Rezoning for charter schools in Carolina Forest clears another hurdle

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - A new potential school option for Horry County parents cleared an important hurdle during a county council meeting Tuesday.

An ordinance rezoning an area off of River Oaks Drive to build a charter middle and high school passed the second reading during the council meeting, clearing another hurdle for the possible school.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Limestone Charter seeks to build two new schools along River Oaks Drive

“I would support a vote of ‘yay’ at second reading with the understanding that there are still a handful of minor issues that we need to resolve before we get to third reading,” said county councilmember Dennis DiSabato, who represents the Carolina Forest Area.

Carolina Forest residents have previously expressed concerns about traffic, noise and River Oaks Drive not having the infrastructure to handle the new buildings.

DiSabato said there have been some amendments to the ordinance that may alleviate some of those worries, including that construction on the middle school would not begin until improvements are made on River Oaks Drive--something that is a part of the Ride IV program.

“As the school operates, I just would ask you all to be good neighbors and to be mindful that you are next to several residential subdivisions, and this is not going to be an amusement park, but rather a school,” said DiSabato.

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Staff from Coastal High School, which plans to build on the property, say they are more than capable of being good neighbors.

“I can’t imagine that it would be anything of disruption,” said teacher Sarah Vicini.

Vicini tells WMBF News the school has been functioning in a space not built for it, and this new property is long overdue.

But, she says the less-than-ideal situation has made the school community more innovative, especially when it comes to dealing with traffic.

“I lived off of River Oaks for two and a half years and I know the concern, but if you take a look at what we’re doing in a much lesser situation right now, it’s not going to be a problem,” said Vicini.

This ordinance has to pass a third and final reading in the near future before it becomes official.

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