North Myrtle Beach Delays Vote on Amazon Drone Launch Pad Proposal

The city of North Myrtle Beach is considering Amazon's proposal to build a drone launch pad in the Palmetto Coast Industrial Park. The planning staff has asked the Planning Commission to postpone their vote on the project until October 20, and a public workshop has been scheduled for October 7.

The proposed launch pad would be located behind Amazon's same-day delivery building at 8651 Water Tower Road and would feature six launch and landing pads, a divert pad, two banks of turn stations, and an 8-foot barrier wall. The staff report notes that the FAA governs drone flying, but the city can decide where the launch pad is located.

Amazon's Prime Air line serves a 7.5-mile radius around each hub, with up to 1,000 flights per day. In this case, the circle would reach Atlantic Beach, Barefoot Landing, and Myrtle Beach's north end. The FAA has signed a nationwide environmental finding for drone delivery, which means that local comment periods are not required.

The city of North Myrtle Beach can decide whether to approve the launch pad and on what terms. Staff have recommended that commissioners may approve with conditions, such as hours of operation or a departure cap. The noise record is also an important consideration, with Amazon's Baton Rouge operations manager claiming that the aircraft is quieter than an idling delivery truck.