OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

County Council — Tuesday, October 7, 2025
BodyHorry County, South Carolina
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, October 7, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:04

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Council meeting from October 7, 2025.

0:04

We start on Tom so we can finish on Tom.

0:06

And we always start with the invitation tonight, which we led by Mr.

0:09

Loftus, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr.

0:13

Mascarella.

0:13

If I can get everybody, please stand.

0:19

Let us pray.

0:21

Father.

0:23

I pray for those who have gone before me.

0:26

Who have more years on me?

0:30

And his fores wisdom.

0:35

Lord, give them strength to do your will until their last breath.

0:41

Bless them with company and purpose.

0:45

Let them feel your love and goodness.

0:50

Stir their hearts with excitement to meet you face to face.

0:55

And to do what is pleasure in your sight.

0:58

In Jesus' name we pray.

1:00

Amen.

1:18

Thank you.

1:19

Please be seated.

1:23

Next up is public input.

1:25

We've had two people sign up.

1:26

First is Patricia Molly.

1:31

I do not see her, so we'll move on to Mr.

1:34

Robert Vostasi.

1:38

Okay.

1:39

If you will please make your way to the podium, introduce yourself to us.

1:43

We have up to five minutes you can talk.

1:45

We have this wonderful machine here with a red light and a green light and a yellow light.

1:52

Hi, my name is Robert Sostasi.

1:57

My particular grievance or point of concern is the amount of rents that are being charged specifically on leased land in the county of Hori County.

2:12

I am part of the Conway Plantation.

2:16

The Conway Plantation has 300 residents.

2:21

We are now up to 475 a month for rent on leased land that we do not own.

2:33

We own our homes, and we are now, after two failed lease attempts, being forced by January 1st to be raised up to $500.

2:50

But that is not my particular grievance.

3:03

Are that leased land in Hory County is being exploited.

3:14

I am in the Conway Plantation.

3:16

It was bought by a company called Carlisle Investment Groups.

3:20

They are worth $2.2 billion on the stock market.

3:26

They have bought this land and they have bought the land in Ocean Landing.

3:31

And for me to leave my property, paying $500 now for current rent.

3:41

New tenants to come in and purchase my home are being charged $883 a month.

3:51

That is $10,514 a year for land that we do not own.

3:59

We cannot pay that.

4:01

We cannot stay.

4:03

We cannot leave.

4:05

We cannot sell.

4:47

Not one taker.

5:00

He two days ago picked up his house, spent $20,000 to move his mobile home to another mobile home park that is only charging $425 just to sell his house for $70,000, which is worth $120,000.

5:14

This is not an isolated incident.

5:18

There are 16 homes for sale in my 300 home park.

5:26

Conway Plantation, which is now being called Carolina Tides, which is ridiculous because I'm 13 miles away from a tide.

5:38

It's just lipstick on a pig.

5:44

The history of this so far has been that the ownership came in in May.

5:52

And without the 90-day notice, according to the bill for 3346, which is being proposed in the state legislature.

6:06

Previously, the bill was 3264 about capping the rents for these people.

6:13

Has failed three times.

6:16

I don't know where else to go.

6:18

I've contacted Tim Scott.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%
Youth Programs█████████████████17%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Zoning And Land Use███████████11%
Short-Term Rentals█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Horry County Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2025

The Horry County Council met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on October 7, 2025, in Council Chambers in Conway, SC. Council deferred a Highway 707 overlay text amendment, approved a large consent agenda, heard a public complaint about leased-land rents, recognized two 35-year Sheriff's Office employees, and approved four rezoning ordinances on second reading. The meeting adjourned in memory of the individuals read during memorial dedications.

Consent Calendar

  • Council unanimously approved the consent agenda as amended, including:
    • Third reading of Ordinances 83-2025 and 84-2025, changing the Imagine 2040 Future Land Use Map for PIN 26712040017 from Rural Communities to Suburban and rezoning the 1.5-acre Roper Lane property in Longs from Residential (MSF 10) to Retail with Accessory Outdoor Storage (RE 4).
    • Third reading of Ordinances 85-2025 and 86-2025, changing the Future Land Use Map for PIN 20300000018 from Rural to Rural Communities and rezoning the 44.36-acre Vaught Road/Hwy 129 property in Galivants Ferry from Forest Agriculture (FA) to Residential (SF 14.5).
    • Resolution R-135-2025 approving Horry County's application to the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board's Guaranteed Political Subdivision Subfund and appropriating $2,899,593.20 in opioid settlement funds to continue Harm Reduction, Jail Diversion and Reentry, Treatment Court, and Crisis Intervention Team programs in CY 2026.
    • Resolution R-136-2025 approving planning and design of excess county-owned property on Highway 90 for possible conveyance to the Horry County Community Land Trust.
    • Resolution R-138-2025 supporting the Future Interstate Highway Formula Program.
    • Resolution R-139-2025 approving the Waccamaw Regional Transit Authority FY2026 budget and authorizing the county administrator to release October and future payments.
    • Resolution R-140-2025 temporarily relieving the agricultural exemption filing deadline for PINs 29600000011 and 29610040009.
    • Resolution R-141-2025 ending the state of emergency declared by Emergency Ordinance 98-2025 on September 26, 2025.
    • Thirteen Community Benefit Fund allocations totaling $48,000 to organizations including GFWC North Myrtle Beach Women's Club, Beautify Carolina Forest, Aynor High School groups, Myrtle Beach Corvette Club, Carolina Forest Community Church, Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina, Spokes of Hope, Horry County Police Department, Horry County Behavioral Services, and Journey Church of Myrtle Beach.
    • Appointment of Bernadette Taylor to the Vereen Memorial Historical Garden Committee (District 1) and approval of the 2026 Regular Council Meeting Schedule.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Patricia Molly was signed up for public input but was not present.
  • Robert Vostasi, a Conway Plantation resident, said the 300-home park has been renamed Carolina Tides and is owned by Carlisle Investment Group, which he described as worth $2.2 billion. He said current leased-land rent is $475 per month, set to rise to $500 by January 1, while new tenants are charged $883 per month ($10,514 per year). He said 16 homes are for sale, and one neighbor spent $20,000 to move a manufactured home and sold it for $70,000 though it was worth $120,000. He argued leased land in Horry County is being exploited and asked where he could seek recourse.
  • Chairman Johnny Gardner responded that the county has no rent-control authority under state law, suggested the speaker might have a civil cause of action, and offered to discuss the lease after the meeting. Public input was then closed.

Discussion Items

  • Sheriff's Office 30-plus-year service recognition: Sheriff Thompson recognized Jeanette Falk, an employee at J. Reuben Long Detention Center, and Chief Deputy Tom Fox, each with 35 years of service, totaling 70 years of combined service to Horry County.
  • Resolution R-137-2025: Councilman Dennis DiSabato sponsored and Council unanimously approved a resolution honoring Premier School of Dance's 2025 Competition Team, including its national championship-winning routine "Bon Voyage." Catelyn Gesford thanked Council on behalf of the dancers, instructors, and parents.

Reading of Ordinances - Second Reading & Public Hearings

  • No public comments were offered on any of the four rezoning ordinances. All four passed unanimously, moving to third reading on November 18, 2025.
  • Ordinance 92-2025: Rezoned 4.91 acres at Hwy 57 and Wailea Circle in Little River from RE 3 to RE 4 for outdoor storage (G3 Engineering for Normandy Corporation & Creek Associates LLC). Staff had recommended disapproval, while Planning Commission recommended approval 8:1. Councilwoman Jenna Dukes moved approval, noting the request removes the multifamily component that could otherwise be developed by right at up to 15 units per acre on a road already over capacity.
  • Ordinance 95-2025: Rezoned 0.7 acres on Bryan Road in Little River from Commercial Forest Agriculture (CFA) to Residential (SF 14.5) for an accessory dwelling (Bryan Pearson et al.).
  • Ordinance 96-2025: Rezoned 1.08 acres on Old Forest Drive in Loris from Limited Forest Agriculture (LFA) to Residential (MSF 20) for an accessory dwelling (Rocquellia Chanta Bell).
  • Ordinance 97-2025: Rezoned 8.08 acres on Forestbrook Road in Myrtle Beach from RE 4 to Inpatient Medical Services (ME 1) for a freestanding emergency department (Oxner & Stacy Law Firm agent for Georgetown Memorial Hospital DBA Tidelands Health).

Key Outcomes

  • The agenda and the minutes of the September 16, 2025 regular meeting and September 26, 2025 emergency meeting were approved by acclamation.
  • Ordinance 80-2025, the Highway 707 Overlay Zone text amendment, was deferred to the November 18, 2025 County Council meeting.
  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
  • Resolution R-137-2025 was approved unanimously.
  • The four second-reading rezoning ordinances were approved unanimously and will go to third reading on November 18, 2025.
  • No executive session was held, and the meeting adjourned in memory of the individuals listed during memorial dedications.

Upcoming Meetings

  • Next Council Meeting: November 18, 6:00 p.m.; I&R Committee: October 14, 9:00 a.m.; Public Safety Committee: October 14, 11:00 a.m.; Administration Committee: October 28, 1:00 p.m.; Fall Planning Retreat: November 4, 1:00 p.m. (dates/times subject to change).

Meeting Transcript

Council meeting from October 7, 2025. We start on Tom so we can finish on Tom. And we always start with the invitation tonight, which we led by Mr. Loftus, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Mr. Mascarella. If I can get everybody, please stand. Let us pray. Father. I pray for those who have gone before me. Who have more years on me? And his fores wisdom. Lord, give them strength to do your will until their last breath. Bless them with company and purpose. Let them feel your love and goodness. Stir their hearts with excitement to meet you face to face. And to do what is pleasure in your sight. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you. Please be seated. Next up is public input. We've had two people sign up. First is Patricia Molly. I do not see her, so we'll move on to Mr. Robert Vostasi. Okay. If you will please make your way to the podium, introduce yourself to us. We have up to five minutes you can talk. We have this wonderful machine here with a red light and a green light and a yellow light. Hi, my name is Robert Sostasi. My particular grievance or point of concern is the amount of rents that are being charged specifically on leased land in the county of Hori County. I am part of the Conway Plantation. The Conway Plantation has 300 residents. We are now up to 475 a month for rent on leased land that we do not own. We own our homes, and we are now, after two failed lease attempts, being forced by January 1st to be raised up to $500. But that is not my particular grievance. Are that leased land in Hory County is being exploited. I am in the Conway Plantation. It was bought by a company called Carlisle Investment Groups. They are worth $2.2 billion on the stock market. They have bought this land and they have bought the land in Ocean Landing. And for me to leave my property, paying $500 now for current rent. New tenants to come in and purchase my home are being charged $883 a month. That is $10,514 a year for land that we do not own. We cannot pay that. We cannot stay. We cannot leave. We cannot sell. Not one taker. He two days ago picked up his house, spent $20,000 to move his mobile home to another mobile home park that is only charging $425 just to sell his house for $70,000, which is worth $120,000.

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