Appendix 713. Office/Professional/Institutional District (OPI).

Intent. It is the intent of the Office/Professional/Institutional District to provide areas for the development of administrative and professional office space in locations served by primary access, yet inappropriate for commercial development because of close proximity to residential areas.

713.1 Permitted Uses:

(A)

Professional, administrative and general business offices;

(B)

Medical and dental clinics and laboratories, excluding outpatient treatment clinics as defined in section 448.5;

(C)

Financial offices;

(D)

Hospitals, nursing homes;

(E)

Educational institutions, including dormitories;

(F)

Religious, recreational, and athletic camps, including lodging facilities;

(G)

Accessory uses including tattoo parlors and body piercing in licensed health care establishments engaged in the science of preventing, curing or alleviating human disease, including medical, surgical, osteopathic, and dental hospitals, clinics and offices, but excluding health clubs, gymnasiums, and associated uses; and

(H)

Single-family residential uses.

(I)

Accessory living quarters in conformance with the requirements of Article V, Section 509.

(J)

Churches, synagogues, temples, and other places of worship subject to the provisions of Article 12.

(Ord. No. 164-97, § 2, 1-20-98; Ord. No. 51-99, § 24, 12-7-99; Ord. No. 10-00, § 1, 3-21-00; Ord. No. 31-01, § 1, 6-19-01; Ord. No. 98-04, § 1, 10-5-04; Ord. No. 88-16, § 4, 11-1-16; Ord. No. 35-18, § 17, 5-1-18; Ord. No. 116-17, § 3, 11-14-17)

713.2 Conditional Uses:

(A)

Kindergartens and day care centers provided that buffering may be required if deemed necessary in order to reduce the noise levels generated by the day care facility.

(B)

Sports facilities for permitted uses.

(Ord. No. 118-98, § 2, 1-19-99)

(C)

Therapeutic massage spas provided that:

1.

All massage therapists shall be licensed by the State of South Carolina; and

2.

Services offered and advertised shall not include any type of bathing services performed by an employee or agent of the Spa; and

3.

Hours of operation are limited to 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

(D)

Fraternity/sorority houses provided that:

1)

The use is located on the same parcel of land on which the main campus of a technical school, college or university is located or on an adjoining parcel owned by the technical school, college or university provided the structure is located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the main campus and is occupied by college, university, or professional organization recognized by that particular college, university or technical school. If the proposed structure is not within the required one thousand (1,000) feet of the main campus, then the Board of Zoning Appeals may approve the use as a special exception.

2)

The use adheres to the following lot size, building height, lot coverage, setbacks, and screening:

a.

The maximum density does not exceed eight (8) units per acre or portion thereof based on the lot area. The definition of a unit for a fraternity/sorority house is a room or suite of two (2) or more rooms that is designed for and not occupied by more that two (2) people and having only one (1) kitchen facility located within the building.

SETBACKS
	Adjacent to Non-Residential Uses		Adjacent to Residential Uses
Height	Less than 36'	Greater than 36'	Less than 36'	Greater than 36'
Front	50 feet	50 feet	50 feet	50 feet
Side	10 feet	20 feet	30 feet	40 feet
Rear	15 feet	30 feet	30 feet	30 feet

 

3)

Where the use abuts a residential zoning district and is not separated by a street right-of-way, the following screening provisions shall apply:

a)

A solid fence or wall at least six (6) feet in height shall be placed along the property line.

b)

The solid fence or wall is in accordance with the setbacks and requirements for privacy fences.

c)

A minimum of twenty (20) feet of existing vegetation or re-vegetated buffer yard shall be established between the proposed building and the adjacent residential district property line.

4)

The use must adhere to Article XI, Section 1104 (Off-street Parking Requirements) of the Horry County Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. No. 47-01, § 1, 4-17-01; Ord. No. 29-03, § 4, 8-19-03)

713.3 Special Exceptions: Owing to their potential negative impact on the community, the following use[s] may be approved as a special exception by the Zoning Board of Appeals:

(A)

Outpatient treatment facilities for alcoholism and drug addition, subject to the following conditions:

(1)

That the special exception shall not be located closer than two thousand (2,000) feet (measured from property line) from any house of worship, day care center, public or private elementary or secondary education school, public park, public library, or the following residential zoning districts: SF 40, SF 20, SF 10 and SF 6, as well as their corresponding MR [MSF] classifications; GR, RR, RC and MHP, except in unusual circumstances where mitigating conditions can be imposed to minimize adverse effects to residential uses;

(2)

That the special exception will be in substantial harmony with the area in which it is to be located;

(3)

That the special exception will not be injurious to adjoining property;

(4)

That the special exception will contribute to the economic vitality and promote the general welfare of the community;

(5)

That the special exception will not discourage or negate the use of surrounding property for use(s) permitted by right;

(6)

In granting the special exception, the zoning board of appeals may impose such reasonable and additional stipulations, conditions, or safeguards as, in its judgment, will enhance the siting of the proposed special exception.

(Ord. No. 164-97, § 3, 1-20-98)

713.4 Special Provisions:

(A)

Minimum lot size: Ten thousand (10,000) square feet.

(B)

Maximum building height: Eighty (80) feet, providing all other applicable requirements are met (parking, airport height restrictions, etc.).

(C)

Maximum lot coverage (impervious surface): Sixty-five (65) percent.

(D)

Front yard setback: Twenty-five (25) feet.

(E)

Side yard [setback:]

Ten (10) feet for buildings under thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a non-residential zone.

Twenty (20) feet for buildings over thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a non-residential zone.

Thirty (30) feet for buildings under thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a residential zone.

Side yards shall include by one (1) foot for every two (2) feet of building height above thirty-six (36) feet when adjacent to a residential zone.

(F)

Rear yard [setback:]

Fifteen (15) feet for buildings under thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a non-residential zone.

Thirty (30) feet for buildings over thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a non-residential zone.

Thirty (30) feet for buildings under thirty-six (36) feet in height and adjacent to a residential zone.

Rear yards shall increase by one (1) foot for every two (2) feet of building height above thirty-six (36) feet when adjacent to a residential zone.

(G)

Screening: Where a proposed building site abuts any Residential Zoning District and is not separated by a street right-of-way, the following screening provisions shall apply.

1.

A solid fence or wall at least six (6) feet in height shall be placed along the property line.

2.

A minimum of twenty (20) feet of natural or revegetated buffer yard shall be established between the OPI use and the adjacent residential district property line.

(Ord. No. 164-97, § 3, 1-20-98)

713.5 Other Requirements:

(A)

All allowed uses shall conform to the standards for area, yard, and height requirements are set forth in Article VIII.

(B)

Signs permitted in this district, including the conditions under which they may be located, are set forth in Article X.

(Ord. No. 67-88, 4-18-89; Ord. No. 1-90, 2-20-90; Ord. No. 164-97, § 3, 1-20-98; Ord. No. 67-07, § 1, 5-1-07)