Eliminate ugly surprises for new residents

Today's editorial expresses empathy for The Farm residents distressed about contruction of a water tower near their homes:

Require developers to disclose intrusive projects

Some residents at The Farm, a Carolina Forest subdivision, are steamed that our local water utility is erecting a 120-foot water tower on nearby International Drive. They see the tower, a vital increment in a functional water system, as a blight upon their property values. So they have circulated a petition demanding that the offending utility, the Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority, move the tower somewhere else.

Their request is unrealistic. But their distress that no one warned them this could happen is legitimate.

Predictably, the complainants at The Farm have garnered some ridicule. "Did those folks not realize that their water has to come from somewhere?" asks one comment posted on MyrtleBeachOnline.com. "Either you're part of the GSWSA system, or you have a well and a pump."

Fred Richardson, the authority's executive director, notes that elevated water tanks - water towers - are common sights in and near subdivisions in greater Myrtle Beach. Because most folks understand that without the towers there would be no residential or commercial water pressure, Richardson said, "It never occurred to me that anyone would object to a tank near their community."

Fair enough. But why do ugly surprises such as this one keep happening in these parts? Because no one is responsible for warning new residents about planned projects that could alter their vision of an easier, more relaxed new life in South Carolina.

No one explained to The Farm residents that their very presence in the burgeoning communities of Carolina Forest would necessitate additional infrastructure, such as the water tower. Nor did anyone alert them, we're guessing, that International Drive, now a mostly dirt road between Carolina Forest and S.C. 90, will become a major thoroughfare in just a few years - and that trash trucks on their way to Horry County's landfill on S.C. 90 will be a large part of the traffic.

Similarly, no one likely alerted newer residents of the Villages at Arrowhead and Burcale Commons that the Hard Rock Theme Park would be constructed on nearby George Bishop Parkway, drastically altering local traffic patterns. Folks who bought into the many subdivisions along S.C. 707 between Enterprise Road and the Georgetown County line were probably not aware that the highway is slated for widening to four lanes sometime between now and 2013 - dramatically changing the semi-rural flavor of that part of the county. The local ugly-surprise list goes on and on.

Sure, all these pending changes would have been discoverable - if prospective new residents had thought to look for them. But developers' sales reps are reluctant to make disclosures that could dim the luster of the homes they're trying to sell. And the fragmentation and poor coordination of local governments (the water and sewer authority, for instance, is accountable only to its own board) make new residents even more vulnerable to shattered expectations.

It's not enough to tell disappointed residents to just live with their diminished expectations (though in this instance, that's what they'll have to do). The legislature should clarify state disclosure requirements on developers to include pending external public and private projects that could influence their quality of life. To keep making suckers of new arrivals is wrong.

Comments?

Comments

[Nick]

You didn't take my comment for them to just shut up.

:(

Hell, my development is right across a dirt road from a fairly large cotton field. There's complaints regarding the dirt road, mainly of dirt, not from us. We didn't want a house whose back yard was on a road. We foresaw that the dirt road may get paved one day.

The cotton field. Yeah, it's nice, give it a rural feel, but will it always remain a cotton field? A map of our subdivision (available to view at the model home, or you can get a copy at the county for a small fee) doesn't show that as being part of the development. But one quick look on www.horrycounty.org tells me the same developer who is doing our subdivision also owns the cotton farm, and he ain't in the cotton business.

Hell, neighbors complain because the sod farm on the other side of the development does controlled burns of the dead grass. They've been doing that since before half the subdivision was built, but they will complain.

But then there are people that will just complain about anything. I remember the asian tree beetle up north that eats any sweet tree. No pesticides work, and they kill the trees. To control them, and hopefully starve them, they have to remove trees, some old ones. A friend of ours was on the news complaining about the tree removal, saying they should use pesticides, I guess not realizing that none currently work, and if they don't remove this small portion of trees, this large section of trees will soon be infested and destroyed.

And just yesterday... I'm currently building a fence, and painting it. But I work, so the paint portion is taking time. I realized to paint before install, then touch up, but I didn't realize that until it was too late. I'm out there every day painting what is up. Our neighbor complained to the developer that it's 2 colors (that would be wood and white, or unpainted and painted). The representative was laughing while he was telling us. He had to tell us just to let us know, but he was laughing the whole time, because he knows we're doing it, we're not sitting inside with a half painted fence. Their side of our yard will be done next.

[beachguy(original)]

Welcome to the beach. If you didn't know about Hard Rock Park......Just exactly what were you smoking ??

If you didn't think the pottery would be re-developed someday....what cave were you living in ?

Water Tower ? when you but real estate and don't do research...you get what you asked for....I bet there is a Pud plat out there they could have looked at

Gimme a break.....move back to wherever ya came from.

[Denney Clements]

Whew! Y'all are strict! Social Darwinism in action.

dc

[PREFAB SPROUT]

Anyone who has spent any time in this area knows the score. Horry Council has never met a project it didnt like and the concept of Zoning is something they cant grasp. One only drive down 17 in Myrtle Beach (or around the city in general) and one can see there was some thought to how things are laid out. It's easy to know when you are outside the city limits--you get a strip bar-retail store-housing development-retail store-gun range- strip club all piled up next to each other.

[Rick]

I bet that Richardson from GSWSA would cry foul if he had bought a $350,000 house and some stupid utility company secretly bought land behind his home and built a giant monstrosity virtually overnight. His house would lose $50,000 to $75,000 or more instantly. It is one thing to buy a home knowing that a giant water tower is there or will be there someday. You are not going to pay top dollar for the property. But the way this was done was underhanded and sneeky. There was plenty of space over on International Drive that this could have easily been built. That Richardson is a complete moron!

[Rick]

The land that the GSWSA bought was purchased in FEB 07. The houses in that area were already built well before that. They needed to let people know what they were going to do. They need to compensate those folks affected as punishment for their stupidity. I had to laugh out loud when Richardson said he never thought anyone would be upset about this. The guy must have a brain the size of a pea.

[Nick]

Why, it's not your land. I'm sound like beachguy here... Just like those damn yankees to think they can control other people's land.

[Nick]

And how do you know there is plenty of land? Is it available to be purchased and used for a water tower? And don't forget about DNR crying about International Drive too.

[Nick]

And go forth and file your class action suit. I wonder if the rest of us GSWSA customers can file one against the residents of The Farm once our rates go up to pay for the class action suit and tower removal.

[Denney Clements]

Turns out the deal wasn't so secret. I found out this afternoon that the county Planning Commission approved this project with little discussion back in July 2007. Like GSWSA, they didn't see it as controversial. Not quite a smoking gun, but interesting in that the projct did touch upon Horry County after all.

And for the record, none of you has persuaded me there would be anything wrong with giving new residents a heads up about PLANNED BIG projects that could affect their property values. Nick and BGO are right that we can't control land we don't own; I'm totally down with property rights. But it's unfair to sock anyone with ugly surprises that might have changed their home-purchase decisions.

The bright side: At least we're not sticking asphault plants in the middle of established neighborhoods any more, a la the Pine Island Community.

dc

[Nick]

You're right. But where does it end? Horry County decides to build a fire station (which they did) or a police station, and residents complain because of the potential sirens? Or a school goes up, and they complain because kids on recess make noise?
It'll start with water towers, and end with somebody deciding to build a home, and a subdivision saying they like the open space.

These are the same people that claim they live in Myrtle Beach, and wonder why they don't get the parking decal. Now they can really feel like they like in Myrtle Beach, where I just seen a water tower right next to homes.

[Richard L. Wolfe]

Have any of you ever been to Jacksonville, Fla.? I swear there would be a beautiful home next to a hardware store, next a cow pasture complete with cows.

[DanielC]

Hmmm, wouldn't that be your Realtor letting you know that future development of the sewage plant is on the County Board for the land 400 yards from your house? Right she/he is try'n to make a buck and would never mention such a thing.

You may be wonder why all the houses in the neighborhood are up for sale though as you ride back to the office to start the paperwork on this "steal" of a deal.

***

On the other side, if the notice is posted in the “paper” (according to local laws) then it’s you the buyer’s responsibility to research where you are moving.

On the bright side, those 1.5 gallon toilets are gonna send the waste shooting through the pipes with all that new pressure.

[Rick]

My house has protected wetlands behind it an nothing can be built there. The county owns the land where the junior high was just built, and they own the land next to the elementary school on International Drive too. Liz Gilland said she wished she knew about this so the county could have helped GSWSA find a better area. All of you brain wizards that know nothing about this should pipe down. (nice pun) Rod Taylor who works for the zoning commission stated he remembers seeing the plans and they had no elevations on them. He didn't know,so he says, that a water tower would be built here. It could have been for a pumping station. GSWSA should be givin a choice of compensating the property owners or moving the tower. That way they will never pull this crap again.

[Rick]

Nick, Up in "Yankee Country" utilities can't pull this kind of thing. People have to be NOTIFIED. You been down here long enough to be affected by all of this stupidy that goes on here. Shame on you. You probably talk with a lazy southern accent now too. I know what to expect from BGO because he don't know any better, but you? come on and wake up. You were raised better than that. You were civilized once.

[beachguy(original)]

Rick: They aren't developing anything in "yankeeville"

Their 300 yr old systems will never be updated..so they don't have a notification problem.

At least in Carolina you don't need to sign a "mine cave in agreement" That says if the property caves in, its too bad for the buyer.

Move back to "Yankeeville" the sooner the better.

Your too stupid to know what the real estate behind you is zoned ???? Or did you already get your discount when you bought the house ?

The house in the picture looks like a $900,000 house in "Yankeeville", whicih is usually located next to an unemployment office, welfare office, or Crack house.

Ha ha

[beachguy(original)]

PS: this has been a fun blog.

To Transplants: Welcome to the beach; SC laws are not the same as other states. In most cases, we have no laws. We like it that way.

Pay a "pre-construction deposit" ? ha ha ha.

Consumer Protection ? wear a kevlar vest shopping..ha ha ha

Deceptive advertising not only legal, but Mandatory..

Wake up and investigate where you are moving to !!

Do you still think there is a 29,900 oceanfront condo ?? ha ha

What a bunch of Morons !!! Move to another state without finding out the rules.....Then you have the nerve to call us ignorant. We knew they was gonna build a water tower behind "Somebody's" house.

Ha ha....just keep moving here and entertaining me

[Rick]

They should rename South Carolina to Lower Slobovia. It fits Myrtle Beach perfect. Come bring your trailors and inbred idiots to this part of the country. We have no rules and if we do they are stupid ones and make absolutely no sense. Our leaders are bonified morons and we elect them because we are even stupider than they are. (BGO for mayor)
They say "ignorance is bliss". This place must be paridise!

[jim sefter]

Well Rick, if you hate it so much here, why don't you move back to New Joisey, or wherever you think is so great. We really don' care how or what you did UP THERE. You're NOT UP THERE. We are sick and tired of stupid, ignorant Yankees trying to tell us how we ought to live. I don't usually get this riled up, but you just sound plain stupid. Buy a water tower for 500,000 bucks and swim in it.

[jim sefter]

PS: I would vote for beachguy(original) before I'd vote for some sleazeball New York lawyer who can't keep his pants zipped. The solution to the Illegal immigration problem: Everyone from the Northeastern states should move to Mexico. The Mexican government would get so sick of the Yankees telling them how to live they would deport them to Canada and bring all their citizens back to take their place.

[DanielC]

Wow,

Can't we all just get along?

This sounds soooo Raleigh, NC conversation mid-80s. We locals there would just nicely and politely let unhappy newbies know that I-95 runs North it's not a one way, so feel free to go back.

Daniel

[Nick]

Rick:

So I've been down here too long? I guess 3 years is too long, I'm one of the rednecks now. Yee Haw, now to perfect the accent.

Don't sit there and type that utilities don't get built like that up north. That's a lie, and you know it.
Go to Rahway NJ and look at the incinerator and tell me it's not near homes and businesses. It's actually about 50 feet from the curb of US Route 1. Wonderful facility, spews white smoke every day. Go to Carteret NJ and see the sewage treatment plant and recycling center. It all stinks, it's near homes, and behind a soccer/little league field. These would count as NIMBY projects, like your water tower.

And don't sit there and say they notify people up there, and act like they don't down here. You were just told the commission approved the project. When? That would be at a meeting. If you don't know when your public meetings are, that's your problem. In fact, if the land needed to be rezoned, there was probably a sign on the property saying when the rezoning meeting would be held. I say probably because I haven't seen that one specific site, but I've seen the signs more times than I can count. And then there are the legal notices. Public meetings are advertised in there too. And don't forget Horry County's website, they have quite a bit of information on there, including when their public meetings are being held. Something I can say they don't have up north.

And then there is this simple fact: Laws are different everywhere. Have you been down here long enough Rick to remember the mini bottles? If you don't like the laws in place, elect people who will change them, or put in place laws you like. A project like this doesn't fall through the cracks like you people would like to think. That's like saying a golf course just suddenly got built with no approval. And like one person said, I think on the article comments part, they knew about this from the noise of the pilings being driven into the ground. What did you think was going there? Just some people driving pilings into the ground for fun?
My god, Carolina Forest is full of idiots, and you're one of them Rick. Stay on the politics blog and fight with the french guy.

[Nick]

I would love to get along Daniel, but unfortunately it feels like I left yankeeville to come to new yankeeville.

They all hate where they came from, but they want to change the way things are to the way things were back there. Case in point, Rick points out they would never have done this up north. Apparently he missed the Mason Dixon crossing on his way down I-95

[DanielC]

Nick,

All I can say, from living a bunch of places, it's not just yankeeville, it's human (I don't get involved and follow the herd) mentality that thinks our property values go down or that "those people" are moving in so our neighborhood is screwed or that other party in government is messing with my livelyhood cause my party says so.

It's greed. That is all it is when you look at the bottom line of what causes folks to finally get off their arses and out of the garden party to make a voice as a whole to who ever is messing with that groups issues.

At least that is the way I see it from here,
DanielC