDINGS

Creating opportunities for local artists by promoting art in public places and hosting art culture events, such as film festivals, music and dance events, and culinary arts festivals, will further strengthen Horry County’s art culture identity. Not only will this strengthen openness and acceptance of diversity within the County, it will help provide a deeper understanding, tolerance and respect for diversity and can also serve as a grounding force in community identity. Creating arts districts in neighborhoods with large anchoring venues or a group of smaller complementary arts or entertainment facilities could generate spin-off activities, such as guided tours, restaurants and gift shops - all of which are popular economic drivers in Horry County’s tourism industry. This could also help bring about revitalization, enhanced sense of place, and identity in these areas.

FAITH-BASED CULTURE Religious organizations have a long history in Horry County. With approximately 400 churches representing a variety of denominations as well as multiple synagogues, temples and mosques, community faith-based cultures add to the quality of life in Horry County. Church life in the County is not limited to Sunday morning worship services. A variety of church related activities take place during the week and over the summer while children are out of school as well. Recreational outings for youth groups and adults are common in Horry County churches and help to unite both the congregation and the community. Several churches also offer nursery, Parents Morning Off, day-care, and educational programs.

Local cemeteries have also helped to record the history, religion and culture of the County. With approximately 350 cemeteries listed in Horry County's Historical database, many contain burial sites hundreds of years old. Although not a complete list because it is an ongoing project, the cemeteries are listed along with locations and graves on Horry County's webpage.

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High Hill Baptist Church Source: Horry County Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation

FAITH-BASED CULTURE EVENTS Many faith-based cultural programs encourage a "culture of giving" asking members to give both their time and money to help special populations within the community. Beach Church located just outside of Myrtle Beach carries on a monthly program called Beach Buddies Parent's Night Out which serves families of children with special needs. Church volunteers plan and organize an evening of special activities centered around a theme for children with special needs while their parents spend the evening out.

Similarly, Christ United Methodist Church holds a Homeless Outreach once monthly. This outreach program provides lunch and necessity items such as hygiene bags, blankets, clothing, shoes, and grocery items to upwards of 50-100 homeless. Other churches participate in similar activities monthly.

Many local stay-at-home-moms find a sense of community via Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) programs in Myrtle and North Myrtle Beach which are sponsored by area churches. MOPS is an international program which facilitates meetings for mothers of children of kindergarten age and younger. Many churches also hold fall pumpkin festivals, along with Christmas and Easter events. There are also a variety of other holiday events including: Valentines Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and News Years.

FAITH-BASED CULTURE FINDINGS Horry County’s 2017 National Community Survey found that 60% of Horry County residents participate in religious or spiritual activities. This is a higher percentage than the national average. Similarly, 71% of respondents reflected positively on the opportunities to participate in religious or spiritual events and activities (National Citizens Survey, 2017).

Looking into the future, Horry County can utilize the participation of its citizens in religious and spiritual events and activities to engage residents in other events and cultural experiences.

CHAPTER 3: Cultural Resources

CONCLUSIONS Cultural heritage can provide an automatic sense of unity and belonging within a group. It allows us to better understand previous generations and the history of where we come from. Culture can be exemplified in a place where people experience some aspect of life, whether it is enjoying a play or musical event, taking in a game of golf or visiting a museum. Several of the cultural facilities in our County are tied to history, embedding further the desire the community has to preserve our heritage. Horry County contains a wide variety of facilities that encourage cultural participation, but improvements can and should be made.

Managing cultural resources means preserving the local history and heritage, public art, music, and physical spaces devoted to cultural activities. This includes churches, museums, libraries and art galleries. The Knight Foundation published a study, Soul of the Community, in 2010 identifying the key elements that create community attachment in the larger area around Myrtle Beach. It found that social offerings were a key driver in community attachment. The study concluded that this attachment through a unique sense of place could be strengthened by enhanced aesthetics, improved offering of cultural learning events, and festivals that would encourage a greater feeling of community openness to diversity.

While some areas of Horry County have a strong sense of place due to their historic significance, many communities lack a significant and unique sense of place. Strengthening the sense of place in communities by creating unique characteristics and significance will aide the County in attracting and retaining transplanted residents.

Both the Burgess and Carolina Forest communities have identified that residents want a distinct identity. Some of this identity can be achieved via more community beautification and branding, developing and amending regulations to enhance district community, the creation of community or area plans that encourage the preservation of community identity, and the enhanced education of residents about the County’s unique history and communities.

As the population continues to grow sustaining and improving the functions provided by the various cultural facilities and organizations will be important. Promoting the diversity of character and working to enhance the uniqueness of each community is vital. Increasing participation in existing events, creating additional cultural offerings, and expanding historic preservation will further tie residents to their communities.

Looking into the future, Horry County can enhance cultural offerings by better advertising events. This can be achieved via social media, public broadcast, utilization of news media, and continued persistence. Planning for the future of cultural resources is critical because preserving the individual character and significance of each of these places and practices contributes to the overall community essence of the County.

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CHAPTER 4:

NATURAL RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION While Horry County is renowned for its beaches and golf resorts, the majority of the County is characterized by its blackwater rivers, wetlands, forestlands, and farmland. As more people continue to locate to and visit the Grand Strand, it will be more important than ever to ensure that development occurs in a manner that promotes a high quality of life while protecting and enhancing the unique resources. This chapter details the existing and changing conditions of the natural resources in the County.

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Land Cover Distribution in Horry County ⬚ figure Source: Horry County GIS, LULC 2008

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Source: 2008 Land Cover. Horry County GIS.

Chapter 4: Natural Resources- 4.1

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

The natural environment provides a variety of benefits for both wildlife and people. Because most of the benefits of a healthy environment carry no price tags and cannot be bought and sold, changes in their supply and capacity may or may not be readily apparent. As development and resource consumption continues to increase, it is essential for local and global ecosystem services to be identified and monitored and that their value be incorporated into decision-making processes.

The inherent benefits of natural resources include, but are not limited to:

• Water quality protection and enhancement by moderating surface runoff, recharging groundwater supplies, and trapping and removing sediments, nutrients, and chemical pollutants.
• Flood hazard reduction by reducing the velocity of flowing water, absorbing and slowly releasing floodwaters, thereby lowering flood peaks.
• Climate stabilization and moderation of weather extremes, such as floods and drought.
• The regeneration of prime agricultural soils and pollination for the cultivation of crops, grazing of livestock, and harvesting of timber.
• Diverse fauna and landscapes that provide critical breeding, nesting, and feeding habitats for many species of mammals, waterfowl, reptiles, fish and shellfish species.
• Recreational opportunities for bird watchers, hunters, canoeists, anglers, and others.
• Purification of air through forested areas.
• Biological transformation through detoxification and decomposition of waste.

WATER RESOURCES

Horry County has significant water resources including multiple watersheds, freshwater wetlands and Carolina Bays, The natural resources of Horry County are largely defined by its major waterways, their tributary creeks and expansive floodplains.

WATERSHEDS AND WATERWAYS

Horry County lies within the Pee Dee River Basin, which incorporates 45 watersheds and some 5.5 million acres within the state of South Carolina (SCDHEC, Pee Dee, 2013). The watersheds in Horry County are dominated by the black waters of the Lumber, Little Pee Dee, Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers. These slow moving river systems flow through forested swamps where tannin rich, decaying vegetation stains the water dark brown.

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Source: Waccamaw Watershed Academy, Coastal Carolina University

Horry County’s rivers serve as scenic resources and are a draw for outdoor recreational enthusiasts. The upper reaches of the Waccamaw, Little Pee Dee, and Lumber Rivers are covered in vegetation and are often impassible by motorized boats. Their sandy banks are enjoyed by boaters and campers alike. Further downstream, the rivers widen and merge into one another, the sandy banks disappear, and the waters begin to fluctuate on a tidal cycle as they near Winyah Bay. Eventually, these dark waters disperse into the Atlantic Ocean and darken the waters along our coast.

Bull Creek, the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers, and the Intracoastal Waterway are the primary sources of drinking water in Horry County, making water quality and protection of these rivers of utmost importance. Extensive development and often over-pumping of the Black Creek aquifer in the 1980s depressed water levels leading to declines of up to 10ft per year. Most utilities and municipalities in Horry County abandoned their water wells from aquifers in the Black Creek Formation and built surface-water facilities due to these declines. Since then, water suppliers in Horry County have relied more heavily on surface water, leading to a large recovery of aquifer levels. More information on water quality and water suppliers can be found in the Community Facilities Chapter.

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Kayakers Enjoying the Waccamaw Blue Trail Source: https://www.americanrivers.org/rivers/discover-your-river/blue-trails/

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

State and National River Recognition In 1989, the South Carolina Rivers Act established the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program to protect the natural and cultural heritage of South Carolina’s rivers. Natural and scenic rivers or river segments with “unique or outstanding scenic, recreational, geologic, botanical, fish, wildlife, historic or cultural values” are selected to join this program. In 1990, fourteen miles of the Little Pee Dee River from Highway 378 to the confluence with the Great Pee Dee River was designated as a State Scenic River. In 2002, the governor signed a bill designating 70 miles of the Great Pee Dee as a Scenic River from the Highway 378 Bridge between Florence and Marion Counties to the Highway 17 Bridge at Winyah Bay. Landowners, community leaders, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources staff are currently developing the Pee Dee Scenic River Management Plan to address key environmental concerns and management practices to implement on lands bordering these scenic rivers.

The Waccamaw River is another scenic waterway of historic and ecological importance. The Waccamaw extends 100 miles through the protected bottomland hardwood swamps of the Waccamaw Heritage Preserve and the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. It also connects the City of Conway to the City of Georgetown. In 2009, it was designated as a National Water Trail by the National Parks Service because of its local and regional significance. The Waccamaw Blue Trail is drawing paddlers and wildlife enthusiasts to the area.

Intracoastal Waterway The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000 mile inland waterway that runs parallel to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Some sections of the waterway consist of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays and sounds, while others are artificial canals. While the Waccamaw River and Little River are natural portions of the ICW, the majority of the ICW in Horry County was constructed by the Army Corps Of Engineers (ACOE) in 1936. Over time, the waterway has become a part of the natural scenery. While the ICW in Horry County is tidally influenced, salt water only influences its northern reach in Little River. The remaining portion of the ICW in the Grand Strand is freshwater until it reaches Winyah Bay in Georgetown County. The artificial portion of the waterway in Horry County mimics the blackwater rivers in the area.

Originally established to provide a safe transportation route and to protect commerce, the ICW now mainly serves as a route for transient boaters and other recreational users. Because the ICW is no longer primarily used for the transportation of goods, it is no longer regularly dredged to sustain its channel, potentially affecting its future navigability.

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Socastee Swing Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway Source: Wikipedia

Fish Consumption Advisories Blackwater rivers are known to have naturally occurring mercury, which can be toxic to people, wildlife and the environment. While naturally found in our air, water and soil, mercury is also released into the environment through numerous human activities from industrial sources that burn coal to improper disposal of mercury-containing products. These toxins build up in the tissue of many types of fish we consume. High levels of mercury can prompt fish consumption advisories. Advisories tell you when you should limit the amount and specific types of fish you eat. Besides mercury, other contaminants, like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and radioisotopes can also prompt an advisory. Fish Consumption Advisories (https://www.scdhec.gov/library/ML-004042.pdf) are issued by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC).

WETLANDS Wetlands make up approximately 38% of Horry County, with the majority being freshwater (NOAA Horry County Snapshots, 2018). This represents a net decrease of roughly 5.3% since 1996. Wetlands are a pivotal part of the natural system, supplying tremendous benefits for coastal communities. Even small acreages provide some level of benefit. Wetlands are defined as areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions (ACOE, 1987). Wetlands include swamps, marshes, bogs, bottomland forests, Carolina Bays, pine savannahs, and even some ditches.

Wetlands are federally protected by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which protects wetlands from being ditched, diked, filled, polluted, or altered in any other way without a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). Silviculture prac-

tices and isolated wetlands are typically exempt from these federal requirements. South Carolina’s Pollution Control Act serves as a mechanism to protect isolated wetlands that are not within the Army Corps’ jurisdiction. DHEC is the regulatory agency responsible for implementing this act. In addition, they are responsible for regulating wetlands in the coastal zone. Local governments also have the authority to establish regulations that exceed state and federal standards. Horry County requires a wetland delineation letter from the ACOE and protection during construction. Despite growing efforts to preserve wetlands, they continue to be lost at a rapid rate, both from direct conversion and degradation.

Carolina Bays

Carolina Bays are elliptical-shaped, freshwater wetlands that are only found in the coastal plain of the eastern United States. They are oriented in a northwest-southeast direction, and their origin remains unknown. The Carolina Bay is sometimes called ‘pocosin’ which is the Indian word for “swamp on a hill.” Many have raised sand rims and their interiors are rich with peat. The plants and animals that live in or around these wetlands are dependent upon their seasonal fluctuation in water levels. Many are also reliant upon fire for increased productivity.

Bays can range in size from less than one acre to more than 1,000 acres. According to a SCDNR report, Horry County has 410 Carolina Bays over 2 acres, which is more than any other county in the state (Bennett & Nelson, 1991). Unlike bays found in other counties, those in Horry County are typically small and often overlap one another. The Waccamaw River happens to be the only river in the world to originate and be fed by a Carolina Bay.

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Carolina Bays have been heavily impacted by ditching, draining, or ponding for agricultural uses. Activities along the perimeter of these Bays, such as development and sand mining, can have an indirect impact on the biodiversity of these wetlands. Many animals, especially reptiles, are dependent upon these adjacent uplands for a portion of their lives, but these outer rims are not protected by federal and state wetland regulations. Because Carolina Bays are considered a threatened ecosystem, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has incorporated Lewis Ocean Bay and Cartwheel Bay into their Heritage Preserve Program.

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Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve Source: Horry County Aerial 2017 Imagery

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

BEACHES AND MARSHES The beach and coastal waters are perhaps the most recognizable and popular of all the natural resources in Horry County. There are over 30 miles of sandy beaches and approximately 2,000 acres of salt marsh in Horry County. It is known as the Grand Strand because it makes up the longest continuous beachfront in South Carolina. Unlike other coastal areas in the state, Horry County’s beachfront is joined to the mainland and lacks barrier islands. The beachfront is only periodically interrupted by swashes, which are relic tidal inlets that have enclosed over time, both naturally and because of development. Saltwater estuaries are present only along the most northern and southern coast. Sections of the beachfront offer distinctive and varying atmospheres depending on the type and amount of development. Our beaches and marshes not only support wildlife habitat and recreation, they also serve as the primary draw for tourists and the influx of people moving to the area.

The South Carolina Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) is responsible for the protection and permitting of activities in the Critical Areas of South Carolina's coast, including tidelands, beaches, and dunes. At the local level, Horry County and the municipalities within it, are responsible for providing public access to these coastal resources and for the development that occurs in these areas. Maintaining these critical resources is part of a cooperative effort between local governments and state and federal agencies.

⬚ figure Singleton Swash from Sand Dune Club Source: CCU, Center for Marine and Wetland Studies

Beach Management The beaches in Horry County experience both erosion and accretion, which is often dependent upon seasonal weather patterns and the impacts of coastal storms. OCRM establishes and periodically reviews the regulatory beachfront baseline and setback construction lines. These lines delineate the extent of OCRM's direct permitting authority for activities within the defined beach and dune critical areas. A critical component of these lines is to control future development and redevelopment within erosion prone areas of the beachfront, protect habitat, and maintain a healthy dune system. In many areas of the Grand Strand, there are no dune systems, as many older resorts were built directly within the dune line or the beachfront and dune system has eroded over time. Protecting the beach and properties are of upmost importance to the economic vitality of the Grand Strand.

Renourishment is a soft stabilization measure to minimize the impact of erosion and maintain a healthy, wide beach and restore dune systems. Renourishment dredges sand onto the active beach from offshore sources. It is typically done every 7 to 9 years along the Grand Strand. In 2017, the Army Corps of Engineers' Reach 3 Project placed more than 900,000 cubic yards of sand from Myrtle Beach State Park to Garden City/Georgetown County (7.5 miles). The Reach 1 & 2 Projects renourished areas along North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach. SC renourishment projects from 1954 through 2017 have placed 48,846,625 cubic yards of sand along SC beaches for a total expenditure of $452,946,020. Some borrow pits for sand are no longer viable. As sand harvesting becomes scarcer, the price tag will continue to rise (Paul Gayes 2018). While renourishment maintains the recreational use of the beach, it also sustains the habitat that is necessary for wildlife, such as migratory birds and sea turtles. Preserving habitat, protecting property, and ensuring equitable public access are just a few of the challenges addressed within the Horry County Beachfront Management Plan, which is mandated by OCRM.

The most recent renourishment, with a planned completion in Spring 2019, is along a 1.1 mile section of Arcadian Shores beach just southeast of Shores Drive, starting just west of Singleton Swash and terminating at the Apache Campground Pier. The primary purpose of this project is storm damage reduction.

Beach Access There are over 350 public beach access sites along the Grand Strand, 22 of which are maintained and located within the 10 miles of beachfront in unincorporated Horry County. These access sites are critical to sustaining the local economy as they provide beach access for millions of beach goers each year. Recent storms heavily damaged public access sites throughout the Grand Strand; however, repairs and improvements have been made to ensure safe passage to the beach. While high visitor use and intense development sustain our economy, constant beach activity and usage can impair the natural processes and accretion of sand along the beach.

Swimming Advisories Protecting water quality along Horry County’s coast is essential to ensure that our waters are safe for recreation and the consumption of fish and shellfish. Since the beginning of the Beach Water Quality monitoring program in 1997, SCDHEC has routinely collected water samples at over 40 locations on Horry County’s beaches, many of which are located near swashes. Sampling occurs at least once per week between May 1 and October 1. The samples are tested for enterococci, a fecal indicator bacteria. High enterococcus levels mean there is a greater chance of disease-causing organisms being present in the water, which triggers a swimming advisory for the portion of beach where the sample was taken.

Of the 42 beach monitoring sites in Horry County, 23 have permanent swimming advisory signs posted because of the frequency that the advisories are issued. An advisory means that DHEC advises you NOT to swim within 200 feet of where these signs are posted, especially after a heavy rainfall. Advisories do not mean that the beach is closed. Wading, fishing, and shell collecting do not typically pose a risk except after heavy rainfall events (SCDHEC, 2004). Horry County is the only coastal county in the state with permanent swimming advisories along its beaches. Information on beach swimming advisories can be found at: https://gis.dhec.sc.gov/beachaccess/.

⬚ figure Source: SCDHEC

In addition to DHEC beach monitoring, the County, in cooperation with municipalities and Coastal Carolina University’s Environmental Quality Lab (CCU EQL), conduct additional beach monitoring. Monitoring at 2nd Ave, Apache, and Cherry Grove Fishing piers look for a combination of environmental conditions, including those that can contribute to fish kills as the result of low oxygen levels. More information on water quality monitoring can be found in the Community Facilities Chapter.

Salt Marshes Tidal marshes are highly productive components of the marine food web of coastal waters and estuaries. Many commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish species depend on these estuaries for all or part of their life cycle for foraging, refuge, and breeding. Marshes also perform a valuable waste treatment function, as dense vegetation filters and traps sediments and pollutants that enter as stormwater run-off from the upland areas. In addition, marsh and dune systems protect adjacent highlands from erosion and storm damage by absorbing and dissipating wave energy.

⬚ figure Little River Marsh View Source: Horry County Planning and Zoning Staff Picture

Salt marshes can only be found in Murrells Inlet behind Garden City Beach and in the Hog Inlet area on the northern end of the County near Cherry Grove and Little River. Degrading water quality challenges the marshes’ ability to sustain consumable oysters, which could impact the local economy and deter the use of these recreational waters. SCDHEC's Shellfish Sanitation Program samples tidal creeks for fecal coliform bacteria to ensure that mollusk and shellfish, and areas from which they are harvested, meet the health and environmental quality standards provided by federal and state regulations for safe consumption. Shellfish harvesting is prohibited in Little River and is restricted near Waties Island, Cherry Grove, Garden City and in the swashes (SCDHEC, Shellfish, 2013). The Murrells Inlet Watershed and Hog Inlet Watershed Plans were recently developed to address water quality challenges in these estuaries.

Beyond water quality, globally increasing levels of carbon dioxide are likely to result in ocean acidification. One impact from acidification is weakened shells of oysters and other shellfish and crustaceans. This could transform entire marine ecosystems and the wildlife as well as people dependent upon shellfish for sustenance. While this is a global phenomenon, it has the potential to have local impacts.

SURFACE WATER QUALITY Horry County’s waterways are impacted by both source and nonpoint source pollution. Source pollution includes pollution from wastewater facilities, which include discharges from industry, municipal storm sewer and waste systems, and construction sites; however, the majority of the water quality challenges in the County stem from nonpoint sources (NPS). NPS water pollution generally comes from rain runoff that can transport sediments, pesticides and fertilizers from farms and lawns, motor oil and grease deposited on roads and

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parking lots, or bacteria containing waste from agricultural animal facilities, wildlife, domestic pet waste, malfunctioning septic systems or sanitary sewer system overflows. The rain moves the pollutants across the land to the nearest water body or storm drain where they may impact the water quality in creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries and wetlands. NPS pollution may also impact groundwater when it is allowed to seep into aquifers.

Poor water quality results in fish die-offs, interference with or elimination of recreational uses of a water body, closure of shellfish beds and fish consumption advisories, reduced water supply, or taste and odor problems in drinking water, potential human health problems due to contact with bacteria and chemicals in runoff, and increased potential for flooding from water bodies choked with sediment.

Impervious Surface Analysis

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Source: Horry County GIS 2018

Impervious surfaces, such as roads and rooftops, tend to adversely impact water quality, as they reduce the natural infiltration of rainwater runoff. Studies have shown that water quality typically begins to decline as impervious cover reaches 10% of a watershed. Once a watershed is more than 25% impervious cover, it almost assuredly is degraded (Schueler, 1992 and Holland and Sanger, 2008). Horry County’s growth is resulting in more impervious surfaces. Between 2014 and 2017 alone, Horry County’s impervious surface increased by more than 1,960 acres, which is equivalent to 1,485 football fields. This means that of Horry County’s 803,200 total acres, roughly 35,073.82 are impervious, translating to 4.37%. Beyond conversion of forestland into development, drought and heavy rainfall also impact water quality. When water flows have decreased from drought or upstream withdrawals, pollutants may become more concentrated on the landscape. During the next rainfall, this concentrated pollution is quickly transported off the land to the nearest water body.

The Clean Water Act establishes the regulatory structure for managing direct point-source discharges and non-point sources of pollutants into the waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act also establishes a framework for several non-regulatory tools to help address water quality concerns at all regulatory levels. The objective of this comprehensive legislation is to restore and maintain the overall quality of the nation’s waters to ensure the “protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water.” At the state level, SCDHEC has established water classifications based upon use and each classification has specific water quality standards that must be met in order to sustain that use. Water quality monitoring is done by SCDHEC on a variable basis depending upon the type of water use and necessary monitoring. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria, enterococcus, mercury, or dissolved oxygen are indicators of poor water quality. If waterbodies experience ongoing water quality problems, then SCDHEC and the local government will develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of pollutants for that water body and identify ways to improve it. An up-to-date list of impaired waterbodies can be found at: http://www.scdhec.gov/HomeAndEnvironment/Water/ImpairedWaters/Overview/. Horry County works in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions, the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, SCDHEC, and the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium to address water quality in our County.

Low Impact Development The term low impact development (LID) refers to systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes that result in the infiltration, evapotranspiration or use of stormwater in order to protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat. At both the site and regional scale, LID practices aim to preserve, restore and create green space using soils, vegetation, and rainwater harvest techniques. LID employs principles such as preserving and recreating natural landscape features, minimizing effective imperviousness to create functional and appealing site drainage that treat stormwater as a resource rather than a waste product.

There are many practices that have been used to adhere to these principles such as bioretention facilities, rain gardens, vegetated rooftops, rain barrels and permeable pavements.

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Bioswale, Green Stormwater Infrastructure Source: The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

By implementing LID principles and practices, water can be managed in a way that reduces the impact of built areas and promotes the natural movement of water within an ecosystem or watershed. Applied on a broad scale, LID can maintain or restore a watershed’s hydrologic and ecological functions (Urban Runoff, 2017).

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FLOODPLAIN

Approximately 24% of Horry County’s total land area lies within the 100-year floodplain and is vulnerable to flooding. The floodzone primarily lies along the Waccamaw, Little Pee Dee and Lumber Rivers, where the water levels fluctuate with seasonal rain patterns. Major rain events have caused the greatest amount of flood damage in Horry County, trumping the impact of most storms that have impacted the beach front. In 2015, Hurricane Joaquin caused extensive inland flood damage, as rainfall persisted for multiple days. A year later Hurricane Matthew also caused major flooding for the County, in many places setting new flood height records. Just two years later, the flooding following Hurricane Florence broke Hurricane Matthew’s records by approximately 3-4 feet, depending on location, and flooded many homes and roads along the Little Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Some homes that experienced reoccurring flooding damage, otherwise known as repetitive losses properties, prior to hurricane Matthew, have been removed from these floodprone areas through funding assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Horry County.

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Record Breaking Flooding Levels from Hurricane Florence 2018 Source: Horry County Stormwater

Source: FEMA. 1999 FIRM.

Chapter 4: Natural Resources - 4.8

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

Horry County continues to actively pursue flood mitigation efforts throughout the County. One such way that Horry County is working to address this issue is through improvement of Community Rating System (CRS) scores. The CRS program is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimal National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) requirements. This program reduces the insurance premium rates for policy holders, enhances public safety, reduces damages to property and infrastructure, helps to avoid economic disruption and losses, and protects the environment.

Less than 1% of the County falls within the coastal high hazard area, which includes those areas that could be impacted by wave action in addition to flooding. While the beach front makes up very little of the County’s floodplain, it constitutes a majority of the County’s land values and tax base. Front row development along the unincorporated Horry County

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Source: NOAA. Historic Relative Sea Level Trend, Springmaid Pier 1957 to 2016. https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends.html

shoreline varies greatly in character and density. Of all the developed portions of the County’s coastline, Garden City is most vulnerable to shallow coastal flooding and storm surge inundation. Its low-lying topography, lack of established dune systems, and the fact that it is affected by tidal action on both the beach front and the marsh front make it especially susceptible to flooding. This is particularly true in the one mile reach north of Atlantic Avenue. Structures in this area tend to be large, and many encroach onto the active beach. The Shore Drive area between the City of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach also has large structures located seaward of the OCRM setback line; however, beach widths are greater there and erosion is not as rapid as it is in Garden City.

Other coastal areas of the County that are extremely susceptible to flood damage and are significant habitats have been restricted from the use of federal flood insurance and other federal financial assistance, as they are part of the Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS). A total of 2,520 acres of the Horry County coast have been protected by disincentivizing development. While areas within the CBRS can be developed by private developers and property owners, the property owners are responsible for bearing the brunt of the costs in the event of a flood. In Horry County, there are just a few areas included within the CBRS, including the Meher Baba Spiritual Center, the maritime forest and beach front of Briarcliffe Acres, the inlet at White Point Swash, and Waties Island. While Waties Island has been partly set aside as conserved land through Coastal Carolina University, a large portion of the island remains in private ownership and could be developed through private lenders. This island not only serves as an example of a pristine natural area, it also serves as the gateway to the South Carolina portion of the Intracoastal Waterway.

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Source: Horry County Emergency Management

Flood Resilience There are many low-lying areas in Horry County that are susceptible to flooding from storms and large rainfall events, but there are also areas that are impacted regularly by extreme high tides. The sea level along Horry County's coast has risen roughly 1.29 feet in the last century. While this equates to approximately 3.94 mm/year, these numbers are anticipated to increase due to global changes.

While there are varying estimates of how much sea levels will rise in the next 100 years, there is no doubt the rising trend will continue. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates a sea level rise of roughly 1 to 6 feet by 2100 for the Grand Strand (http://coast.noaa.gov/slr). A rise of 1 to 2 feet could have major impacts to coastal communities, especially those located along the marsh, like Garden City and Cherry Grove.

Consecutive record breaking flooding in 2015, 2016 and 2018 may illustrate results of climate change. In addition, increases in high tide flood events will become more frequent. Increased flooding and flood frequency from rainfall and tidal events, increased erosion, and the increase of runoff are just a few of the challenges that coastal and riverine communities will need to be prepared for. In light of these trends, measures should be taken to reduce vulnerability to flooding and support long-term recovery after a flood. One of the major components of flood resilience is discouraging development within the floodplain and along river corridors. By avoiding increasing the number of communities at risk, while still meeting housing, services, and facilities needs, the County can improve flooding resilience.

North Coast Resilience Project Horry County, Georgetown County, and the municipalities within the Waccamaw Council of Governments have come together with The Nature Conservancy and numerous science and conservation partners to research opportunities to improve flood resilience in the region. Collectively referred to as the North Coast, these communities have witnessed flooding

⬚ figure 2017 Hurricane Matthew Flooding and 2060 Predicted Flooding Risk of the Bucksport Community Source: The Nature Conservancy, Coastal Resilience Project. http://maps.coastalresilience.org/southcarolina/#

⬚ figure Flooding in Socastee following Hurricane Matthew in 2016 Source: WPDE

impacts of recent storms. Participants in the North Coast Resilience project are working proactively to identify measures to reduce the threats and damages of future flood events and to identify, protect, and restore natural infrastructure in this area.

While Horry County may best be known for the beaches of the Grand Strand, the Waccamaw River has experienced extensive and persistent flooding in recent years. During storm events, local rivers and their tributaries swell over their banks, closing roads and flooding neighborhoods. The Nature Conservancy has modeled and mapped current and future flood risk to determine ideal locations to restore habitat and preserve the natural features of the floodplain to best reduce the County's vulnerability. The mapping incorporated information from local stream and tidal gauges, high water marks, deployed sensors, hindcasted water elevations, and post hurricane satellite imagery. The flood areas from recent storms were mapped, followed by mapping potential flood areas for the year 2035 and 2060. This information will be used by The Nature Conservancy and partners to implement restoration projects that will protect and improve the management of lower order streams connected to the Waccamaw River. It is being used by other conservation partners to prioritize land conservation efforts, especially along the Waccamaw River. Beyond this short-term project, the maps are available for planning and public education purposes.

WATER RESOURCES FINDINGS Conserving land in the floodplain is important both along the coast and along inland waterways. The protection and conservation of environmental and natural resources becomes increasingly important with growth pressures. Undeveloped, forested land provides an area to slow down and absorb floodwaters. Wetlands act as an essential natural water infiltration.

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tration system. Dune systems and wetlands also serve as protection against floodwaters. By protecting these natural assets, Horry County can simultaneously protect its citizens, properties, and tax base. Without the preservation of such natural features catastrophic flooding could continue to worsen.

In addition to preserving these areas, Horry County Stormwater has updated its Stormwater Management Design Manual to include new technologies (i.e. LID practices), methodologies (i.e. Post-development volume control design) and the requirements of the latest versions of the SCDHEC Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and the Construction General Permit. Continued support of the Crabtree Project, Murrells Inlte and Hog Inlet Projects, and the Stormwater Ocean Outfalls will help address both flooding and water-quality issues.

AGRICULTURE

Agricultural lands are a key component of Horry County's landscape, history, and economy. Agricultural lands compromise about 22% of the land in the County.

In 2012, there were 938 farms, including lands for crops, pasture and grazing, and woodlands (USDA, 2012). Between 2002 and 2012, there was a 5% decrease in the number of farms in the County, along with a decrease in farm acreage and average farm size. While these numbers indicate little change in agriculture during the last decade, agricultural lands and the number of farms decreased from 2002-2007. This loss of farmland coincides with development increases in Horry County.

Since 2007, these numbers have nearly recovered and agricultural sales have seen a sharp incline. In 2012 alone, Horry County generated over $101 million crop and livestock sales. Despite the loss of farmland, agriculture continues to have a strong impact on our local economy. More information on the economic impact

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Lands in Farms by Type of Land

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Source: USDA, 2012

Farmland Trends in Horry County

Source: USDA, 2012

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Source: NRCS.USDA.

of agriculture can be found in the Economic Development Chapter of this plan.

CROPLAND

Prime agricultural soils are abundant throughout Horry County, covering over 60% of the County’s total land area. While much of the County is viable for crop production, only 12.8% is currently in use. These croplands account for two-thirds of all agricultural revenue in Horry County. Until recently, tobacco served as the largest revenue generating crop. While Horry County remains the number one producer of tobacco in the state (USDA, 2012), many farmers are diversifying or transitioning into growing other crops, such as peanuts or sweet potatoes (Hughes, 2013). The most abundantly grown crops in Horry County today include soybeans, corn, wheat, and peanuts (USDA, 2012). Cotton production and yield also increased markedly from 2007 to 2012 (USDA, 2012).

Horry County lags behind the state and region in fruit, vegetables, melons, berries, and nuts. However, given the increase in the number of area farmers markets, the local food movement occurring nationwide, and the decrease in farm sizes, fruit and vegetable farming could be an opportunity to expand market share (Hughes, 2013).

Poultry and Livestock

Poultry and livestock generated over $21 million in sales in 2012. Despite the fact that sales revenues have remained relatively the same since 2007, poultry and livestock inventories continue to decrease in Horry County. From 2007 to 2012, the sale of poultry and eggs decreased from nearly $11 million to $5.5 million and the inventory of broilers decreased by more than 360,000. During this same timeframe, the number of hogs decreased from 42,000 to 34,000, but sales increased over $3 million, exceeding $12 million in 2012. Horry County continues to serve as the number two producer of hogs in the state (USDA, 2012). The County likely has a larger concentration of hogs and pigs than other South Carolina counties because of access to swine slaughtering facilities in southeastern North Carolina (Hughes, 2013). Other livestock revenue is derived from the sale of cattle, horses, and goats (USDA, 2012). The number and sale of horses and ponies has slightly increased since 2007. Because Horry County is such a large tourist destination and there is no other type of facility in the region, the County would be a prime location for a livestock and equestrian arena. A facility could help foster this agricultural sector.

FARMLAND PRESERVATION

Often, lands that are most at risk for development are farmlands and timberlands. As farmers age and farming becomes less economically viable for them, many are opting to sell their land for development rather than continuing to farm. When this happens, benefits such as flood control, groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat are replaced by the social costs of infrastructure. In 2011, Horry County developed the Highway 319 Area Plan to protect the rural and agricultural heritage of the corridor between Conway and Aynor. Rural communities throughout the County are being encroached upon by new development, potentially threatening the agricultural heritage of the County. Targeted agricultural preservation is one means to minimize the subdivision and sale of farmland for large scale, residential development.

Farmers can participate in several state and federal programs that can help protect the cultural heritage and ecological benefits derived from farming. One such program is the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, which is managed by the USDA. Through this program and upon the request of the property owner, the USDA can purchase conservation easements on productive farm and ranch land. Farmers receive financial assistance in exchange for preserving their farmland and protecting the habitat, wetlands and streams on their property. In exchange for utilizing best management practices, farmers can improve their economic situation and simultaneously protect the environment. In Horry County, the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program has eight properties enrolled, permanently conserving over 825 acres of land (SC Conservation Bank, 2014). The Pee Dee Land Trust also supports agricultural preservation in the Pee Dee region, and has preserved two tracts in Horry County, totaling 306 acres (PDLT, 2014).

Beyond land conservation, the South Carolina Code of Laws Title 46- Agriculture, Chapter 45, also known as the “Right to Farm Act” issues specific directives to conserve, promote, and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural operations. The act keeps active farms from being deemed a nuisance and being shut down. It is enacted to reduce the loss to the state of its agricultural resources by limiting the circumstances under which agricultural facilities and operations may be considered a nuisance. It only provides protections for commercial agricultural facilities, not personal use agriculture. Horry County’s code relating to chickens, bees and other typically agricultural in nature animals can be found in Chapter 4; Animals and Fowl of the Code of Ordinances of Horry County.

AGRICULTURE FINDINGS

Protecting farmland carries with it the safeguarding of our agriculture heritage, economic resources and numerous ecological benefits. The rural areas of Horry County are particularly vulnerable to development. Farmers need ways in which to be able to keep their farms amid the growing pressures for development. Through concentrating development

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in the urban and suburban areas of the County where public facilities and infrastructure exist and encouraging low density development in rural communities, the County can help preserve rural character. Supporting local agricultural and timber operations through tax relief initiatives to owners who keep their property in agricultural or timber production can also help promote rural preservation. Horry County approved an Agritourism permit in 2016 and encourages eligible farmers to become Century Farms. For more information on these projects, see the Horry County Historic Preservation Plan.

Participants in the IMAGINE 2040 Public Input Survey who lived in Aynor, Loris, Longs, and the Green Sea Floyds area indicated a high desire to maintain the agricultural open spaces in their communities. Participants county-wide indicated a high preference for increased farm stand opportunities. Please see the Land Use Chapter for a more detailed analysis of farmland and rural preservation.

FORESTLAND

Per SC Forestry, Horry County contains 725,574 acres of land of which 460,176 acres is classified as forestland, with 30.7% considered forested wetlands and 18.7% as upland forests. Nearly all of the upland forests are comprised of evergreens, while bald cypress and water tupelo trees are located along the floodplains of our waterways and within Carolina Bays. Forestlands are valuable natural resources and, if properly provide:

• Environmental quality by controlling noise, abating winds, filtering air, preventing soil erosion, and protecting water quality;
• Habitat for a variety of wildlife, including both game and non-game species;
• Outdoor recreational opportunities and enjoyment of scenic beauty through camping, hiking, picnicking, hunting, and bird watching;
• Job creation and the creation of more than 5,000 types of products.

WILDFIRES

The SC Forestry Commission (SCFC) fights more than 2,000 wildfires in the state each year. On average, Horry County has approximately 242 wildfires that damage over 1,700 acres annually. In 2009, the Highway 31 Fire, also known as the Barefoot Fire, burned over 19,000 acres, destroyed 76 homes, and damaged another 97, resulting in over $50 million in damages. The South Carolina Forestry Commission reports that between 35-45% of wildfires are caused by outdoor debris burning. This is by far the largest cause of wildfires in the state. Outdoor burning causes an increased risk in densely developed neighborhoods or those in close proximity to natural areas, such as the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. Horry County has helped address this risk by adopting an ordinance to prohibit open burning in major subdivisions. Wildfires happen most often between January and April, when relative humidity is low, pine debris and grasses are driest, and conditions are worst for fast spreading wildfires.

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Source: 2008 Landcover. Horry County GIS.

While wildfires have historically occurred in Horry County, increased development alongside large forested tracts of land hinders the ability for land managers to conduct prescribed or controlled burns to reduce wildfire fuels. Prescribed burning is the planned application of a controlled fire to forest, brush, or grassland vegetative fuels under specified environmental conditions and precautions which causes the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and allow accomplishment of the planned land management objectives. This decreases the likelihood of larger, more intense wildfires and the chance of residents accidentally starting wildfires by using fireworks, burning debris, bonfires, or other activities. Prescribed burning also interrupts the continuity of the fuel layer, not only horizontally on the ground surface, but also vertically. As underbrush grows taller over time, a vertical fuel structure is developed, which can lead to surface wildfires climbing the fuel ladder and becoming disastrous crown fires.

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Highway 31 Fire, 2009 Source: SCFC

SCFC employees work with local fire departments to assess the potential for wildfire damage to communities and individual homes. As part of the National Fire Plan effort, SCFC personnel also have been conducting workshops to educate community leaders and homeowners in high fire risk communities throughout the state (SC Forestry Commission, Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Prevention). The threat of wildfires will continue to increase as we develop closer to these wildfire dependent habitats. It also reduces the ability of DNR and SC Forestry to conduct controlled burns; therefore, making the threat worse. In addition, global climate change is resulting in having more extended time periods of droughts, which makes these areas even more fire prone.

FIREWISE

So far, sixteen communities in Horry County have achieved a Firewise designation through the assistance of SCFC and the Horry County Wildfire Team. Many more communities are seeking this designation to voluntarily reduce their vulnerability to wildfires. Such measures include reduction of wildfire fuels within neighborhood open space and in individual yards. The County continues to work with neighborhoods seeking this designation, in addition to taking efforts to ensure that communities are developed safer from the start.

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Example of Defensible Space Source: NFPA

There are steps that the County can take to reduce wildfire risks within major subdivisions, such as requiring developers to include defensible space into developments bordering a dense forested tract. Defensible space is an area around a structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure. It also reduces the chance of a structure fire moving from a building to the surrounding forest (Dennis, 2003). Additionally, the County can protect property and lives by amending the Land Development Regulations to reduce block lengths or ensuring that future Planned Developments and Multi-Residential Developments have shorter block lengths, especially for those areas in close proximity to Carolina Bays and other wildfire prone forestlands. In addition, the County can discourage the approval of design modifications that reduce the required number of improved points of ingress and egress for new development. A floating overlay zone for high wildfire risk areas, detailing construction and design standards is also a mechanism the County could use to ensure development is safer from the start. It can also coordinate with SC Forestry Commission to conduct mitigation projects, ranging from emergency access upgrades to wildfire reduction measures. Through voluntary and regulatory efforts, combined with community education, Horry County can significantly reduce the threat of wildfire to life and property.

URBAN FORESTRY

A majority of properties are being clear cut to meet stormwater grading needs to prevent flood damage, in exchange, there is a decrease in tree canopy to absorb flood waters. Participants in the IMAGINE 2040 Land Use Mapping Workshop indicated a number of areas where tree and forestland preservation are desired. While some of these areas were in rural areas, many were in the urban and suburban communities of Carolina Forest, Burgess, Forestbrook, Socast-

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

ee, and Little River. There are numerous benefits to providing urban and suburban green spaces, community forests, and streetscapes within neighborhoods and commercial areas, including:

• Habitat for urban wildlife
• Reduced heating and cooling costs
• Interception and storage of rainwater/reduced flooding
• Improved air quality
• Sound buffer, and
• Increased property values.
• Increased sense of place and community identity

As development increases in Horry County, natural tree coverage and vegetation will inevitably be lost. Because of the many benefits that trees provide, Horry County has measures in place to protect mature trees, including a Tree Preservation and Landscape Buffer Ordinance. This ordinance has mitigation requirements when large trees are cut down for commercial development. In addition every commercial project is also required to put trees back into the landscape on their parcel. In recent years, there have also been overlays added to the zoning ordinance which require additional trees greater than the requirements of the Landscape Ordinance to be added to commercial designs.

FORESTLAND FINDINGS

As urban and suburban development encroaches on natural areas it will become increasingly important to recognize and plan for fire safety. Discouraging development adjacent to or impeding into natural areas, such as the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, will allow DNR to continue prescribed burning which helps preserve the much needed natural lands and ecological systems that protect the County from dangerous and costly flooding, provide residents

and visitors alike with recreational opportunities, and help maintain clean air and water. Public education about controlled burns is beneficial and should be promoted. In addition, addressing outdoor burning and wildfire risks through voluntary efforts, burning regulations, and design standards will also help to protect Horry County residents, businesses, and visitors from the potential for wildfires.

SOILS

Horry’s coastal character can be seen throughout the County, as sandy soils and relic sand dunes can even be found inland and along the Lumber, Little Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers. Coquina and limestone resources can also be found throughout the entire Pee Dee Region. While relatively flat, Horry County’s highest elevations reach over 110 feet above sea level along the sand ridges of Carolina Bays (HC GIS, 2008). While Horry County’s flat topography presents few development constraints, poor soil drainage can serve as a challenge for developers and property owners due to the possibility of flooding and poor septic percolation.

DRAINAGE

According to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Soil Survey, the majority of soils in Horry County are loamy sand and sandy loam with generally poor drainage characteristics. Approximately 43% of the soils in Horry Coun-

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Highly Drained to Poorly Drained, Hydric Soils Source: USACE

ty have high to medium run-off potential with poor drainage capacity and a slow infiltration rate. These areas are found throughout the County but are concentrated near major rivers and streams. Poor drainage areas often coincide with wetland and floodplain areas and are typically classified as hydric soils. Areas with the best infiltration occur near the beach because the sandy soils have a higher infiltration rate and better drainage capacity.

MINING

There are several types of surface mining done in South Carolina, including open pit, strip mines, and sand dredging from river bottoms. The SC Mining Act of 1974 defines mining as the removal of ores from the ground for sale or for use in a business. The Act and regulations outline the application process, how to conduct mine operations, and minimum reclamation standards. Mine permits and certificates are issued through DHEC’s Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management.

There are 45 SCDHEC permitted mines in the County (SCD-

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SCDHEC Permitted Mining Operations Source: SCDHEC

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HEC, 2018). The material coming out of these mines is primarily used for road construction and development projects. Borrow pits operated by or for the SC Department of Transportation (SCDOT) are exempt from mining permits if the material is used solely for the building or repair of South Carolina public roads. Practices such as farming and on-site construction are also exempt from mining permits from SCDHEC.

In 2006, Horry County Council began permitting new mining operations as conditional uses in Forest Agriculture or Commercial Forest Agricultural zoning classifications. Recently, zones AG1 & AG2 also began allowing new mining operations. Ponds less than two acres in size, farm ponds less than five acres, and all stormwater ponds associated with an approved development, do not require mining permits from SCDHEC or Horry County Council.

SEPTIC SUITABILITY

Approximately 88% of Horry County has severe limitations for septic tank absorption fields. The soil absorption field provides the final treatment and distribution of the wastewater of a septic system. To treat wastewater, a septic system relies heavily on the microorganisms in the soil to help remove the organic matter, solids and nutrients left in the water (Lesikar, B., 2008). It is also dependent upon soil drainage. Areas less suitable for septic tanks usually require special design, significant increases in construction costs, and increased maintenance. In many cases, installing or connecting to a sewer line is a more viable and environmentally conscious choice. On the other hand, expanding sewer lines into rural areas can encourage development in areas of the County that are more suitable for agriculture, forest land, conservation or outdoor recreation.

Septic maintenance is also a problem countywide. Many utilizing septic fields need to tie into GSWSA for water quality reasons. This is especially a concern for those relying on well water for drinking. Due to changes in SCDHEC regulations in May 2016, many previously permitted septic fields no longer meet state standards. These fields will be required by SCDHEC to connect to public sewage treatment in the occurrence of issues or repairs.

SOIL FINDINGS

One of the biggest inhibitors of development in the County is water issues. This can be from constraints upon the land due to wetlands, floodplain or due to the inability of the soil to perk for septic systems. In addition to this, the flatness of the land can also make it harder to move water away from structures placing another restriction on development. And the more development takes place, the less pervious area there is to absorb the excess water.

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

SPECIES HABITAT Horry County’s diverse landscape supports a variety of plant and animal species. In many cases, the rich biodiversity found throughout the County can be directly associated with the abundance of water resources. Biodiversity is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, as it supports ecosystem productivity and ensures the greater capability to withstand and recover from disasters. Plant life is some of the most beneficial for ecosystem stability when it comes to absorbing flood waters. Plant life is somewhat sessile and unable to relocate making it very vulnerable to development pressures. A changing climate alone could have very heavy negative implications for such sessile life forms. According to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the land along the Lumber, Little Pee Dee, and Waccamaw Rivers have the potential to support the greatest variety of species in the County, as seen in the Species Richness Map (SCDNR, 2001). While this map does not reflect the actual numbers of animals or their abundance in a given area, it does indicate where the greatest biodiversity of plant and animal species is likely to be found; therefore, indicating the areas with the greatest need for land and habitat protection. For a more complete map please see SCDNR’s SC State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) maps.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES Horry County has a variety of rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Development, logging, the use of pesticides, fishing and hunting are just a handful of reasons why some animal populations have declined throughout the Country. Invasive plants and animals that out compete and consume similar resources are another reason for the decline in certain plant and animal species.

The loggerhead sea turtle is a well-known endangered species. Their populations began to rebound with the use of Turtle Excluder Devices in commercial fishing nets and through volunteer efforts to protect and monitor nests along the beach. There are a number of threatened and endangered birds that reside or migrate through Horry County. The red-cockaded woodpecker is a well-known endangered species in this region, as they rely upon old growth long leaf pines, which nearly disappeared from Horry County in the late 1800s. Similarly, the bald eagle remains threatened in South Carolina, although it has been taken off the endangered list at the federal level. Bald eagle populations declined drastically from the 1940s through the 1970s due to the loss of habitat, shooting, and pollutants like DDT. Through conservation and habitat restoration efforts, many plant

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Threatened and Endangered Species in Horry County

Source: Updated from SCDNR, 2018

Chapter 4: Natural Resources- 4.17

and animal species are on the road to recovery. Despite these efforts, additional rare, threatened, and endangered species continue to be added to state and federal listings. For a more complete list please see SCDNR’s species lists.

INVASIVE SPECIES

Invasive species are non-native plant, insect or animal species that have been introduced into an area outside of their original range and compete with native species for resources. Invasive species are recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity and impose enormous costs to human enterprises, as well as to human health. Most recent estimates indicate that 42% of the nation’s endangered and threatened species have declined as a result of encroaching exotic invasive species (SCDNR, 2008).

Not all non-native species are invasive, as many have become naturalized over time. Exotic plants are only a problem when they escape cultivation, spread rapidly and aggressively compete with native species. One example is bamboo. Unfortunately, many of these plants continue to be sold in nurseries.

Asian Longhorned Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, and the Fire Ant are just a few of the commonly found invasive insects in South Carolina. In 2011, the Kudzu Bug arrived in South Carolina and quickly spread to every county in the state within the year, damaging soybean crops. Untreated soybeans were estimated to have a 20% loss in South Carolina (Clemson, 2014). Invasive animals can also be found in Horry County, including, but not limited to feral hogs, coyotes, and the apple snail. Problems stemming from invasive animals include competing with native wildlife for food, damaging upland and wetland habitats, preying on small game, outdoor pets and deer, and altering the natural balance of the ecosystem.

New invasive species will likely be introduced into our County. Preventing further spread of invasive species and restoring impacted sites is a monumental task that depends on public awareness, eradication measures, and ongoing monitoring.

CONSERVATION LAND

There are numerous federal, state, and non-profit organizations involved in conserving the unique habitats and wildlife corridors in Horry County, including, but not limited to, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the SC Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and the Pee Dee Land Trust. Additional entities, such as the Waccamaw Riverkeeper, American Rivers, and the Coastal Conservation League are also partners involved in identifying local conservation priorities.

The Horry County Parks and Open Space Board developed the Horry County Parks and Open Space Plan to identify priority conservation areas based upon the location of existing conservation lands, wetlands, floodplains, and critical habitat corridors. The Priority Conservation Areas Map, see following page, not only identifies sites to expand existing conservation corridors, it also identifies opportunities to connect existing recreational amenities to these natural amenities. The following details some of the existing conservation lands in Horry County.

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) established the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in December 1997. The refuge was established to protect and manage diverse habitat components within an important coastal river ecosystem for the benefit of endangered and threatened species, freshwater and anadromous fish, migratory birds, and forest wildlife. The Refuge includes a wide array of plants and animals associated with bottomland hardwood habitats and provides compatible wildlife-dependent recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education.

Located in portions of Horry, Georgetown, and Marion County, the Waccamaw NWR acquisition boundary spans over 55,000 acres and includes large sections of the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee Rivers and a small section of the Little Pee Dee River. The USFWS is actively acquiring lands within this acquisition boundary from willing sellers and has acquired 27,000 acres thus far (USFWS, 2013).

SC DNR Heritage Trust Preserves

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' Heritage Trust Program was created in 1976 to preserve natural features and cultural remains, which are quickly disappearing as the state's population increases. The program's purpose is to identify, evaluate, and protect the elements considered the most outstanding representatives of the state's heritage. There are currently four heritage preserves in Horry County (SCDNR, 2014).

Waccamaw River Heritage Preserve – This preserve is 5,347 acres, which includes 30 miles of protected river wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests. The property contains examples of rare and threatened plant species, including the dwarf fimbry. It also contains mature hardwood forest.

Cartwheel Bay Heritage Preserve – This 568 acre preserve protects one of the few known Carolina bay-longleaf pine savannah complexes in South Carolina. The longleaf pine savannahs contain white fringed, yellow fringed and rosebud orchids, Venus' flytraps, pitcher plants and a diverse array of wildflowers.

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

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Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve - This 10,444 acre preserve contains a group of 23 Carolina Bays. This preserve includes habitats for black bears, red-cockaded woodpeckers, Venus flytraps and a pond pine pocosin plant community.

Little Pee Dee Heritage Preserve - This 9,000 acre tract is in both Marion and Horry Counties. This property protects the rare sarvis holly, a mature floodplain forest, and scenic frontage along the Little Pee Dee River. The preserve includes Knife Island and four scenic oxbow lakes (SCDNR, Heritage Preserves).

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines nature-based solutions as including “actions to protect, sustainability manage, and restore natural or modified eco-systems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.” Nature-based solutions support and safeguard human well-being in ways that enhance resilience of ecosystems and their capacity. They are designed to address food security, climate change, water security, human health, disaster risk, social and economic development. The following sections outline recommended nature-based solutions in Horry County.

Conservation Subdivision Conservation subdivisions are a design strategy that attempts to preserve undivided, buildable tracts of land as communal open space for residents. Ideally, in a conservation subdivision, 50-70% of the buildable land is set aside as open space by grouping homes on the developed portions of the land. These types of subdivisions offer additional economic and environmental benefits when compared to conventional subdivisions. Not only do homes in such subdivisions typically have higher home values, but reducing the developed land area can also decrease the infrastructure and engineering costs, benefit wildlife corridors, result in decreased impervious surface (thereby decreasing stormwater management needs), and increased access to open space.

Interconnected Open Space Linking parks, greenways, river corridors, and other natural or restored lands together to create an interconnected green space system provides far greater benefits for people, wildlife, and the economy. It helps connect people and neighborhoods, provides opportunities for exercise that can counter today’s trends in obesity and adult onset diabetes, and enhances emotional well-being by bringing nature closer to homes. According to results from the IMAGINE 2040 community survey, residents of Horry County preferred to see additional walking trails, passive park areas, waterways and wetlands, and woodlands closer to their homes. In addition, respondents showed a lesser level of satisfaction with neighborhood open space compared to other home purchasing option categories.

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HABITAT FINDINGS The rise of suburban sprawl as the prevalent development pattern in America has resulted in extensive fragmentation of the landscape. Fragmentation reduces the diversity of wildlife, contributes to the degradation of water resources, and impacts community character. As development occurs, elements like roads, houses, railways, parking lots and utility lines divide the natural landscape into ever-smaller pieces. Natural habitat areas are reduced in size and quality, and native plant and animal populations decline. Some of the more sensitive species disappear. Compared to the obvious damage of a filled wetland or a clear-cut forest, the effects of fragmentation are subtle.

Every type of animal or plant has certain requirements for survival. The minimum area required to provide these needs and the amount of human disturbance that can be tolerated varies widely by species. For example, a single black bear needs anywhere from 6 to 160 sq. miles for roaming and foraging, depending upon the availability of food, water, and shelter (SCDNR, 2013).

As research continues, it is becoming clear that for many types of wildlife, it’s not the total acreage of habitat that counts, but how much of that habitat exists in large, undisturbed tracts. According to ecologists, large areas of continuous, unfragmented natural lands with a diversity of habitat types are needed. Experts also suggest that scattering moderate sized, 125 – 500 acre natural areas is also necessary. These smaller preserves can support species that do not require large forests in which to breed, and may even support small populations of the more sensitive species. Ideally, these smaller tracts should be as close as possible to larger tracts, contain a diversity of habitat/landscape types, and be connected to other natural areas. Isolated pockets

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

of natural lands are of value to the community, but to maximize ecological value it is important to connect open space wherever possible. Parcels contiguous to existing large and medium-sized tracts should be given high priority for conservation. Riverine floodplains should be targeted as these areas serve as both critical habitat and wildlife corridors for almost 70% of all vertebrate species.

While state and federal agencies, in addition to many private land holders, have protected their lands from development, many native species remain threatened by habitat fragmentation, which is the largest threat to wildlife in Horry County. Retaining the environmental, social and economic benefits of unfragmented open land requires a strategy that combines natural resource-based community planning and design, land conservation, with wise management of both developed and natural areas.

ENERGY

AIR QUALITY

Historically, air quality has not been a concern in Horry County, as there are few point sources emitting chemicals into the air. In addition, the prevailing winds coming off of the ocean disperse most point and non-point sources of air pollution. While air quality is not a major concern in Horry County, the pollution generated here only exacerbates pollution problems elsewhere. Air pollution is becoming a more significant issue in South Carolina and throughout the World. The Waccamaw Air Quality Coalition was formed to be a forum to discuss air quality concerns and share ideas to reduce air pollution in the tri-county region (Georgetown, Horry, Williamsburg Counties).

SCDHEC is responsible for air quality monitoring. Air monitors are operated throughout the state to measure the concentrations of pollutants in the air. Through the Clean Air Act, the USEPA set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment.

The air pollution in Horry County can be divided into several types of sources. Point sources are large, fixed sources, such as industrial sites that emit pollutants from activities on the site. Area sources are also fixed sources, but they are generally small and widespread; examples are dry cleaners and gasoline refueling stations. The mobile source category of air pollution is broken into on-road and non-road sources. On-road sources refer to highway vehicles, and non-road sources refer to vehicles or equipment, such as construction equipment and recreational boats. The EPA monitors emissions in several different ways from monitoring point sources, like smoke stacks of power plants, to measuring particulate matter and ozone at selected locations to capture the overall conditions of an airshed. As of 2012, there were only two active point source emitters in the County, far fewer than 12 just a decade ago. Inevitably, the emissions from point sources have reduced over time. SCDHEC no longer operates a particulate matter monitoring station in Horry County, although one was active in Myrtle Beach from 1990-2008. During that time, area sources served as the largest source of air pollution. This trend has likely changed, as vehicular traffic has increased and point sources have decreased.

SCDHEC has also not consistently operated an ozone monitoring site in Horry County because past studies and monitoring have indicated good air quality. SCDHEC is now exploring a potential ozone monitoring site in either Horry or Brunswick County because the EPA monitoring standards have evolved and Horry County and Brunswick counties are now part of a Metropolitan Statistical Area. On-road vehicles are likely the largest contributor to ozone emissions in Horry County and other pollutants, like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. On-road pollution can be reduced by improving the flow of traffic, reducing idling times, and reducing the total number of on-road vehicles by providing alternative transportation options.

WIND ENERGY

In order to protect air quality and reduce fossil fuel emissions, the EPA is calling for states to diversify their energy sources. Horry County has two potential renewable energy sources available to supply the state’s power grid, including wind and solar energy. The South Atlantic Bight, including the Grand Strand, has been identified as a suitable location to establish off-shore wind turbines because of the available wind resource and the shallow water depths (Musial and Bam, 2010). The slope is much more gradual in waters off the Carolinas than in other areas off the Eastern Seaboard, meaning the towers can be positioned ten or more miles from beach-

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Onshore Wind Testing Turbine, North Myrtle Beach Oceanfront park Source: Aisha Khan, SCNow

es without impairing scenic views. In 2016, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) saw 13 environmental studies completed in support of the Renewable Energy Program along the Atlantic coast. These studies include regional surveys, modeling ocean circulation and identifying shipwrecks (Renewable Energy, 2016).

South Carolina is well situated to become an economic hub for offshore wind development. In addition, Clemson Energy Innovation Center in Charleston operates the largest wind turbine testing facility in the world (Colbert-Busch, 2012). All of these factors make Horry County a prime location to incorporate offshore wind resources into the power grid.

The North Strand Wind Coalition Wind Team was established to support the development of wind energy in the Grand Strand and within the state. Since its inception, the City of North Myrtle Beach passed a resolution in support of the development of offshore wind resources and to accommodate electric cables from offshore sites through its deepwater stormwater outfalls. Additionally, the City of North Myrtle Beach has adopted a Small Wind Energy Systems Ordinance to promote the use of small onshore wind turbines, but in a manner that does not have adverse effects on neighboring properties (Ord. No. 10-03, § 1, 4-5-10). Onshore wind turbines can already be seen among beach resort high rises in North Myrtle Beach.

SOLAR POWER

Solar energy is also an opportunity in Horry County, whether at the single homeowner level or large scale operations. South Carolina residents can receive a 25% tax credit for the installation of solar panels. Similar credits are also available for businesses. While the use of solar power is not prevalent in Horry County, Santee Cooper is working to expand its presence through demonstration projects and has added a new incentive program for customers who install solar energy. Santee Cooper installed a grid-tied solar array, consisting of 1,350 solar panels, on its maintenance facility on 10th Avenue in Myrtle Beach (see the Community Facilities Chapter).

Many of Horry County's new schools have also been equipped with a solar array on their rooftops. Santee Cooper and the state's electric cooperatives partnered to install solar in twenty schools throughout South Carolina, calling them Green Power Solar Schools. The initiative was designed to encourage interest in the environment and demonstrate the feasibility and limitations of renewable power generation.

⬚ figure Solar Array on Santee Cooper Facility Source: Santee Cooper

In 2018, Santee Cooper opened the Bell Bay Solar Farm on Highway 701. It has nearly 6,000 solar panels on 10 acres producing 2,800 megawatt hours (MWh) annually, which is enough power to run 205 households. Santee Cooper is also currently developing a solar project on a landfill wite within Myrtle Beach International Airport. The site will have over 6,00 panels on 14 acres. While large solar installations are

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U.S. Offshore Wind Resources by Region and Water Depth for Annual Wind Speed Sites over 7.0 m/s Source: Musial and Bam, 2010

not common in Horry County, there are many rooftops that could be equipped to provide power to the grid. Additionally, solar farms may prove to be a viable alternative for underutilized farmland in Horry County.

OFFSHORE DRILLING

BOEM has recently opened 98% of the oil and gas resources in federal offshore areas to be considered for exploration and development. Three lease sales are in the Draft Proposal Program for the area that includes South Carolina. However, coastal communities are against this. (Groups, 2018) Even Governor Henry McMaster is advocating for an offshore ‘no drill’ oil exemption. (South Carolina Government, 2018) This is a battle that will continue to take place in the future.

ENERGY FINDINGS

While air quality issues resulting from coal burning power plants has not been a problem for the Grand Strand historically, growing trends in more ecologically friendly “green”

CHAPTER 4: Natural Resources

energy solutions have placed Horry County in the forefront for potential sustainable energy solutions. New innovations and continued expansions in solar and wind power are critical for Horry County, both economically and ecologically.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservation, preservation, and restoration of our natural resources is important for Horry County’s future. People locate to Horry County in part due to access to the beach and natural areas. As population continues to rise, water quality, impacts of development on waterways, habitat fragmentation, natural resilience to flooding and fires, and the preservation of forestland are key issues that the County will need to address.

Containing residential development in the already suburban and urbanized areas can mitigate impact on our natural resources. In addition, encouraging permeability, Low impact development, better site design, and conservation of natural lands will allow for the protection of existing open space, water quality protection, habitat, agricultural, and culturally significant landscapes. It will also help to preserve rural character and encourage enhancements in existing public facilities and infrastructure in already densely populated areas.

By discouraging destruction of wetlands, restraining development in the floodplain, incorporating innovative flood resilient designs, and through encouraging sustainable energy solutions, Horry County can become more resilient to damages from a changing climate and rising sea level. Protection and restoration of damaged forestland, wetlands, and dune systems are critical to this resilience. Utilizing natural stormwater control is also vital in support of protection, conservation, restoration. Further enhancing the Stormwater regulations and best management practices can increase Horry County's resilience from future flooding events and the effects of sea level rise. Through innovative, thoughtful design and planning Horry County can mitigate the disturbance of our natural resources and harness these assets for their ability to enhance our economic, social, and ecological resilience.

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CHAPTER 5: HOUSING

INTRODUCTION

Horry County has seen considerable housing growth over the past few decades. Not surprisingly, the housing industry represents an important sector of the local economy. As Horry County continues to grow, the housing stock must accommodate projected population growth and the needs of our changing community. The purpose of the Housing Chapter is to identify trends in the market and anticipate future residential growth. This chapter also addresses the need for safe and affordable housing, along with barriers to fair housing, and mechanisms to address these challenges.

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Source: U. S. Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015 (#B25001)

HOUSING ANALYSIS

This analysis looks at trends in housing stock, including housing type, age, occupancy, vacancy, and conditions. It also details development trends over time, along with anticipated housing growth into the future.

HOUSING UNITS

Horry County has experienced a steady increase in the number of housing units since the 1970s. Until the Great Recession, Horry County experienced growth rates ranging from 35-89%. From 2000 to 2010, the housing stock grew by 52.3%. The Recession had a significant impact on construction in Horry County. Between 2010 and 2015, the total number of housing units in Horry County only increased by 5,110 units, growing a mere 2.8%, to 191,102. Despite the Recession and slowdown in new construction, Horry County's population significantly increased during this same timeframe, indicating that the housing stock was already available.

Unincorporated Horry County accounts for 125,457 (65.6%) of the total housing units in the County. Growth since the 1970s has primarily occurred in unincorporated Horry County. As of 2015, Myrtle Beach, Little River, and Conway East Census County Devisions (CCD) are the regions of the County with the highest number of units, respectively. These are the same areas with the greatest share of seasonal housing units.

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Source: U. S. Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015 (#B25034)

HOUSING TYPES

Traditional, single-family homes are the most prominent type of housing in Horry County, with more than 64% of the population living within this housing type. The following chart details the breakdown of occupied housing units by type.

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Source: U. S. Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015 (#B25033)

The breakdown of housing types by geography is detailed on the next page. The CCDs of Conway East, Little River, and Myrtle Beach have the highest shares of single-family units, while Floyds Crossroads and Longs CCDs have the lowest percent of residents living in single-family dwellings. 17.9% of the population lives in multi-family dwellings, while another 17.9% reside in mobile homes. In rural areas of the County, 37.3 - 45.4% of the population lives in mobile homes. This is a clear indicator that rural residents rely heavily on mobile homes for affordable housing, while urban areas rely heavily on multi-family units for affordable options. The housing composition in rural communities places an emphasis on the need for mobile home repair and replacement programs to ensure that residents have safe, durable, and affordable shelter. As population rises, a variety of affordable housing options will need to be considered for both the rural and urban areas.

Housing Units and Type by County Census Division

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Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015, (Number of Units - ID #B25001; Percent Population by Housing Type - ID #B25033)

CHAPTER 5: Housing

OCCUPANCY AND VACANCY Of the 191,102 housing units in Horry County, 62.1% are occupied, 22.0% are classified as seasonal, and a remaining 15.9% are considered vacant, primarily for rent. 42.9% of the total housing stock is owner occupied, while 19.2% are renter occupied. Since 2010, there has been a slight increase in the number of owner and renter occupied units, while there has been a decrease in the estimated number of seasonal units and an increase in the number of vacant rental units. These slight changes may adjust as more accurate information becomes available with the decennial Census, especially in regards to the classification of seasonal and other vacant housing units (ACS, 2011-2015).

Housing Occupancy and Vacancy Trends

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Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015, (ID #B25003 and B25004)

Housing Occupancy and Vacancies

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Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015, (ID #B25003 and B25004)

Housing Occupancy and Vacancy Comparison

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Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015, (ID #B25003 and B25004)

Overall, 37.9% of all units are considered vacant, largely due to the fact that 22.0% of the housing stock is seasonal. In total, there are approximately 42,000 seasonal units, which makes up 33.6% of South Carolina's seasonal housing stock. In 2015, only 1.1% of the overall housing stock was estimated to be vacant units for sale, supporting the fact that there are few units available for sale, especially in comparison to the number of vacant units available for rent. Areas with high proportions of vacation and second homes invariably show high vacancy rates.

Vacancy is calculated for April 1 of the Census year, prior to the peak of the tourist season. Second homes and units built specifically for seasonal rental purposes yield higher vacancy rates. Compared to other tourist-based coastal housing markets, Horry County has a greater share of seasonal housing stock. The sheer amount of housing units that are not available for year round usage, and are typically investment properties with high values, may have an impact on the availability of affordable housing in close proximity to the jobs available at near the beach. This has an impact on travel patterns and quality of life for working families.

HOUSING CONDITIONS

Safe housing is fundamental to having a high quality of life. Because the vast majority of housing in Horry County has been recently constructed, there are few housing units that are classified as substandard, as defined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A residence is considered substandard if it does not have: (1) operable indoor plumbing; (2) a usable flush toilet inside the unit for the exclusive use of a family; (3) a usable bathtub or shower inside the unit for the exclusive use of a family; (4) electricity, or has inadequate or unsafe electrical service; (5) a safe or adequate source of heat; or (6) a kitchen.

Of all occupied housing units in Horry County, 0.3% lack complete plumbing facilities (304 units), 0.3% lack a means of heat (380 units), and 0.6% lack kitchen facilities (688 units). Overcrowding, meaning homes with more than one person per room, only makes up 2.1% of occupied units (2,552 units) (ACS, 2011-2015).

In addition, a housing unit is considered substandard if it is dilapidated, which includes unoccupied housing units. To classify as such:

1. the unit does not provide safe and adequate shelter, and in its present condition endangers the health, safety, or well-being of a family; or
2. the unit has one or more critical defects, or a combination of intermediate defects in sufficient number or extent to require considerable repair or rebuilding. The defects may involve original construction, or they may result from continued neglect or lack of repair or from serious damage to the structure.

These conditions are assessed and enforced by the Horry County Code Enforcement Department. Dilapidated structures are one mechanism to determine areas that need revitalization or are deteriorating and needing housing rehabilitation assistance, which is addressed further in this chapter.

Generally speaking, there are relatively few households living in poor housing conditions as tracked by the Census. However, it is important to note that the Census does not assess building code violations, fire and flood damage, or the conditions of unoccupied housing, such as foreclosed and abandoned homes.

Flood and Wind Because Horry County is located in the coastal zone and has an abundance of wetlands and riverfront, nearly 24% of the land area is located within the regulatory floodzone. As of 2018, there are numerous repetitive flood loss properties in unincorporated Horry County alone. Those properties have flooded multiple times over the course of five-years. Many of these homes were constructed prior to the adoption of the County’s initial flood maps in 1987 and often do not meet today’s floodzone construction regulations. Some repetitive flood losses are also located outside of the regulated floodzone, indicating the need for updated flood maps and mitigation efforts. Many single family homes, especially along the beachfront, have split into duplexes or enclosed the downstairs to make additional rooms or apartments for vacation rentals. It is unknown how many of these non-conforming uses exist and if they meet newer building code regulations, including fire and flood standards.

Beyond stick-built structures, there are many people living in older mobile homes or in campers. Mobile homes built prior to June of 1994 are not designed to withstand hurricane force winds. Campers and other recreational vehicles do not provide wind protection either. While mobile homes may be tied down, that does not mean that the structure can withstand hurricane force winds. Even though new model mobile homes have to meet wind zone standards, mobile homes constructed prior to 1994 can be sited and relocated anywhere in the County, regardless of wind zone. Horry County fortunately has not been impacted by a major wind event; however, there are many dwelling units at risk if such an event were to occur. At this time, there are an unknown number of campers or older mobile homes that serve as primary residences, vacation homes or rental properties. Because this data is not collected by Census, the County needs to continue to evaluate these inventories to identify appropriate housing solutions to natural hazards.

DENSITY AND FORM Residential density is intended to vary by zoning district to distinguish between rural, suburban and urban form. Zoning can result in variation in housing types, lot size, lot coverage, building separation, and even building heights. The smallest lot size under standard zoning is 6,000 sq ft; however, more dense developments can be approved as Planned Development Districts (PDD) or Multi-Residential Districts (MRD). Because of this, most of Horry County’s zoning districts result in suburban design, with very few resulting in dense, urban design, besides those resort areas that were constructed prior to the establishment of zoning regulations.

All major residential subdivisions are required to meet Horry County’s Land Development Regulations (LDR), which provide uniform standards for all new subdivisions to ensure traffic flow, adequate access for emergency vehicles, open space, and sidewalks. Some development criteria is triggered based off of the number of dwelling units. Additional regulations may exist within development agreements or overlay districts, in addition to stormwater regulations. Ac-

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cording to the IMAGINE 2040 Survey, those residents that purchased a new home in the last ten years were relatively happy with the housing types and lot sizes that were available on the market at the time of their purchase. Note that this is a reflection of the desires of existing residents and not those seeking to move to here.

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Source: IMAGINE 2040 Public Input Survey

Based on existing residential development patterns, Horry County's most densely developed areas are the South Strand and North Strand. These areas have seen the most growth in recent years; however, the greatest density remains in resort areas along the beachfront. Most unincorporated areas of Horry County are not densely developed, and sprawling development patterns are apparent along major road corridors. Residential and commercial development are not centralized together with the exception of municipal downtowns and the areas directly along the beachfront. While residential development has increased drastically in the last 40 years, it has developed largely as residential major subdivisions without being integrated in to adjacent developments or with easy access to commercial uses and services. Establishing interconnected, walkable communities may be challenging in unincorporated Horry County because of extensive wetlands however, regulations and site design play a significant role in shaping livability. Redevelopment also presents opportunity to improve design.

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This map identifies the most densely developed residential areas in the County based upon residential structure data available in 2017. Density is displayed relative to all Horry County residential development. Source: Horry County GIS and Planning & Zoning. 1/11/2019.

Horry County will need to continue to revise its zoning and land development regulations to allow for variation in housing and neighborhood design to minimize impacts to the transportation network, improve access to jobs, and create healthy communities. The Future Land Use Map and definitions within the Land Use Chapter define where various densities are most appropriate. Development according to this plan will result in more distinct rural, suburban, and urban areas.

DEVELOPMENT TRENDS Major residential subdivisions account for 2% of Horry County’s total land mass; however, an additional 8% of the County’s total land area is under construction or has been rezoned for major subdivisions. The following sections detail recent housing trends in unincorporated Horry County. This data does not represent the growth occurring in municipalities.

Recent Growth While residential growth declined during the Great Recession, development has started to rebound. The map on the right represents all residential building permits that were issued from 2012 – June 2017. Over this timeframe, single-family residential growth occurred heavily in Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, and Burgess, largely geared by construction in major subdivisions, like The Farm, Tuscany, Amberfield, and Prince Creek. These areas can be clearly seen as red ‘hot spots’ on the map to the right. Within these high development areas, there was limited construction of new multi-family units, as shown below, largely due to the abundance of available multi-family units prior to the economic downtown.

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The majority of the growth that has occurred in recent years occurred as a result of rezoning requests that were approved nearly two decades ago. Areas shown in blue indicate where residential permits were not as prominent over the last few years; however, many of them can be seen in areas emerging as

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This map identifies the location of new residential building permits issued by Horry County Code Enforcement from July 2012 through June 2017. Source: Horry County GIS and Code Enforcement. 1/11/2019.

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growth areas, such as Hwy 9, 90, and 905 corridors. There is also growth emerging around the perimeter of City of Conway. If development patterns continue in these rural areas of the County, infrastructure needs and costs will need to be evaluated to inform future land use decisions and capital improvements, such as road projects, fire stations, police services, recreation, and schools.

Potential Growth

Based off of population projections, approximately 275,000 more people will be living in Horry County by 2040. In order to accommodate this growth, assuming that average household size remains approximately 2.37, an additional 116,160 housing units will need to be available between the cities and unincorporated Horry County. As of 2017, over 52,000 housing units in unincorporated Horry County were approved within major residential subdivisions through the rezoning or development review process; however, they remain to be constructed. Nearly 14,000 of these units are located in Carolina Forest, another 10,000 in Little River, and approximately 6,000 in the Burgess Community. If constructed and average household size remains the same, unincorporated Horry County can accommodate approximately 45% of the projected population growth through 2040. Nearly 64,000 additional units will be needed if population continues to soar as anticipated. The breakdown by County Census Division shown below conveys existing housing trends and speculates growth if those trends continue. They do not account for alterations in development patterns that could occur from land use policies or incentives. The projected additional units needed also does not account for seasonal housing unit needs or the transition of seasonal housing into year-round residences.

| Projected Housing Growth and Needs | | | | | | | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Existing | Preapproved (Not Constructed) in Unincorporated Horry County | Additional Units Needed | | Census Division | Units | Multi-Family | Single-Family | Total | | | Aynor CCD | 4,580 | - | 899 | 899 | 2,356 | | Conway CCD | 18,344 | - | 2,235 | 2,235 | 10,022 | | Conway East CCD | 35,460 | 9,008 | 13,385 | 22,393 | 21,799 | | Floyds Crossroads CCD | 1,515 | - | - | - | 754 | | Little River CCD | 41,425 | 3,886 | 5,035 | 8,921 | 5,156 | | Longs CCD | 3,463 | 995 | 2,596 | 3,591 | 8,185 | | Loris CCD | 6,904 | - | 802 | 802 | 4,128 | | Myrtle Beach CCD | 79,411 | 6,473 | 7,111 | 13,584 | 11,336 | | | 191,102 | 20,362 | 32,063 | 52,425 | 63,736 |

Sources: Housing Units – American Community Survey 2011-2015. (ID #B25001); Preapproved Housing Units – Horry County Planning & Zoning, 2018.

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This map indications the location of incomplete major subdivisions, representing developments that bave been approved through the rezoning process or qualify as a major residential subdivision. 8/2018.

HOUSING ANALYSIS FINDINGS

Because a large portion of the future population growth can be accommodated within already approved residential areas, additional rezonings for major subdivisions should be evaluated to ensure that an adequate balance of housing types, densities, and community design are available for permanent residents and vacationers. Beyond the availability of housing, the County should also more heavily monitor housing conditions, including, but not limited to repetitive flood loss areas and enclosure of breakaway walls, conversion of single-family homes into duplexes and vacation rentals, mobile home age and durability, and dilapidated housing.

COST AND AFFORDABILITY

Home costs and average rents have increased since the economic downturn. Single family home values have rebounded more quickly than condos and townhouses. Unfortunately, wages have not increased at the same rate, resulting in an increased cost burden on many households. This trend will likely continue and further increase the need for affordable housing within close proximity to job centers, schools, retail, and services.

HOUSING COSTS

In 2017, the median property value of owner-occupied housing units in Horry County was $176,400, which is slightly lower than the median property value of $181,800 in 2007. Property values remain slightly above the state, but lower than national median values. 65.8% of owner-occupied housing units are valued at less than $200,000. See the table to the left.

Despite low property values, average single family sales prices reached an all-time high of $238,000 in 2018, far above the lowest monthly average of $154,450 that was recorded in September 2012 during the Recession. The recent increase in values reflects the recovery of the housing market, but may indicate that home sales beginning to exceed their value.

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2017 Median Sales Price

Source: Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®. Local Market Update.

On average, 35% of single family home sales in the Grand Strand are made up of new construction, while the remaining 65% is comprised of resales. New construction is resulting in higher median sales in the region, nearly $30,000 more on average (CCAR, 2018). In addition, new single-family home prices exceed the cost of a resale, but the gap is beginning to close as fewer units are available for sale.

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Source: US Census, American Community Survey 2011-2015, (ID#B25075)

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Median Days on the Market ⬚ figure Source: Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®. InfoSparks © 2018 ShowingTime.

Monthly Supply of Residential Units for Sale ⬚ figure Source: Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®.

Rental Costs

While renting often seems like a more affordable option than purchasing a home, rental costs are also increasing rapidly. The 2015 American Community Survey estimated that approximately 60% of all renters paid between $500 and $999/month. 2015 estimates suggest that average rent has increased to approximately $1,295/month, nearly a $300/month increase since 2011.

Rising housing costs can lead to displacement of residents due to economic pressures. Renters are particularly impacted, as increases in the value of a home can lead to higher rents (Horry HOME Consortium, 2017). Because Horry County has a high number of seasonal rental units, this can drive up the cost of year-round rentals especially in proximity to the job centers at the beach. Conversely, off season housing near the beach can be more affordable, but is not a viable long-term housing solution.

Housing Supply

Despite the fact that Horry County and the rest of the nation is emerging from a decline in construction, there now is a deficit of housing in Horry County, which can have a profound impact on sales prices and rental pricing. While a number of housing developments are underway, there is not enough product on the market to meet the growing demand. In addition, recent floods may have placed an additional burden on both the housing market and the construction industry. New development is attempting to keep up with the demand, driving up the cost of housing; however, the sale price for condos and townhomes have yet to reach the sale price peak from 2008. In order to wait out the Recession, many homeowners rented out their properties, as opposed to selling them.

Three Bedroom Rental Cost Comparison ⬚ figure Source: Zillow, Horry County Homes Prices and Values

2015 Median Rent Price

Source: American Community Survey, 2011-2015

COST BURDEN The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as when the occupant or family spends no more than 30% of their gross household income towards their total gross housing costs, whether renting or owning. Housing costs include rent or mortgage costs, water, sewer, gas, and electric services. Approximately 39% of homeowners and 56% of renters in Horry County were considered cost-burdened in 2015 (ACS, 2011-2015).

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Horry County Percent Cost Burdened

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Source: 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Income Cost burden heavily correlates with median household income. According to HUD, the Area Median Income (AMI) for Horry County in 2017 was $52,100, 13% lower than South Carolina’s annual AMI of $58,894. Those families whose income is 30% of the area median income are considered low-income by HUD. From 2001 to 2018 Horry County’s median home value increased 45.81%. Over almost the same period, the median household income went up 42.86% from $36,470 to $52,100 (ACS, 2011-2015 and HUD). This could afford a two-to-three-bedroom home in Horry County, as shown in the tables to the right.

Median Household Income

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Source: 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Source: HUD, FY 2017 Fair Market Rents

Fair Market Rent In 2017, 31% or 36,772 households were renters in Horry County were renters (NLIHC, 2017). In order to assess renter affordability, Fair Market Rents (FMR) primarily used to determine payment standard amounts for housing programs. According to HUD, FMRs are gross rent estimates that include the cost of all tenant-paid utilities, except telephones, cable, or satellite television service, and internet service. Note that FMR does not include homeowners' association dues, which are commonplace for most developments in Horry County. They are especially high within condo regimes.

The first table indicates the FMR by the number of bedrooms, while the following tables indicate the annual household income or hourly wage needed to afford those rents. In all housing size categories, a higher income is necessary in Horry County than the state. While the median household income in Horry County is $52,100, a three bedroom home is the largest home a family could afford with this income. For those households that qualify as low income, they could only

Chapter 5: Housing - 5.10

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afford a two-bedroom home. And households that qualify as very low and extremely low income cannot afford housing in the County.

WHY HOUSING MATTERS

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Sources: Horry County Fair Housing Plan (2017), Trulia Heat Map: Horry County, SC. (2018), DataUSA: Horry County, SC. (2015), and Zillow Mortgage Calculator. (2018)

In Horry County, a citizen would have to work 80 hours per week at minimum wage to afford a one bedroom home at FMR. While the estimated mean renter wage in Horry County is $10.05/hour, this would only afford an individual $523 towards housing, not even enough for a one-bedroom unit. This stresses the importance of providing affordable housing and direct rental assistance for those in need, in addition to attracting higher paying industry.

Foreclosures Foreclosures are another way to measure cost burden. According to Zillow Home Value Index, foreclosures will be a factor impacting home values in the next several years. In Horry County 2.9 homes are foreclosed per 10,000. This is greater than the national value of 1.6. The percent of delinquent mortgages in Horry County is 1.7%, which is slightly higher than the national value of 1.6%. With US home values declining more than 20% during the economic downturn, many homeowners remain underwater in their mortgages, meaning they owe more than their home is worth. The percent of Horry County homeowners underwater on their mortgage is estimated to be 11.6%. These homeowners may be cost burdened and unable to move to a more affordable location because they cannot sell their homes for what they owe. As the housing market continues to recover, fewer people will be underwater in their mortgages, but these same individuals may not be able to find more affordable housing options.

FAIR HOUSING Fair housing has long been an important issue in American urban policy, stemming from discrimination and fueled by growing civil unrest that reached a boiling point during the Civil Rights Movement. The passing of the Fair Housing Act in 1968 was a critical step towards addressing this complex problem, but was far from the solution. The Fair Housing Act mandates that HUD 'affirmatively further fair housing' through its programs. Towards this end, HUD requires funding recipients to undertake Fair Housing Planning (FHP) to proactively take steps that will lead to less discriminatory housing markets and better living conditions for minority groups and vulnerable populations.

While affordable housing is a significant fair housing issue, addressing fair housing needs is much more complex. The following impediments were identified in Horry County's 2017 Assessment of Fair Housing:

• Location and type of affordable housing;
• Community opposition to public housing, the not in my Backyard (NIMBY) sentiments;
• Displacement of residents due to economic pressure;
• Heir's property issues;
• Lack of access to financial services;
• Lending discrimination;
• The availability of affordable units in a range of sizes;
• Admissions and occupancy policies and procedures, including preferences in public housing;
• Lack of access to high performing schools;

• Quality of affordable housing information programs;
• Lack of public fair housing enforcement;
• Lack of assistance for housing accessibility modifications;
• Lack of affordable, integrated housing for individuals who need supportive services;
• Lack of public investments in specific neighborhoods;
• Lack of resources for fair housing agencies and organizations;
• Lack of local fair housing laws.

The highest barrier to fair housing is the location and type of affordable housing. Community opposition and displacement of residents due to economic pressure also contribute to multiple fair housing issues. Equally important, the lack of public investments and lack of local fair housing enforcement also contribute to multiple fair housing issues.

COST AND AFFORDABILITY FINDINGS

Horry County is rapidly recovering from the economic downturn. The availability of homes for sale is lower than 2% of the entire housing stock. The demand is driving up home values and also spurring new construction of single-family homes. Major subdivisions that were put on hold are now being built out, and there has been a recent increase in rezoning requests for new major subdivisions.

From a pure quantitative standpoint, there are ample units in the region to house the population; however, high home values and rents in comparison to wages, result in much of the housing stock being out of the affordable range for large portions of the population. This indicates that many households are vulnerable to becoming homeless, as there is no ability to establish a ‘rainy day fund.’ While tourism and service sector jobs in Horry County reduce unemployment rates during part of the year, they can work to impede the economic viability necessary for many to participate in the housing market. In addition, the lack of a variety of affordable housing options with convenient access to job centers, schools, public transportation, and services also creates a barrier to affordable, fair housing. Public housing complexes are no longer an effective way to provide affordable housing in one’s community as they often perpetuate the cycle of poverty and are stigmatized. Addressing fair housing will require creative solutions with area housing partners, developers, and lending agencies, including but not limited to, the development of market-based incentives for affordable housing, down payment assistance, and first time homebuyer education.

SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Shelter is the basic necessity for all individuals. Addressing housing needs requires a multi-faceted approach, from providing short-term housing solutions for those most direly in need to providing long-term solutions to provide safe, quality housing for all.

HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness is fundamentally about a lack of housing that is affordable to households at different income levels. On a single night in January 2015, 564,708 people were experiencing homelessness nationwide. In 2016, the South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless Point in Time Count estimated 5,050 persons experiencing homelessness statewide. Horry County had the highest number of unsheltered homeless individuals (236), and the third highest total homeless individuals (492) counted in South Carolina (South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless Point-Time-Report, 2016). Nearly 60% of the homeless in Horry County are unsheltered, some of which live in nomadic homeless camps. These camps are located on private property and do not have running water, restrooms, or proper trash disposal, resulting in unsanitary conditions for those living in them.

Horry County and the City of Myrtle Beach maintain much of the homeless population for the region. Regional data clearly conveys that 55.5% of the homeless population is black or African-Americans, which is considerably higher than the percent of the overall population, 36%. 19.4% of the homeless population are children under the age of 18, but 32% of the total population. 60% of the homeless population are male and 40% female.

Eastern Carolina Homeless Organization (ECHO) is the lead entity coordinating the region’s Continuum of Care (CoC)

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Program. The CoC brings together over 80 members representing more than 40 agencies that provide a wide range of services to the homeless. These services include homeless/emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, supportive services, emergency food, meals, clothing, medical services, mental health services, rental and utility assistance, and many other appropriate services.

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Homeless Camp in an unincorporated area of Myrtle Beach Source: Horry County GIS

EMERGENCY HOUSING SOLUTIONS

Everyone is ready for housing - "Housing First" is a low barrier approach which ensures that no preconditions, behavioral contingencies, or other limiting factors to enter into housing are placed on the individual. This approach prioritizes client choice in both housing selection and in service participation.

Homelessness is unacceptable and expensive. A response that focuses solely on shelters is ineffective and expensive. The County has prioritized funding of homelessness prevention (HP) and rapid rehousing (RRH) programs with HUD Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) dollars.

Horry County, through a subrecipient agreement with ECHO, assisted 139 households through rapid rehousing and 70 households through homelessness prevention assistance during the 2016-2017 program year. The time between intake and housing a family is approximately 26 days, indicating that a lack of availability of affordable rental units in the County impedes solutions for the homeless.

RAPID REHOUSING

The National Alliance on Homelessness has reported that 75% of rapid re-housing participants exit to permanent housing, much higher than from emergency shelter (16%) or transitional housing (42%). The average cost per exit to permanent housing was significantly lower for rapid re-housing (about $4,100) than it was for either shelter (about $10,000) or transitional housing (about $22,200). Therefore, five families can be housed utilizing the rapid rehousing approach for the same cost of housing one family at a transitional housing shelter.

PUBLIC HOUSING

Publicly supported housing includes public housing, project-based Section 8, other Multifamily Assisted developments, and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV). According to HUD, public housing was established to provide decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Legally protected groups in Horry County (the elderly, individuals with a disability, certain race groups, and families) have higher proportions of their members in several public housing programs than the general public. There are two Public Housing Authorities serving low-income households throughout the County:

• The Housing Authority of Myrtle Beach provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers;
• The Housing Authority of Conway provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing units.

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION - HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Horry County Community Development Department manages several home repair programs funded through HUD. The Essential Home Repair Program is designed for low-income homeowners only, whose income is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Examples of essential home repairs that may be covered under this program include leaking roofs, flooring issues, accessibility modifications for disabled residents, deficient plumbing, etc.

Some of the eligibility requirements for the program include: owning the home and living in it, documentation of ownership, current property taxes, and executing a forgivable loan for the cost of the repairs, etc.

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Rehabilitation Examples Source: CDBG

The Horry County Emergency Repair Program provides financial assistance to low and moderate income owners who have needs for replacement of heating and air conditioning systems in their homes. The program also provides assistance to disabled homeowners who need accessibility improvements, such as wheelchair ramps or hand rails.

SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE FINDINGS Fundamentally, homelessness is the result of a lack of affordable housing. Emergency shelter options are limited in Horry County and do not provide a long-term, safe housing solution for those in need. In addition, transitional housing is only allowed within the ME2 zoning district, which also allows drug treatment and counseling services. To attempt to rezone for such a use will spark opposition from the public. There are a couple of older zoning districts in the County in which transitional housing is allowed; however, there are a limited number of properties available. While it is more affordable and effective to place someone in a permanent home, there is a lack of affordable rental inventory throughout the County and many affordable areas are not close to job centers, public transportation, schools and services. One of the best means to address homelessness remains in proactive measures to prevent homelessness. Horry County continues to provide homeowner repair and assistance to prevent the deterioration of safe and affordable housing stock.

REVITALIZATION EFFORTS The Horry County Community Development Department leads revitalization efforts throughout the County, in partnership with other County departments, numerous municipalities and non-profit organizations. Because the Community Development Department is responsible for administering Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for housing and infrastructure improvements in the County and region, HUD requires that the County develop a Consolidated Plan to outline funding priorities for a five year time frame. HUD also requires that the County develop an Annual Action Plan to detail the activities to be completed and the funding sources for them. The activities are planned to help achieve HUD’s CDBG national objectives as well as Horry County’s long-term goals as identified in the Consolidated Plan. Each year, citizen input and participation is incorporated in helping to identify the types of future CDBG projects to be funded. The Consolidated Plan, Annual CDBG Action Plans, and Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports are available through the Community Development Office and online at: https://www.horrycounty.org/Departments/CDBG.

Grant money can go towards any of the following:

• Acquisition of real property;
• Relocation and demolition;
• Rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures;
• Construction of public facilities and improvements such as water and sewer facilities, streets, neighborhood centers and the conversion of school buildings for eligible purposes;
• Public services, within certain limits;
• Activities relating to energy conservation and renewable energy resources;
• Provision of assistance to profit-motivated business to carry out economic development and job creation/retention activities (http://www.hud.gov/).

Beyond managing Community Development Block Grant funds and projects, the Community Development Department also serves as the primary lead for the administration of grants. In addition, they orchestrates major recovery efforts in the event of a disaster, managing FEMA documentation and funds for County lead recovery efforts.

NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS In an effort to address housing conditions, infrastructure, and public service needs in deteriorating communities, Horry County has developed neighborhood plans. The intent of these plans are to help stabilize a community from further deterioration and to help improve the condition and quality of life for its residents. These areas are often defined as low-to-moderate income areas and are often strained by deteriorating or dilapidated housing, deteriorating road and drainage conditions, lack of adequate water and waste water systems, accumulation of trash and debris, over growth of brush, high crime rates, and a lack of access to services. In addition, many housing solutions are impeded by zoning because of non-conforming structures and uses, as most of the communities in need of rehabilitation were developed prior to the establishment of zoning in Horry County.

Neighborhood plans can provide solutions to some of these challenges and identify short and long-term options to stabilize a community. These plans are adopted as amendments to the Horry County Comprehensive Plan and can provide inform capital improvement needs that can be incorporated into the County’s Capital Improvements Plan. To date, the County has developed two revitalization plans, including the Racepath Neighborhood Revitalization Plan and the Bennett Loop Neighborhood Plan. Bucksport, Cedar Branch, and Fremont are additional communities in need of neighborhood plans. Recent flood events have also triggered the need for community and countywide recovery and resiliency plans.

NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM The Nuisance Abatement Program was approved by County Council in 2017 to address unfit dwellings and related structures within the unincorporated areas of Horry County. This addresses the need for any building or structure which are unfit for human habitation due to:

• Dilapidation;
• Disrepair;

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• Defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities;
• Lack of adequate ventilation, light or sanitary facilities;
• Extensive damage or structural deterioration so as to render the dwelling unsafe; or
• Other conditions rendering such dwellings unsafe or unsanitary, dangerous, or detrimental to the health, safety or morals or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the County.

After a dwelling has been indicated unfit for human habitation due to any of the stipulations listed above, the County has the authority to exercise its police powers to repair, close, or demolish such dwellings. The Nuisance Abatement Program formalized the procedure for the County to address dwellings that create hazards to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Horry County. The implementation of this program requires an integrated partnership between Community Development, Code Enforcement, Police Department, Procurement Department, and Attorney's Office. It has also resulted in more consistent, streamlined procedures for identifying and addressing dilapidated housing throughout the County.

COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION FINDINGS

Revitalization requires an integrated approach among various partners and County departments to effectively result in change. Horry County’s Community Development Department facilitates most revitalization efforts occurring both in the County and in area municipalities, as they allocate funding for housing assistance, new construction, and infrastructure improvements. There are many challenges that successfully revitalize a community. Zoning and non-conforming uses can impede the ability to provide transitional housing, public housing, or even repair or rehabilitate one’s home. Luckily, the State of South Carolina has granted local governments the authority to establish priority investment zones for the establishment of market-based incentives and alleviation of zoning regulations that hinder revitalization.

While repairs and new residential construction can help stabilize a community, Horry County is limited in its authority to provide services to donut-hole areas within the City of Myrtle Beach and Conway. Without annexing into the adjoining municipality, revitalization efforts can be stymied. State law also inhibits revitalization efforts in unincorporated areas, as the state has not granted counties the authority to remove dilapidated commercial buildings. This is often a critical component to trigger revitalization and redevelopment. The state also has not granted local governments the authority to place liens on properties for cleaning up overgrown brush or junk, only allowing liens to be placed on a property for the removal of a structure. These are just a few challenges to overcome blight.

Horry County is continuing to pursue the development of neighborhood plans; however, there is also a need to develop community plans that can prevent areas of the County from becoming blighted and to spur reinvestment. Horry County will need to continue revitalization, stabilization, and recovery plans in order to ensure safe housing options for our residents.

CONCLUSIONS

As Horry County continues to grow, it will need to ensure that housing is safe and affordable. To do so, housing supply and the type of desired supply must keep up with demand both for full-time and seasonal residents. Housing and community design have a direct impact on quality of life, along with housing proximity to jobs, services, shopping, and leisure activities. Community form will be driven by zoning, land development regulations, and the Future Land Use Map and future rezoning requests.

Reinvestment and revitalization efforts will need to continue and be targeted in order to have a significant impact on existing communities. Prior to recent flood events, there was already a need for housing assistance and revitalization in many parts of the County. Hurricane Florence and the subsequent flooding from it has expanded the need for additional housing assistance and mitigation efforts. This event has also triggered the need to evaluate other construction and neighborhood design standards to create a more resilient community.

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CHAPTER 6: COMMUNITY FACILITIES

INTRODUCTION

Community facilities provide services to meet the day-to-day needs of the community and to enhance quality of life. The Community Facilities Chapter considers general governmental facilities, water supply and wastewater treatment, stormwater, solid waste and disposal, educational facilities, medical services, libraries, recreational facilities, and other public facilities. These facilities are greatly influenced by the direction and intensity of development in Horry County.

Pursuant to Section 6-29-540 of the 1994 SC Planning Enabling Legislation, the Horry County Planning Commission is required to review proposals for all new public facilities except utilities. After the adoption of the Community Facilities Element, no new street, structure, square, park, other public way, grounds, open space, or public building may be constructed in Horry County until plans have been submitted to the Planning Commission for comments and compatibility to the IMAGINE 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL FACILITIES

Horry County maintains a council-administrator form of government, with a current full-time staff of approximately 2,200 employees. While many services are now available through the internet, the County also operates facilities throughout its districts to serve its residents.

County Government Complexes and Offices

The County has several government complexes, including the Horry County Government and Justice Center in Conway, the 21st Avenue Complex in Myrtle Beach, and the South Strand Complex in the Burgess community. While these complexes have redundant services, this makes it easier for the public to access highly used offices, such as the Treasurer's Office. The County has many departments and services that are not located within these complexes, which can make it difficult for internal and external services and coordination. For instance, Business Licensing is located in a separate building from Zoning, both of which are necessary for someone to visit when setting up a new business. Another example is the Treasurer's Office which is located in a different building than the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (SC DMV), which can impact someone paying their car taxes and needing to sticker for their license plate. Similarly, someone needing to obtain a social security card, passport or birth certificate has to travel to completely different buildings to obtain copies of these documents.

⬚ figure Horry County Government and Justice Center

Government Building Locations

Horry County Government Main Offices are located at the Horry County Government and Justice Center at 1301 2nd Avenue in downtown Conway. Offices include: County Council Chambers, County Administrator, County Attorney, Finance Department, Public Information Office, Human Resources, Assessor, Treasurer, Auditor, Register of Deeds, Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement, Sherriff's Office, Solicitor, Clerk of Courts, Circuit/General Court, Family Court, Probate Court, Supreme Court, and Master-in-Equity. The government portion of the building was designed to accommodate a third floor in the future.

Other Downtown Conway Facilities include the Old Horry County Courthouse, Business Licensing and Hospitality Fee Departments, IT/GIS and E911, Community Development and Voter Registration & Elections, Maintenance, Horry County Library - Conway Branch, Horry County Museum, Public Defender, and Pretrial Intervention Program, and the Cochran Building which houses Horry County Parks and Recreation.

The ML Brown Public Safety Building is located off of Hwy 701 North/North Main Street on the outskirts of the City of Conway. It includes the Emergency Management, Police, Fire Rescue, and Coroner's offices. This facility already has space limitations. In addition, the parking lot and access to this site have experienced flooding numerous times during major storm events. Horry County Procurement and Records Management is located off of Hwy 319 East, north of the City of Conway.

The Industrial Park Road Complex is located off of Hwy 701 North. It includes the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, Animal Care Center, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Clemson Extension, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), Veteran's Affairs, Department of Social Services (DSS), Health Department, and SCDMV. There is additional room in and around this complex for the future expansion of facilities.

⬚ figure J. Reuben Long Detention Center Photo Credit : WMBF News

The Public Works Complex is located off of Hwy 701 North on Privetts Road. It houses the Engineering, Public Works, Stormwater and Fleet Services departments. Expansion of this complex will be necessary as the departments' and equipment needs expand.

The Ralph Ellis Building is located at Stephen's Crossroads off of Hwy 57. It includes the North Strand Police Precinct, Treasurer's Office, Little River Library, a Fire Rescue Station, Senior Center, SCDMV, and Health Department. This complex has outgrown its existing space.

The 21st Avenue Complex in Myrtle Beach houses the Treasurer, Auditor, and Magistrate's Offices, in addition to a Fire Rescue Station. This complex is heavily used and undersized for the volume that it handles. This complex is in need of replacement. The SCDMV is located across the street.

South Strand Office Complex located on Scipio Lane in the Burgess Community includes the South Strand Police Precinct and Magistrate's Office, along with extension offices for the Treasurer, Auditor, Assessor, and Clerk of Court.

Other government facilities, such as libraries, parks and recreation, fire stations, and schools are further addressed in this chapter and the Public Safety Element. Government owned industrial parks are addressed in the Economic Development Chapter, and County operated airports are addressed in the Transportation Chapter.

State and Federal Offices In addition to Horry County Government facilities, there are several state and federal facilities in Horry County, including but not limited to, SCDHEC, SCDMV, Social Security

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Historic Horry County Court House Photo Credit: Courthousehistory.com

Administration, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, and post offices. Many of these services are collocated in County complexes or in adjacent buildings.

GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL FACILITY FINDINGS As the population grows, the demand for new facilities will continue to increase. Intradepartmental and interjurisdictional coordination will be necessary to ensure cost effectiveness for major investments. It will also be necessary to ensure a high level of service for facility users by constructing new facilities in convenient locations or reprogramming existing buildings to maximize existing space. The County recently installed wayfinding signage in the Government and Justice Center and Old County Courthouse. This is part of an effort to help direct the public to the correct buildings and offices. At this time, there are no resources on the County's website to inform the public about all of the offices located within each facility beyond the listing of the main address for each department.

UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE The following section details power suppliers, water and sewer suppliers, stormwater, solid waste, and telecommunications. These facilities are critical to support existing and new growth. They are also critical for supporting economic development and for restoring normalcy after a disaster.

POWER SUPPLIERS Santee Cooper is a state-owned utility and the primary source of electricity for approximately two million people in all 46 counties of South Carolina. They serve more than 184,000 residential and commercial customers directly in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry Counties. Power is transferred into the County from outside generating stations via transmission lines and substations. Inside the substations, voltage is reduced, and then transferred to streets or homes via distribution lines. Santee Cooper maintains both overhead and underground distribution lines.

The 50-year old Santee Cooper Grangier Generating Station in Conway was closed in 2012 and demolished in 2016. The site is being remediated, and its cooling pond, Lake Busbee, is no longer having water pumped into it. The lake is expected to return to a more natural state. Prior to its retirement in 2012, the Grangier station was used in a limited capacity, due in part to the cost of compliance with federal emissions standards for coal fired plants. Santee Cooper produces energy from wind, solar, and landfill gas in Horry County. While the use of solar power is not prevalent in Horry County, Santee Cooper recognizes the opportunity and is working to expand its presence. In 2018, Santee Cooper installed a 10 acre solar farm, Bell Bay, along Hwy 701 South containing 5,904 solar panels with an annual production of 2,827 megawatts (MWh). This is in addition to two demonstration projects, the 311-kilowatts Grand Strand Solar Station in Myr-

tle Beach and the 16-kilowatt solar display at Coastal Carolina University. Beyond expansion of solar, Santee Cooper is also exploring on-shore and offshore wind opportunities, which is further discussed in the Natural Resources Chapter.

In order to maintain the reliability of the electrical system serving the growing Horry County population, Santee Cooper is currently planning a 230 kV transmission linebetween Marion and Conway. This transmission line will utilize the existing

Duke Energy provides electric and gas services across the Country. They provide electric services to the Aynor area. Currently, Duke Energy is in the process of constructing two solar farms along Hwy 9 in Horry County.

⬚ figure Demolition of the Granger Generating Station stacks Photo Credit: Jim Huff, Santee Cooper

Horry Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Conway, primarily serves the western side of the Intracoastal Waterway. It has franchise agreements with the Cities of Loris, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and the Town of Aynor.

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) provides electricity and natural gas services to approximately 1.1 mil-

lion customers across the state. As the natural gas provider in Horry County, SCE&G has served residential, commercial, and industrial gas customers in the area for more than 50 years. SCE&G purchases gas from the Southern Natural Gas Company. Natural gas is available along a number of major corridors, such as Hwy 90 and portions of Hwy 501. It is also available in a number of new subdivisions. While natural gas is often a necessary component in manufacturing, it is not readily available to existing industrial parks in the County.

POWER FINDINGS

Energy consumption will continue to increase in Horry County. Additional transmission lines and other means of power generation will need to continue to be developed. With the addition of new transmission lines to accommodate additional growth, these lines may present an opportunity for bicycle and pedestrian connectivity. The closing of the Granger Station also presents an opportunity for redevelopment and reinvestment into downtown Conway; however one drawback to this is Lake Busbee which remains an area of concern for residents.

⬚ figure Source: SCE&G

WATER SUPPLIERS

There are a number of water and sewer providers in Horry County; however, Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority serves all local water authorities, including area municipalities. In the municipalities of Conway, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Loris, they utilize the extension of water and sewer to developing properties contiguous with their city limits to force annexation. Also, properties that are close to city limits must sign a pre-annexation agreement to receive water and sewer service. This agreement states that once the property becomes contiguous with the city limits, it will be annexed.

The Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority (GSWSA) has two surface water treatment facilities. The majority of the area is supplied by the Bull Creek Treatment Plant, supplemented by Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells located throughout the service areas. In addition to the ASR wells, water is stored in ground storage reservoirs and elevated tanks. There are pumping stations at the plant and re-pumping stations in remote portions of the system to boost water pressure.

GSWSA’s Bull Creek Regional Water Treatment Plant, located in Bucksport, has a peak flow capacity of 45 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) and is designed for ready expansion. Untreated surface water is pulled from the Bull Creek which carries about 60% of the water flowing through the Great Pee Dee and Little Pee Dee Rivers. During the drought of 2002, the minimum flow in the Great Pee Dee just above Bull Creek was approximately 710 MGD. The plant’s peak three day average daily flow (ADF) occurred in June 2008 at a flow of 35 MGD. During this same period, there were 3.7 MGD of flow being added to the distribution system from ASR and blend wells concurrently for a total system demand of 38.7

MGD. The by-product of the treatment process, alum sludge, is thickened and land applied to a designated centipede grass turf farm.

GSWSA’s Myrtle Beach Water Treatment Plant, located in the City of Myrtle Beach, has the ability to generate 45 million gallons per day and is also designed for ready expansion. Water is pulled from the Intracoastal Waterway.

In addition, GSWSA has eight groundwater wells withdrawing 4.2 MGD. This native ground water is blended with treated surface water at major entry points to the distribution system. GSWSA is a national leader in the development of ASR technology. This technique allows for the storing of water treated during off peak periods for use during emergencies or peak demand conditions. Currently, the ASR wells have a combined storage capacity of 1 billion gallons available for use each year. The water can be withdrawn from the wells at a rate of 13.5 MGD.

Altogether, GSWSA services approximately 800 square miles in Horry County with both water and wastewater services. Peak summer demands are approximately 65 MGD. This accounts for all customers including the Cities of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Loris, the Town of Tabor City, Little River Water and Sewer, and Georgetown County Water. The combined capacity of the Bull Creek and Myrtle Beach water plants is 90 MGD. In addition to constant maintenance, current plans are to expand both water treatment facilities by 15 MGD and the ASR wells by 20 MGD. However, the existing excess water capacity along with the current ASR wells will allow for a longer time period prior to investing in plant expansions.

GSWSA also has a rural program that tries to help customers with existing water and septic systems that are failing. If water and sewer is available to the parcel, an application simply needs to be made in order to obtain service. If service is not available to a parcel, GSWSA will extend services for up to a mile at no cost, but they require three applications for service prior to the extension.

Bucksport Water System is another major water supplier in the County. Bucksport Water System is a member-owned, non-profit water system providing needs based service. The system pumps water from the Black Creek Aquifer and is licensed for a capacity of 550 million gallons of water per year. Currently, the system pumps approximately one MGD, which equates to about 66% of capacity. This system provides water to Bucksport and surrounding communities by utilizing five well sites (four elevated and one ground) with available storage of 1.3 million gallons of water. In early August 2017, Bucksport Water System utilized their first reverse treatment osmosis system at the Pawley Swamp well site. The Bucksport Water System is constantly improving and expanding to support the projected economic growth in their service area. With the approval of Ride 3, Bucksport Water is preparing for growth with the extension of El Bethel Road in Conway, connecting US 378 to US 701 South, as well as the construction of the Southern Evacuation Lifeline.

Beyond GSWSA and Bucksport Water System, the City of Conway, City of North Myrtle Beach, and Little River Water and Sewerage Company provide emergency water supply through wells.

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Source: Grand Stand Water and Sewer

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

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WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS GSWSA utilizes thirteen wastewater treatment plants and one leach field. Wastewater transmission lines are adjacent to most of the County's major transportation corridors. Rural lines are extended on a petition for service basis. As discharging directly into waterways have become more stringent, GSWSA has developed strategies for effluent and sludge management through land application of treated wastewater and sludge by- products. Plans currently exist for over 9,000 acres in Horry County, 130 acres in Marion County, and over 100 acres in Dillion County.

GSWSA is continually updating their facilities with routine maintenance, as well as relocating lines in coordination with transportation improvements and overall capital improvements. In addition, GSWSA collects water and wastewater capacity fees (impact fees) from new customers so that the current customer base does not bear the burden of new growth for both water and wastewater improvements. In 2014, $5.21 million in impact fees were collected in direct proportion to new customers added.

The City of North Myrtle Beach maintains two wastewater treatment facilities: Ocean Drive and Crescent Beach. The City is currently in the design phase to upgrade these facilities to continue to provide adequate sewer services to the residents of North Myrtle Beach.

WATER AND SEWER FINDINGS As development continues to expand in Horry County, water and wastewater facilities will need to follow suit. Currently, existing providers are adequately supplying services and have plans for improvements to keep pace with growth. GSWSA 2035 Strategic Business Plan outlines the capital improvements, structural, human resources, operational requirements and financing required to meet the needs of the area through 2035. In addition, the existing excess water capacity allows plans for expansion to be delayed for a longer period of time.

Source: GSWSA 2035 Strategic Business Plan

STORMWATER

Horry County is a regional stormwater leader that recognizes stormwater management as a community-wide issue that requires a community-wide solution. Stormwater refers to the precipitation that drains off the land. The amount of impervious surface (i.e. streets, roofs, and parking lots) is the most significant factor affecting the amount of runoff from an area. As Horry County continues to develop from rural to urban uses, runoff volumes and rates will continue to increase, as will the need to implement stormwater control measures.

The goals of the Stormwater Management Program, as outlined in the Stormwater Management Program Strategic Plan, are to preserve and enhance the quality of the water systems of Horry County; to reduce the impact of flooding in the County; to create public support for the importance of stormwater management; and, to manage stormwater program funds to maximize benefits to the citizens of Horry County.

In 2017, the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Ordinance was updated to comply with SCDHEC’s revised National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. It also clarifyies and improves the design, construction, and maintenance of stormwater systems in new developments to minimize flood damage and improve water quality.

Stormwater Advisory Board

The Horry County Stormwater Advisory Board was established in 2000 to provide guidance and advice to County Council pertaining to the Stormwater Management Program. This includes the review of the Horry County Stormwater Ordinance, Stormwater Manual and specialized stormwater plans. In addition, this Board promotes education, awareness, and research regarding stormwater best management practices to targeted audiences, including, but not limited to engineers, developers, homeowners associations (HOAs), and property owners.

Stormwater Permitting

The Stormwater Management Program reviews and inspects all new developments disturbing over 1/2 acre of land. Since the year 2000, the Stormwater Department has issued over 2,300 stormwater permits within the unincorporated areas of Horry County. During the review and inspection process, emphasis has been placed upon preventing and reducing downstream flooding and on water quality to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II program. Certified construction site inspectors focus mainly on erosion and sediment control measures.

Stormwater Fees

Stormwater utility fees are paid annually by each property owner in the unincorporated areas of Horry County. Single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums are charged a flat fee. Non-residential properties are charged according to a formula that accounts for each property's gross area and percentage of impervious surface. Stormwater utility fees appear on real property tax bills and are collected by the County Treasurer with property taxes. These fees are used for maintenance and capital improvements to the stormwater and drainage system. There are also several watershed areas in the County that are exclusively maintained by the Department as part of a special tax district.

Drainage Maintenance and Improvements

A common citizen concern and primary role of the Stormwater Management Department is drainage maintenance and improvements. As the County’s road system expands with increasing development, so too the drainage system must expand. The County holds many public drainage easements for the purpose of maintaining storm drainage infrastructure. Easements are designed to allow personnel and equipment to access and repair infrastructure (e.g. pipes, catch basins, ditches). Maintenance is routinely conducted on a cycle to keep the drainage system operating smoothly. Some ditches may be maintained using equipment, while others may require the use of hand crews. The Department is limited to using public funds for areas with public benefit and is also limited by environmental rules in sensitive areas, such as wetlands. Beyond maintenance of County stormwater infrastructure, staff often works with HOAs to help them identify options to resolve their pond maintenance issues, such as erosion.

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Pond Bank Erosion Photo Credit: Clemson Extension

Water Quality Monitoring & Education

The Horry County Stormwater Management Department partners with several organizations and other municipalities to take a watershed approach to stormwater solutions through water quality monitoring and public education, thus supporting compliance with the County’s NPDES Phase II storm-

water requirements. This collective group of organizations is known as the Coastal Waccamaw Stormwater Education Consortium (CWSEC). This regional organization includes local governments in both Horry and Georgetown County, research institutions, educators, and advocacy organizations. Coastal Carolina University's Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, the University of South Carolina's Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, and Clemson's Baruch Institute for Coastal Ecology and Forest Science all serve as valuable research partners that are engaged in identifying and researching water quality impairments. CCU's Waccamaw Watershed Academy, USC's North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Clemson's Carolina Clear Program, Murrells Inlet 2020, the Waccamaw Riverkeeper, and SC Sea Grant Consortium, are also CWSEC partners. Together, these organizations provide water quality education to a variety of groups and ages. Training events are also held to educate civil engineers on low impact development practices and further its use locally to minimize water quality impacts of new development.

Through a cost-sharing arrangement with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Horry County supports a network of real time monitoring USGS gages on the Waccamaw and Little Pee Dee Rivers. These gages transmit data to a publicly-accessible website and include various water quality parameters, as well as flow and gage height information that is used to predict and track flooding.

In addition, Horry County provides funding for volunteer water monitoring on the Waccamaw River, Surfside Beach and in Murrells Inlet. Volunteers are coordinated through the Waccamaw Riverkeeper and Murrells Inlet 2020. Program oversight, volunteer training, equipment calibration and maintenance, and quality control is provided by Coastal

Carolina University’s Environmental Quality Laboratory (EQL). Under contract, EQL staff also conduct additional monitoring at river gage sites, as well as special projects as needed. In addition, the County also funds monitoring at Apache pier, while the Cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach fund the Cherry Grove and 2nd Ave piers, in collaboration with the Long Bay Hypoxia Monitoring Consortium. This data is also available via a publicly-accessible website. This information is used to identify when water quality is declining and can help determine the sources of the impairments through a variety of indicators. More information on water quality can be found in the Natural Resources Chapter.

Mosquito Control Mosquitoes are a public health concern, as they can transmit diseases to humans, their pets, and their livestock. Horry County uses integrated pest management techniques to control mosquito populations. Such techniques include: mosquito population assessment; education and outreach; site inspections; biological control of mosquito larvae; and chemical control of adult mosquitoes. Care is taken to avoid chemical application around known sites for beekeeping operations, organic farming operations, or citizens with special health needs. A primary program focus is on public education emphasizing personal protection methods and elimination of breeding sites around homes and businesses.

STORMWATER FINDINGS Horry County recently updated its stormwater ordinance to ensure that all new major subdivisions are designed to handle a 100-year storm, far greater than the 25-year storm that the state requires for new developments. In addition, first floors must be 18 inches above the road centerline to minimize flood damage in homes. The old standard required 12" above centerline. This measure, while necessary to ensure

positive drainage has resulted in extensive tree removal and grading. With the new requirement, this will result in even more land alteration or it will become more cost effective to not construct slab on grade. Overall, these regulatory changes will result in better designed communities. Older development within the County and developments less than ½ acre in size are not subject to these higher regulatory standards. In many cases, the existing infrastructure is under-designed or failing. A comprehensive Stormwater Drainage & Maintenance Capital Improvements Plan is needed to fully understand the costs associated to improve drainage, reduce flooding and improve water quality.

Because most prime locations for development have already been utilized, the use of marginal lands for construction is likely to continue. The County allows for fill in the flood zone and there are no measures to prevent fill in wetlands beyond US Army Corps of Engineering approval. The reuse and re-purposing of existing developed land will be a challenge moving forward. The County should continue to support projects that help improve drainage and storm water diversion and retention. This includes current projects such as the Melody drainage basin, repair of control structures under Chestnut Rd., the Rosewood Outfall, Hwy 9 Improvement Project, Bay Rd. drainage improvements, and the Simpson Creek drainage improvements.

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE Everyday life, in addition to economic development, is strongly tied to the availability of cell phone service and fiber optic cable. Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC) and Spectrum provide television cable service, internet services, phone service, and home monitoring in Horry County. Cellular phone services are provided by many national systems including AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

Cell Towers In recent years, residents have begun to rely more on cell phones than land lines. The importance of coverage is also impacted by the number of tourists that visit to our community each year. With this, there has been an increase in demand for cell towers and antennas.

In the past, the technology for the receiver antennae required large devices. Today’s current technology has decreased the size of the cellular antennae. Horry County has seen an increased demand for installing them on top of light poles in larger parking lots and on the side of large malls and box stores. Pursuant to Section 6-29-540 of the 1994 SC Planning Enabling Legislation, the Horry County Planning Commission is required to review proposals for all new cell towers. The County has a special permitting process for Telecommunications Towers, which have to be approved by County Council. The concern over large towers may diminish over time as the industry continues to improve the technology.

Fiber optics Fiber optics are thin flexible fibers of glass or other transparent solids to transmit light signals for telecommunications. All fiber-optic cabling and pedestals are located underground. Horry County has an extensive service of fiber optic cable offered by HTC and Spectrum. Rural areas have broadband readily available opening up opportunities for home-based businesses and virtual call centers. The County currently maintains a fiber route system for its own facilities, which is a core component of the County’s infrastructure.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS FINDINGS As technology continues to evolve, the concern over the siting of cell towers will likely continue to diminish as the towers become smaller in size. There remains a need for improved cell services in the County, in addition to fiber optic availability in rural communities. Beyond immediate public need, the County should consider the cost of extending the fiber optic network in the early site-selection process for new government facilities.

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL The Horry County Solid Waste Authority (SWA) provides integrated waste management throughout Horry County. Per state law, the governing body of a county has the responsibility and authority to provide for the operation of solid waste management facilities. Therefore, Horry County Council created the SWA in 1990 to carry out these responsibilities regarding waste management. In 2009, Horry County Council enacted Ordinance 02-9 which provides an effective means of regulating the collection and disposal of solid waste generated in Horry County. In Horry County, this includes solid waste recovery, recycling, and disposal services to the unincorporated parts of the County, as well as municipal areas.

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Source: SWA

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

The Horry County Solid Waste Management Plan was originally completed in 1993, and the latest update was completed in 2018. A copy of this plan can be found on the SWA website.

Collection and Transfer

Collection and transfer of waste for disposal in Horry County depends on the location. The collection of solid waste is primarily through curbside pickup or staffed convenience centers. Currently, the Solid Waste Authority staffs 24 convenience centers. Collection sites are generally located within a five-mile radius of any given County residence. A new convenience center was recently constructed on McDowell Shortcut, and there remains a need for an additional center to serve the Carolina Forest and Hwy 544 area.

Neighborhoods and businesses in unincorporated Horry County contract for collection services with private haulers, as the SWA does not have its own hauling fleet. The municipalities of Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Aynor, Conway, Briarcliffe Acres, Loris, Surfside Beach, and Atlantic Beach provide curbside collection of household waste and yard waste within their jurisdictions. There are two municipally-operated transfer stations located in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.

The permanent and tourism populations are both major contributors to solid waste generation in Horry County. Based on FY2016 figures, South Carolina Solid Waste Management 2016 Annual Report determined each South Carolinian disposed on average, 3.6 pounds per day of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The expected population and tourism growth will also mean more construction and development, which results in increased Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste in addition to the increased MSW. MSW is produced by households and businesses, while C&D is yielded by construction and industrial activities.

Disposal Facilities

The SWA operates a Class Three MSW landfill and a Class Two C&D Landfill on a 734-acre parcel on Highway 90 outside of Conway. For disposal of MSW, the Class Three landfill has a permitted disposal rate of 750,000 tons per year. Approximately 273,350 tons of MSW were disposed in FY2017. This was high due to storm-related debris. The landfill area has approximately 7,562,000 tons of MSW capacity remaining as of July 2017 (built capacity and yet-to-be-built capacity). Based on estimated consumption, the Class Three landfill will reach capacity sometime in FY2041. However, the SWA plans to initiate in FY2019 the permitting of a new or expanded Class Three Landfill.

Remaining Capacities in Horry County Landfills ⬚ figure Source: Horry County Solid Waste Authority, 2018

The Class Two C&D landfill has a permitted disposal rate of 250,000 tons per year. Approximately 123,250 tons of C&D waste were disposed in FY2017. This was high due to storm-related debris. The landfill area has approximately 591,000 tons of C&D capacity remaining as of July 2017. Based on estimated consumption, the Class Two landfill will reach capacity sometime in FY2024.

Estimated Debris Volume by Hurricane Category

Source: Horry County Solid Waste Authority, 2014

In 2014, Horry County Council enacted Ordinance 78-13. This Ordinance allows construction and demolition (C&D) debris/waste produced in Horry County to be sent to an "appropriately licensed and DHEC permitted" disposal facility rather than the designated HCSWA landfill. This was intended to extend the life of the Class Two C&D landfill.

In order to provide disposal capacity for the remainder of the 20-year planning period, HCSWA completed a Piggyback Extension of the MSW landfill in 2016. This Piggyback Expansion provides additional capacity per acre by taking advantage of the "valley between two previously used waste disposal areas".

SWA has built a C&D recycling facility to reduce the amount of C&D waste in the landfill. The capacity provided by the existing 27-acre Subtitle D landfill, the horizontal expansion, and Piggyback Expansion is anticipated to provide MSW capacity over the 20 year planning period. The Piggyback Phase I is anticipated to last until 2024-2025. The figure to the left illustrates the remaining capacity of the Class Two and Class Three Landfills and the estimated consumption over the next 20 years.

Debris Management

Per SWA Disaster Debris Management Plan, Horry County could generate 4.3 million cubic yards of debris from a category three hurricane. A summary with estimated quantities of debris and the acreage necessary to store and process the debris is shown in the chart below. However, these figures are from 2014 and due to the increase in population these estimates will be low.

Current acreage set aside for debris processing is shown in the following chart. Total acreage for vegetative debris management is 290 acres, eight acres shy of the 2014 estimates needed for a category four hurricane.

Source: Horry County Solid Waste Authority, 2014

Green Power

Since 2001, the Landfill Facility has maintained a Green Power Program, a partnership between SWA, Santee Cooper, Horry Electric Cooperative, and Central Electric Power Cooperative. "Green Power" refers to the process of generating electricity through renewable resources such as solar, wind and decomposing garbage at landfills. The Program transfers methane from the landfill into an environmentally friendly electricity product. Santee Cooper owns and operates the generating equipment. SWA owns and operates the landfill and methane gas collection system and sells the fuel to Santee Cooper. Horry Electric and Central Electric supply the lines for the Green Power to travel.

Waste Reduction/Reuse/Recycling

Horry County maintains programs to encourage recycling, including recycling convenience centers, educational activities, and a regional Material Recycling Facility (MRF). The SWA also operates a yard waste/composting facility. While Horry County recycling is voluntary, residential, curbside pick-up is available in most municipalities. Recycling and yard waste disposal is also available at all County convenience centers. Increasing recycling participation throughout the County is critical to extending the life of the landfill. This can be done through numerous voluntary and regulatory mechanisms, in addition to community education.

The SWA currently leads recycling education efforts through its school recycling programs and its ‘Talking Trash’ competition. The SWA, in partnership with the Horry County Council on Aging, also operates ‘The Store,’ a resale outlet offering used items that you can give a second life. The Store accepts donated items that can be recycled, reconditioned or repurposed for continued use. This keeps reusable household items, furniture, lawn and garden and building supplies out of the landfill.

Litter Reduction

A Community Cleanup Program is implemented by Keep Horry County Beautiful (KHCB), a subcommittee to the Horry County Parks and Open Space Board. This program is designed to assist civic, community and/or volunteer groups that help in keeping the County’s streets, parks, open spaces, rivers, schools, and other community amenities clean and litter free. In 2017, 25,935 pounds of trash were collected off of 98 miles of roadway, 67 acres of parks, one mile of river and three public beach accesses.

KHCB also works in a proactive manner. The 2017-2018 educational focus was on securing loads on trucks and trailers, which has been identified as the number one source of roadside litter. This was a combined initiative between KHCB and the HCSWA. In addition, the County now facilitates an annual county-wide litter assessment and cleanup. These efforts led to KHCB receiving an Affiliate Recognition Award for outstanding efforts in litter awareness and pick up programs in South Carolina from Palmetto Pride.

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Volunteers at the 2015 Community Cleanup Day Photo Credit: Keep Horry County Beautiful

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

SOLID WASTE FINDINGS

As population and visitor use increases in Horry County, more waste is produced and the landfill gets closer to capacity. Many existing convenience centers will likely need to expand and existing trash haulers will need to consider adding curbside recycling to their offerings. There is also a need to continue to expand recycling and recycling education services to keep recyclables out of the landfill. In addition, it will become a necessity to identify land for a future landfill site, as land acquisition and the permitting of a new landfill is going to be a lengthy and costly process.

UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FINDINGS

Rapid development places stress on public and private infrastructure. As demand for services increase, so too will the demand for new facilities and the maintenance and upgrades of existing infrastructure, especially in regards to what Horry County provides for stormwater and solid waste. The County and its partners should continue to work together to ensure that future growth and major project information is shared amongst organizations. By doing so, all entities will be better informed of capacity needs and ways to effectively allocate capital improvements.

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Source: Horry County Planning & Zoning

EDUCATION FACILITIES

Education is vital to the overall economic and social well-being of any community. Horry County has recently seen a surge in demand for expanded educational facilities for all age ranges. For daycares and PK-12 schools, this correlates with recent birth rates and influx of young families. For higher education facilities, especially Coastal Carolina University, their increase in student population largely stems from out-of-state enrollment. Regardless, growth is driving demand for new facilities.

DAY CARE FACILITIES

As of 2016, there were 90 state licensed child care facilities in Horry County, which includes three types:

• 72 licensed child care centers (care for 13 or more children; operates more than four hours a day and two days a week)
• three licensed group child care homes (care for 7-12 children in the home)
• 15 licensed family child care homes (care for up to six children in the home)

There are also many exempt child care providers in Horry County, which include: anyone who cares for children from only one unrelated family; an educational program which operates solely for educational purposes in grade one or above; Kindergartens, nursery schools or other daytime programs operating no more than four hours a day; School vacation or school holiday day camps; Bible schools; Facilities for the mentally ill or handicapped; etc.

With the rising number of children, there is a high demand for additional child care facilities. Many of the facilities maintain a waiting list, which shows how full these facilities are.

PK-12 EDUCATION

The Horry County School District maintains one countywide school system with nine attendance zones in Aynor, Conway, Carolina Forest, Green Sea/Floyds, Loris, Myrtle Beach, St. James, and Socastee. Horry County Schools (HCS) operates a total of 57 schools: 26 primary/elementary schools, 15 intermediate/middle schools, ten high schools, four charter schools, three academies and an additional five specialty programs. In addition to the many traditional schools, students also have the opportunity to attend four charter schools: Bridgewater Academy, Palmetto Academy of Learning and Success (PALS), Academy of Hope, and Palmetto Academy for Learning Motor Sports (PALM). Beyond public schools, there are currently 15 private schools in Horry County, the majority of which are religiously affiliated.

HCS also runs the Playcard Environmental Education Center. Playcard instructs students in the natural sciences and provides a place for observation and study by various scientific disciplines.

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HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY ESTIMATES

Five-Year Forecasted 45-Day Modified Average Daily Membership*** (Revised 3-1-2018 with additional facility use data)

Source: Horry County Schools

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

In 2017, HCS completed construction of two middle schools (Socastee and Carolina Forest), one intermediate school (St. James Area), along with the replacement of two older schools (Socastee Elementary and Myrtle Beach Middle). These five schools were designed based on a high performance – energy positive concept, where the building integrates energy conservation, environmental cost-benefit, productivity, sustainability, functionality, and operational considerations. The designs also incorporated the use of various elements such as solar panels, geothermal fields, natural daylight, etc. to create an energy positive environment for the schools. Additional schools are anticipated based off of development trends.

For the 2017-2018 school year, the average daily membership (ADM) for all of HCS K-12 was 42,796 students. That number increased by 903 students from the previous year, or by 2.16%. This growth rate is consistent with the District's annual growth rate for the past several decades, resulting in it being the third largest school district in South Carolina. By 2023, K-12 enrollment is projected to be 47,739 plus Pre-K and Child Development will have an additional 1,264 students, based on the 2017-2018 numbers, bringing the total PK-12 enrollment to 49,003 (an increase of 4,943 over a five-year period). This does not include enrollment numbers and growth estimates for area charter schools, which all maintain a maximum enrollment based on their charters.

HCS’ Planning Department receives and analyzes monthly Advance Notice reports from the Horry County Planning and Zoning Department for new development rezoning requests. Since new information is received on a monthly basis, the growth assumptions made above are based on data through December 2017. From a school attendance area perspective, the highest anticipated growth areas of the county are Carolina Forest, St. James, Socastee, and North Myrtle Beach. Over 75% of the total student growth in the District will be focused in these four attendance areas. These forecasts have heavily influenced the recommendations of Growth and Capacity projects for the next five years and beyond. Without further capital improvements over the next five year period, HCS anticipates that at least 22 of our schools will be at or above 100% capacity by 2023.

HCS recommends that a new elementary school be added along Carolina Forest Blvd and another off of Ron McNair Blvd in order to reduce overcrowding at River Oaks Elementary. The lack of road connectivity between River Oaks Drive and Carolina Forest Blvd actually necessitates the construction of two elementary schools versus one new facility; however, in the long-term, both facilities will be necessary to accommodate additional growth in Carolina Forest and overflow from the Forestbrook community. Additionally, HCS recommends the replacement of St. James Elementary School and the construction of a new intermediate school in the Little River/North Myrtle Beach area. Replacement facilities are needed for the Horry County Education Center (Alternative School), Conway Education Center, and Whittemore Park Middle School. The HCS Transportation Office and Science Kit program are in need of a combined replacement facility. Additions and renovations are needed for a number of schools over this same five-year timeframe.

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Source: Horry County Schools

Land Suitability In the master planning of some large developments, such as Carolina Forest, the developers set aside tracts for school sites that can be purchased by the School District. If sites are not already "set aside", HCS look within their attendance zones to find a site with a buildable area that meets size requirements. At a minimum, elementary schools need 20-25 acres; middle schools need 25-30 acres; and high schools with athletic fields need 75-100 acres. In certain areas of Horry County, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find site candidates for new schools. On rare occasions, schools must be constructed outside the attendance zone in order to meet requirements. The District prefers not to go outside the zones, as this means attendance zone changes, which is unpopular and difficult.

Utilities and traffic patterns also play an important role in school site selection. The School District considers the existence of stoplights near the property, or whether stoplights could be added for the site. School location also determines if safe walking and biking routes can be established. Safe routes to school is a way to improve childhood health and adds to the community’s quality of life.

HIGHER EDUCATION There are four higher education institutions in Horry County. These facilities not only educate students that already live in Horry County, but they attract students to locate here. Student and program growth has positive implications for the County and has the ability to better prepare people for the workforce.

Coastal Carolina University (CCU) is a four-year institution located in Conway that comprises 115 main buildings on 633 acres. The campus also includes the Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, located in the Atlantic Center on US Highway 501. Adjacent to the CCU campus is the James Hackler Golf Course at Coastal Carolina University, a public 18-hole golf facility and the only university-affiliated course in Horry County. The University also offers courses at the Myrtle Beach Education Center, and in Litchfield and Georgetown. A 1,105 acre tract that includes a portion of Waties Island, a pristine barrier island on the Atlantic coast, provides a natural laboratory for extensive study in marine science and wetlands biology.

In the fall of 2016, a CCU Master Plan Update was approved. This update proposed many future projects, including: two academic/administrative buildings, academic enrichment center and auditorium, HTC Center expansion, track and soccer complex on the east campus, Brooks Stadium expansion, outdoor sand volleyball complex, potential parking structure, Hackler Golf Course clubhouse, and PGM program classrooms and offices.

The updated plan also discusses the potential for a “gateway neighborhood vision” at the intersection of Highway 501 and University Boulevard, possibly with a performing arts center. Also included are proposed campus circulation projects, including: a proposal to shift University Blvd/ Highway 544 alignment south to allow possible football expansion; a proposed connection at the north end of campus to 501; and conversion of the section of Chanticleer Drive north of the Wall Building to pedestrian, transit, service, emergency vehicle use only to enhance north-south pe-

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LEGEND - Proposed Projects 1 & 2. Academic/Administrative Buildings 3. Academic Enrichment Center & Auditorium 4. Student Union Expansion 5. HTC Center Expansion 6. Gateway Neighborhood Vision 7. Soccer Complex 8. Brooks Stadium Expansion 9. Outdoor Sand Volleyball Complex 10. Universigy Blvd. Realignment 11. Future Parking Structure 12. Track Facility 13. Hackler Clubhouse and PGM Classrooms & Offices

Source: CCU Master Plan

destrian connections and safety between student housing and core campus facilities. Other future program needs include a center for literacy education, child development center, music practice rooms, and a band hall.

The growth of the CCU campus also generates a demand for more housing, primarily off-campus high-density residential units. Some of this off-campus housing is located across Hwy 544 from the campus, and CCU is reviewing options for student safety while crossing this major corridor. Student housing is also being constructed along the Hwy 501 corridor.

In addition to off-campus apartments, many students live in the surrounding single-family neighborhoods. This can lead to issues within the neighborhoods; therefore, Horry County approved the Coastal Carolina University Neighborhood Overlay Zone in 2009. This was established to provide standards relative to neighborhood appearance and safety in the residential areas surrounding and adjacent to CCU. It provides occupancy limits and parking requirements in these areas in order to promote a sense of place in an orderly neighborhood context.

Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) is a two-year technical college providing more than 80 associate degrees, diploma, and certificate programs of study. The College has three campuses located in Conway, Georgetown, and Myrtle Beach. In 2013 at the Conway campus, HGTC completed the Early College High School, which blends high school and college students. The International Culinary Institute was completed in 2016 at the Myrtle Beach campus.

Webster University maintains a Myrtle Beach campus and designs its programs to appeal to working adults by offering the weekend format for students who may need to travel to attend the campus.

Miller-Motte Technical College in Conway offers programs in CDL training, cosmetology, esthetics technology, massage therapy, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical clinical assistant, medical office assistant, criminal justice, paralegal, and business administration.

LIBRARIES

The Horry County Library System provides library services on a countywide basis. The Library System consists of ten locations, a bookmobile, and an administration office. The City of Myrtle Beach also operates the Chapin Memorial Library, which is the only municipally owned and operated public library in South Carolina.

Libraries provide education services for people of all ages. While they provide books, audio and video rentals, they also offer classes, programming, and special events. These events frequently provide resources that are not available through the school system or local colleges, but are often critical to life-long learning. Currently, the library has 132,942 active users with a circulation for FY2017-18 of 1,028,881.

Moving forward, library services and staffing will need to be expanded to keep pace with increased demand and usage of library facilities, resources, and programming. This demand is driven by the County's rapid population growth, but it fluctuates throughout the year with increased usage from snowbirds in the Little River and Surfside communities. There is also a change in usership at libraries, such as Socastee that has an increasing Hispanic speaking population. As Horry County grows, the Library System must keep up with new technology and the changing needs of our demographics. The Library System must also identify ways to integrate themselves in the activities of local residents, and ensure that the programs and offerings remain relevant. They should strategical-

ly identify ways to bring the tools and resources to people that cannot readily access them. In addition, HCS should capitalize on the volunteer resources available to them, as there are many retired residents with specialized knowledge that are willing to get involved in offering programs.

There is a proliferation of information technology and online content that patrons can stream or download from the library's website to their own computers, personal devices or smart phones. In FY2015, the library's total circulation of e-books and other electronic resources (audiobooks, movies, television shows, and music) only accounted for a little more than 40,000 checkouts. In FY2016 the total circulation of electronic resources almost doubled with 70,000 items being downloaded from the library's online collections.

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In order to accommodate additional population growth, there are expansion needs in the Little River area, in addition to expanded opportunities with the City of Myrtle Beach. Beyond physical locations, the Library System must also invest in additional bookmobiles and items that it can take to schools, afterschool and summer camp programs at community centers, recreation centers, senior centers, elder care facilities, and other local gathering places. To better serve the public, existing and future facilities should consider expanding operation hours when possible.

EDUCATION FINDINGS

As Horry County grows, so does the need for additional classrooms, new schools, and expanded library facilities and offerings. As land availability become more scare, the County will need to work with the School District and developers to identify future school sites. The Library System, while it will need to expand in the future, should also capitalize on the partnership opportunities with the School District, area colleges, and volunteers to increase its program offerings, programming, and impact in the community.

Higher education facilities continue to expand and will continue to grow, but will reach their desired maximum capacity in a short time frame. While the growth of college enrollment is positive for Horry County, it does have implications on land use and public services. As the student population increases, more housing units will be added in close proximity to area campuses. The influx of housing will have impact on traffic and pedestrian patterns. It may also have impacts on established neighborhoods that experience an increase in students living there. The County needs to support higher education growth, but should also be cognizant of the infrastructure needs that coincide with that growth.

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Source: Horry County Planning & Zoning

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Horry County Recreation & Community Centers

1. CB Berry Community Center
2. North Strand Recreation Center
3. Carolina Forest Recreation Center
4. South Strand Recreation Center
5. James R. Frazier Community Center

Horry County Parks:

1. Vereen Memorial Gardens
2. Frink Park
3. Little River Neck Park
4. North Strand Park
5. Popular Park
6. Simpson Creek Park
7. Mt Vernon Tennis Courts
8. Loris Nature Park
9. Green Sea Floyds Recreation Park
10. White Oak Park
11. Bayboro Park
12. Micheal Morris Graham Park
13. L.W. Paul Living History Farm
14. Dog Bluff Park
15. Pee Dee Park
16. Sandridge Park
17. McNeil Park
18. Waccamaw River Park
19. International Drive Ball Fields
20. Bike and Run Park
21. Huger Park
22. Independent Republic Heritage Preserve
23. Newtown Park
24. Racepath Park
25. Soccastee Recreation Park
26. Huckabee Recreation Park
27. Sandford D. Cox Sr. Park

Horry County Boat Landings:

1. Causey Landing
2. Ricefield Cove Landing
3. Sandy Bluff Landing
4. Galivants Ferry Landing
5. Huggins Landing
6. Gunters Lake Landing
7. Hughes Landing
8. Jordan Lake Landing
9. Pitts Landing
10. Punch Bowl Landing
11. Yauhannah Landing
12. Port Harleson Landing
13. Enterprise Landing
14. Peach Tree Landing
15. Bucksville Landing
16. J. Todd Landing
17. Pitch Landing
18. Billy Witherspoon Landing
19. Lees Landing
20. Reaves Ferry Landing
21. Big Savannah Lake (Bluff) Landing
22. Danny Knight (Red Bluff) Landing
23. Chris Anderson Landing
24. Johnny Causey Landing & T. Craig Campbell Landing
25. Peter Vaught Sr. Landing
26. Rosewood Landing
27. Socastee Landing & Swing Bridge Park
28. Stanley Drive Landing

Community

Facilities

RECREATION AND LEISURE

FACILITIES Youth and senior populations are growing rapidly, along with the growing seasonal population that lives here for multiple months out of the year. These demographics are often in high demand of activities to enrich their lives. Programming and resources available at County recreation centers and senior cen- ters serve all of these age groups and also provide people with the opportunity to develop a great- er sense of community. They also provide a means to develop and maintain good physical and men- tal health through exercise and so- cialization.

PARKS AND RECREATION

The Horry County Parks and Rec- reation Department was created in 1997 to meet the immediate and long-term recreation needs of County residents. The Department's activities are funded through dedi- cated millage, taxes on Sunday al- cohol sales, and grants. The Parks and Open Space Board was estab- lished in 2000 to provide the County with guidance on land acquisition and recreational improvements to meet residents' needs.

Horry County

Maintained Parks, Recreation and Community Centers, and Boat Landings

Source: Horry County Planning & Zoning

Chapter 6: Community Facilities- 6.17

Horry County operates three regional parks, three recreation centers, two community centers, 28 parks, 29 boat landings, and 22 beach accesses. These facilities include 39 baseball/softball fields, 19 multi-purpose fields, 15 tennis courts, 13 outdoor basketball courts, 26 playgrounds, two disc golf courses, and 13.5 miles of trails on nearly 600 acres of land. The County also has two nationally recognized paddling trails, the Waccamaw River Blue Trail and the Southeast Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail. A complete list of Horry County recreational facilities can be found in the Horry County Parks and Open Space Inventory.

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Classes are Provided at Recreation and Community Centers Source: Horry County Parks and Recreation

In all, the County provides approximately two acres of park space per 1,000 residents, while national standards for a community of our population typically offer six acres per 1,000 people. The County has significant natural features that supplement the recreational assets of the community and can boast an impressive 64,600 acres of open space (which equates to roughly 200 acres per 1,000 residents). Unfortunately, the beach and rivers are not readily accessible to everyone. In addition, there are many recreational facilities that have limited amenities; thus, they are not usable for people of all ages and physical capabilities.

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Model Community Park with mixture of uses Photo Credit: Jim Leggitt

Access to recreation and natural spaces can have a direct impact on physical and mental health. Based on a review of ten studies, the Center for Disease Control has reported an increase in physical activity simply by improving the proximity of recreational facilities to residences. Neighborhood design, access to walking paths, and appropriate siting of public recreation facilities is essential to consider with future development. Ideally, recreation centers (20 – 100 acres) should be within three miles of urban and suburban residents and within five miles of rural residents. Community parks (five – 20 acres) should be within three miles of residents, and neighborhood parks (1/2 – five acres) should be located within ¼ mile to one mile of residents in urban/suburban communities.

There is an existing need for the development of community and neighborhood parks, especially in older, established portions of the County, like Burgess, Garden City, Forestbrook, Little River, Myrtle Ridge, and unincorporated Surfside. In addition, there are many neighborhood and community parks in need of expansion, as they are already undersized for the population that they serve. Recreation centers are in high demand in Aynor and in Loris, and have been for many decades. There is also a desire for multi-generational parks with a mixture of activities so that families can enjoy spending time together.

While the County has dedicated millage to support recreational needs in the County, the funds are struggling to support the operations and maintenance of existing facilities, let alone meet the development of new facilities. There is a strong demand for recreation among existing residents, which will be augmented by future population growth. The lack of funding cannot meet this demand.

Beyond access to facilities, the County must also consider the programming needs of County residents. Programming is currently available at all recreation and community centers, in addition to a specialized outdoor recreation programs and an athletic programs for leagues. In order to maximize usership and increase program funding, the County will need to evaluate its existing offerings and rates, and capitalize on volunteers and sponsorships. The Horry County Parks and Open Space Plan further explores recreational needs in unincorporated Horry County.

SENIOR CENTERS

The Horry County Council on Aging Inc. (HCCOA), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1975 to provide senior care services. They currently serve over 10,000 senior citizens throughout Horry County. Programs and activities include:

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

meal services, transportation assistance, housekeeping assistance, senior activities/recreation, exercise programs/health promotion, basic health checks, telephone reassurance, in-home visitation, group counseling, employment opportunities, and field trips/local outings.

Senior Center locations include: Aynor, Bucksport, Burgess, Carolina Forest, Conway, Grand Strand, Green Sea/Floyds, Loris, North Strand, and South Strand. The HCCOA currently operates a senior center out of a small storefront in Carolina Forest, with plans to open a larger senior center facility beside the Carolina Forest Recreation Center and Library.

RECREATION AND LEISURE FINDINGS

There is a clear need for the development of parks and community gathering sites throughout the County. The land for future parks should be acquired in the near future, especially in high growth areas. There are also many facilities that are undersized for the population that they serve. While funding may not be available to develop new parks at this time, the County should strive to acquire recreational lands while it is available and affordable. In addition, park lands can be master planned to allow for them to be developed in phases, as funding becomes available.

In order to minimize duplication of services, recreation and community centers, libraries, and senior centers should work together to expand their programming in a strategic manner and to capitalize on their combined capabilities. They should not define their boundaries by their individual buildings, and should share each other’s resources and space when possible.

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Source: Horry County Planning & Zoning

HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

While Horry County’s permanent and visitor population has greatly increased over the last few decades, the health care system is just starting to identify and catch up to the needs of the County’s population.

HOSPITALS

As of 2016, there were five hospitals in Horry County. Currently, there are several medical parks/campuses that have plans for expansion, including: (1) the addition of an emergency room at the new 43 acre McLeod Seacoast medical campus, located at International Drive and Hwy 31 in Carolina Forest, (2) the development of a Grand Strand Medical Center emergency room near Carolina Forest Blvd and Hwy 501, (3) the expansion of McLeod Seacoast Hospital in Little River, and (4) a $65 million expansion of existing facilities by Conway Medical Center. In addition, there are a number of, doctor’s offices, physical rehabilitation, and urgent care clinics within Horry County. In 2019, an 84,000 square foot Veterans Affairs Clinic facility is expected to break ground in the Market Commons area of Myrtle Beach.

Per South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Division of Health Licensing, the following facilities were licensed in Horry County as of March 2018:

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Hospitals and Medical Centers, Bed Counts

Licensed Health Care Facilities

Source: SCDHEC, 2018

Opioid Epidemic

The 2016 World Drug Report from the United Nations stated that heroin use in the US is up 145% since 2007. According to DHEC, in 2016, there were 101 deaths from opioid overdoses within the County. This same year, EMS administered the drug Naloxone (or Narcan) 1,043 times; Naloxone reverses the effect of opioids. In both categories, Horry County is the leader in the state of South Carolina. The death rate is 36% higher than the rate of the next highest county, Charleston with 65 deaths, and the administration of Naloxone was 31% higher than the county of Greenville, which administered the drug 721 times. Currently, Horry County has three methadone clinics. Often zoning laws and public stigma prevent the siting of

CHAPTER 6: Community Facilities

facilities. Per the CDC, the US opioid epidemic is continuing and there is an urgent need for a multifaceted, collaborative public health and law enforcement approach.

ELDER CARE FACILITIES

According to US Census data, the overall population of Horry County is growing older. This exemplifies the National phenomenon of the significant “baby-boom” generation becoming older and retiring in warmer climates. 2016 estimates show that 37% of Horry County residents are 55 years and older.

Assisted living facilities, also known as community residential care, help residents with daily activities including bathing, dressing, eating, and taking medicines. Nursing homes provide medical care, and are intended for adults with serious medical needs. Per SCDHEC, Division of Health Licensing, there are three Adult Day Cares (total 175 units), 28 In-Home Care Providers, 16 Community Residence Centers (ten with Alzheimer care, total 1,158 units), and nine Nursing Homes (total 854 units).

In addition, three assisted living facilities are currently in the planning stages. These include River Park Assisted Living and Water’s Edge Assisted Living, located between North Myrtle Beach and Little River and Coastal Palms Assisted Living in Longs. As Horry County’s population continues to age, there will be added demand for these facilities, along with residential communities that offer housing options for people to age in place, and for care facilities with a combination of independent and specialty care housing.

HEALTH CARE FINDINGS

With the growth in population, it can be expected that an increase of facilities/beds will be needed to accommodate both permanent populations and vacationers. An increased demand for health care services and facilities should be expected as the age of the County’s population increases. This increased need will include nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In addition, as the opioid epidemic escalates more rehabilitation and methadone centers will be needed, along with a multifaceted strategic plan to fight the epidemic within Horry County.

CONCLUSIONS

As Horry County continues to grow, there will be increased needs for community facilities and services, along with increased stress on existing facilities. This will result in additional capital expenditures to ensure that the needs of the community are met and to adequately support future growth. There is a need to have a dedicated funding source for public facilities to ensure that the County can provide a good quality of life. As land becomes scarce, especially in rapidly developing areas, there will be increased competition among government organizations to acquire the same sites as developers, potentially driving up costs for tax payers. Coordination within departments of Horry County Government and with Horry County Schools, utility providers, and developers will be critical in making capital improvements in a smart and fiscally sound manner.

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CHAPTER 7: PUBLIC SAFETY

INTRODUCTION

Public safety is critical to the daily activities of all citizens and visitors to Horry County. While components of Public Safety are typically integrated into a comprehensive plan as part of the Community Facilities Chapter, Horry County has developed a separate Public Safety Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. This chapter includes the 9-1-1 Communications Center, emergency operations, law enforcement, fire protection, emergency medical services and the court system. Understanding trends in these public safety sectors is extremely important to identifying solutions that will improve the sense of security and quality of life for our residents, visitors, and business community.

EMERGENCY 9-1-1 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

The Horry County Emergency 9-1-1 Communications Center in Conway is a vital link between the community and the public safety responders in the area. The utmost responsibility of 9-1-1 emergency telecommunicators is to work with the caller, service providers, computer aided dispatch (CAD), and mapping to assure rapid response, accurate database management, and support of the Public Safety Division and Horry County Government. All 9-1-1 calls and non-emergency calls made in Horry County, including in area municipalities, are answered in the Communications Center. The center dispatches police, fire, and ambulance calls, including law enforcement for Atlantic Beach, Aynor, Briarcliffe Acres, Conway, Loris, County Police and County Sheriff, and fire rescue for Conway, Surfside, Loris and the County. If the services of the SC Highway Patrol or any other emergency agency is needed, the call is immediately transferred to them. In addition, staff provides medical pre-arrival instructions to callers, dispatches to County environmental services and litter control officers, along with maintaining the records of all calls and radio traffic.

In FY2017, the 9-1-1 Center handled 528,307 total incoming calls, which resulted in 235,087 dispatches, along with an additional 125,201 outgoing calls. This averages to 71 calls per hour being handled by nine telecommunicators and two supervisors per shift with two rovers working between the two shifts per day. However, staffing is greater during special events and emergency situations such as hurricanes.

Amount of Telephone Calls

Source: Horry County Emergency 9-1-1 Center

While call numbers have been relatively constant over the last few years, they can spike during economic downturns. It is also common that in consistently high crime areas that residents often become apathetic to report crimes for a variety of reasons.

Incoming Call Volumes to 9-1-1 Communications Center

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Source: Horry County Emergency 9-1-1 Center

2017 Dispatched Calls

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Source: Horry County Emergency 9-1-1 Center

9-1-1 FINDINGS

Staffing levels should keep up with changing population, visitor numbers and as staffing increases for police and safety personnel. Currently, staffing levels are below what the budget allows for; however, there is a need for even more positions and equipment to keep pace. Beyond staffing, public information and education should be made more readily available regarding the non-emergency phone number. In addition, paper records need to be added to the electronic data base, making information readily available to the telecommunicators.

With growing call volume, the Emergency 9-1-1 Center will need a larger facility that is tied into the County's fiber optic line and located where there is unimpeded ability to cooperate with the Emergency Operations Center and IT/GIS. Not only have they outgrown their existing space, the building is not programmed with sleeping areas, a kitchen, and showers that would be necessary for long-term occupancy during majors storms and during disaster recovery. In addition, the backup 9-1-1 system facilities are also too small, and the building's location may inhibit access during flood events. Plans to relocate the 9-1-1 Center with a new Emergency Operations Center are being looked at.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Horry County Emergency Management leads the County's all-hazards emergency management program through collaborative planning, education, and coordination of response operations and recovery initiatives. Emergency Management is responsible for developing emergency response plans, and taking the lead role in the coordination of those plans during an emergency. The Department serves as the liaison between the local, state and federal agencies in the emergency management network. In addition, Emergen-

cy Management is responsible for special events permitting, post-disaster recovery planning and the emergency alert notification system, known as CODE RED. These efforts do not include the municipalities which have their own Emergency Operation Centers.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Horry County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is the governing strategy for all operations during an emergency or disaster. Through the implementation of measures aimed at the four phases of emergency management; preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, lives can be saved and property damage minimized. This ongoing operation is called comprehensive emergency management, and it emphasizes the interrelationship of activities, functions, and expertise necessary to deal with disasters. The CEMP was created by the County emergency management staff, working cooperatively with the state and local governments, and non-profit organizations that have a role in the emergency management program in Horry County.

The CEMP culminates all other required planning documents into one overarching plan. It includes the Public Information and Outreach Plan, Emergency Operations Plan, Logistics Plan, Short-Term Recovery Plan, All-Hazards Mitigation Plan, and Continuity of Operations Plan. This plan addresses a variety of natural disasters and man-made emergencies, including, but not limited to: earthquake, hurricane, riverine and coastal flooding, tsunami, communication, evacuation, mass fatalities, re-entry, operational areas, mosquito borne disease, severe weather, drought, wildfire, along with specific emergencies, such as a plane crash or a toxic spill.

The Emergency Management Plan also contributes to the County's participation in the Community Rating System (CRS), which uses disaster operation plans, hazard mitigation plans and floodplain management activities to enhance public safety, reduce damage to property and public infrastructure, help avoid economic disruption and losses, reduce human suffering, and protect the environment in addition to reduced flood insurance premium rates for policyholders. This important document can be found on the Emergency Management website.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)

The Emergency Operations Center is centrally located in the M.L. Brown Building in Conway, in addition to Fire Rescue, Police, and the Coroner. The M.L. Brown Building is located in a flood prone area. This was made apparent during the 2015's historic floods, 2016's Hurricane Matthew, and as far back as Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Hwy 701, that leads to the building, in addition to the parking lot and vehicles parked within it, have flooded in the past. This not only restricts the flow of relief staff to the EOC, but also the delivery of supplies and food in the days following the storms. In addition, the roof of this building is only able to sustain winds of minimum hurricane strength.

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Flooding at the ML Brown Building Parking Lot Source: Horry County Emergency Management

CHAPTER 7: Public Safety

A FEMA Hurricane Evacuation Study was completed in 2012. This study indicated that the M.L. Brown facility was modeled to be under approximately 6.5 feet of storm surge flooding in the event of a Category-5 Hurricane, and the County’s back up facility, the IT/GIS Technology Center, is projected to be under approximately 8.5 feet under a worst-case scenario. Therefore, this potentially renders the existing structures incapable of serving their designed purposes.

In addition to being flood prone, the EOC lacks enough showers, a kitchen, and sleeping quarters that are necessary for emergency situations, which can last for weeks. Currently, staff must bring their own cots or sleeping bags and end up sleeping in the hallways of the building. The design for a new Emergency Operations Center is underway and is tentatively planned to be located across from J. Rueben Long Detention Center. It is estimated to cost $26 million; however, after more than one spatial needs assessment and building design, funding has yet to be allocated for its construction.

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Site Plan for new EOC, 9-1-1 Facility Source: Architects Design Group

EVACUATION ROUTES Emergency Management is responsible for alerting evacuations and in conjunction with law enforcement implementing lane reversals. The department implements the ‘Know Your Zone’ public education campaign to inform the citizens and visitors of Horry County of the hurricane evacuation zones and their vulnerability to storm surge. The Know Your Zone campaign was developed as a result of the information contained in the South Carolina Hurricane Evacuation Study (HES) for the Northern Conglomerate that was released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2012. The campaign also reflects the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) decision to separate the association of storm surge inundation from the category of storm.

As new major roadway projects are completed, such as the Southern Evacuation Lifeline (SELL, also known as the Hwy 22 extension) and I-73, evacuation times will vastly improve in the County. These improvements will also allow people to return more easily after a disaster, thus allowing the community and economic activity to return to normal sooner.

SHELTERS Emergency Management is also responsible to alert the public to the opening of shelters and their locations. Currently there are 16 shelters in the county; all are public schools. In addition shelter locations can change over time. As new schools open, they can be designated as shelters. Finding shelters that are not schools is important to ensure that schools can begin operating as soon as possible after an event. This is a tactic to help families have a sense of normalcy during the hectic recovery process. During Hurricane Matthew and post-Hurricane Florence, the James Frazier Community Center became a shelter and at times even local churches have served as shelter locations.

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Source: Horry County GIS. https://www.horrycounty.org/Online-Services/Know-Your-Zone

DISTRIBUTION POINTS Another consideration is additional “distribution points” for use during a disaster situation. These distribution points are large paved parking areas (at least 250’ x 300’) for trucks and helicopters and used by Emergency Operations, National Guard, etc. Currently, the County uses parking areas at recreation centers and schools. These distribution points, also known as “black tops”, could be included in new County facilities, such as recreation centers. Another possibility is pursuing partnerships with amusement facilities to use their parking areas during a disaster situation.

There is also a need for distribution points where County officers and first responders have gas available to refuel during power outages and emergency situations. Currently Privetts Rd. is the only fueling location available for County vehicles to refuel if power is out throughout the County.

Chapter 7: Public Safety - 7.3

PUBLIC EDUCATION The Emergency Management Department has the latest information online concerning safety for a variety of issues, including how to prepare for and what to do in case of specific emergencies, with links to additional safety information. In addition, there is printed information available such as the Know Your Zone Hurricane Guide. Beyond printed materials, Horry County Emergency Management hosts multiple public meetings and special events throughout the year for the public to learn how to prepare for a natural hazard.

SPECIAL EVENT PERMITTING Outdoor events that anticipate having over 500 people at any given time are required to have an approved Special Event Permit from the Emergency Management Department. Parades, rallies, concerts, festivals, marathons, circuses, fairs, block parties, poker runs, community events, mass participation events, sporting competition events such as running events, bicycle races or tours, or spectator sports such as football, basketball and baseball games, golf tournaments, hydroplane or boat races, may require a special event permit. After a complete application is obtained by Emergency Management, staff has ten days to approve or deny the request.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FINDINGS A new 9-1-1 Communications Center is in the design phase in conjunction with the relocation of the EOC, to ensure adequate response capabilities in the event of any disaster. This center will need the capacity to expand. Evacuation routes, shelters, plans, and distribution points will need to be evaluated and updated on a continuing basis as population increase and major road projects are completed. As new developments are underway, they should not be located along the future routes of major roadways, like the SELL and I-73, to ensure that the construction of these roadways remains a viable option. Last, but not least, a continued and expanded public education program is necessary to ensure that newcomers to the area are able to prepare for all natural hazards.

LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICE The Horry County Police Department provides law enforcement services to the unincorporated portions of the County. It was established as the primary law enforcement agency in 1959, and remains the only county police department in South Carolina. Municipalities within Horry County also maintain individual police forces. The County participates in mutual aid agreements with the cities and supplements their police services upon request. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), DNR, as well as Probation and Parole assist during major events such as bike week.

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CHAPTER 7: Public Safety

As of 2017, the Police Department maintained a staff of over 275. Services are centralized within the M.L. Brown facility in Conway, which acts as the operational center and includes the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief, Professional Standards, Crime Analysis, Public Information Officer, and administrative staff. The department's patrol function is separated into four precincts; North (Little River), Central (Conway), South (Myrtle Beach), and West (Green Sea).

Additional units include a blood hound tracking team, beach patrol, SWAT team, hostage negotiation team, criminal investigation division (CID), training division, bomb squad, airport division, community outreach team, street crimes unit, traffic unit, environmental standards, and an honor guard. Officers not only provide regular duty services, but also fill positions in these units. The Police Department has a regulatory component that issues preclearance letters for Late Night Establishment, lends engravers for Operation Identification, issues Precious Metal Permits, and is involved with towing enforcement. Staffing is below the national average.

The County Police are at capacity in the M.L. Brown Building, as well as in the four precinct buildings. Future growth includes the construction of a new fifth Police Precinct. This fifth "East" Precinct is planned to be located east of the Waccamaw River and has an estimated cost of $3,000,000. The Police Department's recommendation to staff this facility is 45 new positions. However, the department also recommends precinct staff expansion, support expansion and CID expansion for a total of 80 new positions.

Training facilities are currently scattered. While some specialized training is done at the M. L. Brown Building, EOC rooms, and conference rooms at Conway Airport are also utilized. Driver training is done at Conway and Georgetown Airports. Police use the City of Conway's firing range located on Highway 905, which is too small to accommodate use by all local law enforcement and does not allow for night time training. A centralized practice firing range that has the capacity of training with handguns and rifles is needed. An indoor range would add the advantage of additional use at night and during inclement weather, however it is only good for handgun training. The construction of a consolidated Police Training Facility with driving and firearm practicing facilities would accommodate the future growth needs of not only the police department but the Sheriff's Office as well.

Currently, the department is purchasing new equipment as budget and grant money allows for. This includes safety equipment for officers; however, there is still a great need to ensure officers have the training and equipment they need.

Response Times

Congestion on roads can play a factor in delaying response times. Emergency Vehicle Preemption is an option and is discussed further in the Transportation Chapter. Logistics can also play a part in delayed response in the west precinct. There are large areas to cover and the location of the officers in proximity to where the call comes from can influence response time. In addition, when cars need servicing for oil changes, each officer must drive to Privetts Rd. This affects the availability of the officer.

Crime Trends

The following two charts show crime data for the unicorporated areas of the County, as reported to the FBI from 2005 to 2014. Violent crimes include murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, larceny – theft, and motor vehicle theft.

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Property Crimes Reported ⬚ figure

Source: FBI