Council tables $43,000 design request for Majestic Oaks Park after questions on boat lift, playground and raised restrooms

Members of the Town of Sunset Beach Council on Feb. 13 tabled action on a $43,000 engineering task order amendment from McGill Associates that would produce bid-ready design drawings for three added features at Majestic Oaks Park: a 15-by-20 emergency boat lift, a playground and a precast elevated restroom.

"The task order involved two things, figuring out where the best position was to put the boat lift, and then number two, actually the design of the boat lift itself," McGill representative Alex (speaker 2) told the council while describing the new scope.

Councilors raised a range of concerns after the presentation. One council member argued the park layout would be "too congested" and recommended the council not approve the additions now, saying the playground and boat lift felt like extras to be added later. Another council member said the restroom must be elevated and asked for specifics on screening to mitigate sightlines from nearby homes.

Several council members said they had received limited time to review the materials; the packet was distributed days earlier and councilors asked for a more complete presentation to be scheduled on an April agenda. A member of the council also flagged insurance and maintenance concerns for any playground equipment placed adjacent to residences.

McGill confirmed wetlands had been identified on the site and that wetland boundaries would constrain siting. The firm also told the council that the restroom unit would be precast concrete set on piles and raised roughly 8–10 feet, with plumbing connected via a vacuum pump to a sewer tie at Cobia Street because no sewer line reaches the site.

Councilors stressed the $43,000 is for design and bidding documents only, not construction. One member asked the town to present clearer cost estimates and risk analyses before authorizing the design funds, noting construction costs could be substantially higher than the design fee.

The council agreed to table the item and to request a fuller public presentation that would allow the full council and residents to review scope, siting, costs, phasing and screening options before providing direction.