Community Appearance Board gets first look at airport plans

MYRTLE BEACH - The city of Myrtle Beach’s Community Appearance Board reviewed the plans Thursday to expand and make site improvements at the Myrtle Beach International Airport Terminal.

Board members met in the Conference Room, of the City Services Building, located at 921 Oak Street.

Horry County Council has approved the $130 million terminal project. Council has also set aside money to help pay for extending Harrelson Boulevard to connect U.S. 17 Business east to the U.S. 17 Bypass.

In 2007, plans to expand the terminal on the west side of the airport were rejected by the board.

Thursday, representatives from various groups working on the Terminal Expansion Project presented a power point presentation to board members.

The Concept design plan includes changes to the parking areas, terminal, and airport entrances.

The presentation lasted about two hours and program manager Rick Ott, with MB Kahn Construction, said the presentation was a success.  “We were very pleased with the comments, some very constructive comments and you know this board is reflective of the community and this is the first opportunity for the community to see what the new airport terminal will look like.“  Ott said the next step is for the group to go back and look at some of the suggestions from CAB members and return at a later date for a follow up presentation.

CAB Chairman Larry Bragg said, “There was something that I didn’t hear that I was pleased with and what I did not hear from any of the board members were quality of life issues that contributed to the demise of the Westside plan, so everything that was raised by the board members concern aesthetics.“  Bragg said there will be many more meetings about the airport project and maybe even a workshop.