Myrtle Beach Resort OK'd Despite Wetland, Dune Worries

Horry County officials greenlit a major beachfront resort project in Myrtle Beach this spring, igniting fierce debate over environmental protections versus economic expansion. The approval, first reported by WPDE, comes as the county grapples with a 6% loss of isolated wetlands from 2015 to 2025, according to a NASA study. Developers must now navigate proposed stricter rules, including a 15-foot buffer zone from all wetlands under a landscape ordinance up for first reading on April 21 after deferral from March 17, Horry County spokesperson Kimberly O’Leary stated.

The project aligns with Horry County's Beach Management Plan, which prioritizes beach and dune preservation through retreat and renourishment over new erosion controls, per state policy under the Beachfront Management Act. Yet, wetland vulnerabilities have spiked following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling stripping federal safeguards from isolated wetlands not linked to navigable waters. Horry County's new 3,700-acre wetland mitigation bank offers preservation but limits credits to public projects, excluding residential or resort builds.

Local opposition echoes broader concerns in Myrtle Beach communities, where a separate golf course redevelopment for 400 homes has residents fearing worsened flooding, safety hazards and wildlife disruption. Multi-residential codes offer a voluntary 50-foot wetland buffer, but developers rarely opt in, fueling calls for mandatory measures. Proponents tout the resort's potential to bolster Horry County's tourism-driven economy, which saw explosive growth alongside wetland losses.