The Myrtle Beach Planning Commission is discussing how to bring more medical clinics and doctors’ offices to the Market Common area.
During its meeting on Tuesday, the Planning Commission discussed allowing medical uses in areas zoned as a light manufacturing district, which would include the Shine Avenue area behind the Market Common, as well as parts of Seaboard Street.
“They want to make sure that whoever comes in here, they’re going to have the quality of life that they deserve,” said Myrtle Beach Planning Director Carol Coleman. She believes that goes hand in hand with providing more health care options in the Market Common area, especially given the growing number of people living there. “With so much of the population concentrating out there, it would be a good idea to have more options,” said Coleman. “We have a lot of people that are retiring here, some of the new residents are retiring here, so there’s an increased demand on health services.”
Though the zoning change would not allow a hospital to be built in district, Coleman said a wide range of medical services could stlll be available, including “any type of clinical use, any type of ancillary medical use. You could see something like physical therapy. You could possibly have chemotherapy treatment, or even a dentist office.”
The city hopes this change will help redevelop the portion behind the Market Common, and do away with several vacant buildings and empty lots that line Shine Avenue. “There are a couple of buildings associated with the air force base that never really – they’ve had stuff in there through the years but there’s nothing in there now.” Coleman added, “If you have other options for types of uses, there’s more of a chance that someone else will come in and do some work on the building and open it up as something like another medical office.”
Even with a new hotel and bowling facility coming to the Market Common, Coleman assured the infrastructure will be able to handle any additional traffic. “The roads are designed for a lot more people than are living out there,” she said.
The Planning Commission discussed the proposal for the first time on Tuesday. Next, the Planning Department will form the proposal into an official ordinance, that the Planning Commission may recommend to Myrtle Beach City Council.