NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – An environmental group says historic dunes in North Myrtle Beach are “in grave danger of being destroyed.” This week brings two important deadlines from government regulators.
Hillside Developments wants to build 31 single-family homes on nine acres of land known as the Ingram Dunes. The land sits between Hillside Drive and Strand Avenue.
The South Carolina Environmental Law Project said in a press release “these ancient relic dunes reach 50 feet above means sea level and represent the last sliver of natural open space within the dense City limits of North Myrtle Beach.”
The developer will need approval from DHEC for some work related to the project, including “stormwater, wastewater, and water permits.” Public comment for the applications ends on Monday.
North Myrtle Beach’s planning commission will discuss tree removal for the project on Tuesday. The commission voted “no action” at its meeting on March 20. The developer asked the city to reconsider.
If the developer’s efforts aren’t successful, they’d have to request a variance before the Board of Zoning appeals, the city said in a Facebook post.
A group hoping to protect the dunes, Preserve Ingram Dunes, asked the city to buy the land.
“The city is obviously not going to exercise any kind of eminent domain, we don’t have the money for that,” city spokesperson Pat Dowling told News13. “And this would certainly go to court and what may be a four million price tag today would certainly be a much higher price tag in front of a jury in Horry County.”
