Hurricane Ian crashed ashore this past weekend with the 3rd highest storm surge in area history.
MyrtleBeachSC News posted our press conference with FEMA on Saturday with projections that beach re-nourishment will cost in the billions for oceanfront dunes repairs.
The Federal Government and S.C. State Government pay matching funds for beach re-nourishment.
Matching funds, however, must come from local Horry County residents.
Oceanfront homeowners, hotel owners, and condo owners are not required to contribute. South Carolina State law mandates that Horry County residents will be, however.
Will S.C.’s free beach parking requirement law stop the flow of funding for these repairs?
The 2021 amendment to the law reads as follows below. The law demands that free beach parking must be provided by municipalities so they can be “ELIGIBLE FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT FUNDS”.
The law is currently being enforced in Charleston area beach towns, like Isle of Palms, but has not been brought up for discussion in Horry County.
Beach Parking Amendment S 40 to S.C. Law 575845
- Introduced in Senate Apr 06, 2021
- Passed Senate Apr 06, 2021
- Passed House May 13, 2021
- Signed into law in May 2021 by Governor Henry McMaster
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 57-5-840, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ALTERATIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES OF STATE HIGHWAY FACILITIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE USE OR RESTRICTIONS MADE BY MUNICIPALITIES ON STATE HIGHWAY FACILITIES OR RIGHTS OF WAY FOR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, PARKING OR OTHER PURPOSES ARE SUBJECT TO PRIOR APPROVAL BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY ENCROACHMENT PERMIT; BY ADDING SECTION 57-5-845 SO AS TO PROVIDE FREE AND PAID PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON STATE HIGHWAY FACILITIES LOCATED IN BEACH COMMUNITIES ELIGIBLE FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT FUNDS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF FUNDS GENERATED FROM MUNICIPAL PUBLIC BEACH PARKING CHARGES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 57-7-210, RELATING TO OBSTRUCTIONS IN HIGHWAYS, SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM “HIGHWAY” AND REVISE THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION. – ratified title
While the City of North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach can argue that tourism is a $3 billion annual industry, our own numbers show that 350,000 Horry County residents pump $1.82 billion in the local economy every year.
ONE THIRD OF ALL CITY PARKING MANDATED FREE
The city of North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Myrtle Beach charge county residents for parking, but provide FREE PARKING with as many as 2 parking decals to their own city residents.
A letter from SCDOT Secretary of Transportation, Christy Hall, told the municipality of Isle of Palms, its city was required to provide one third of its parking as “free parking” to county and state taxpayers. This free parking must also be located in areas adjacent to public beaches according to state law.
The Isle of Palms Mayor and City Council now want the state law revoked.
“Parking is not free,” Isle of Palms Councilmember Blair Hahn said. “Parking costs emergency services, police services, fire services, it costs for landscaping for trash pickup. It costs money, somebody’s gotta bear that expense.”
However, with his hand now extended to county residents, Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds said: “The City continues to work with SCDOT to find solutions that are beneficial to our residents and visitors.”