North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission to Vote on Proposed Amazon Drone Delivery Launch Pad

Residents in North Myrtle Beach and the Barefoot Landing area are raising concerns regarding a proposed Amazon drone delivery service that could operate locally. The discussions surfaced during a recent planning commission meeting, where community members questioned how the aerial delivery system would affect neighborhood privacy, safety, sound levels, and property safety.

Under the proposal discussed by Amazon representative Tareq Wafaie, the service would deploy up to 12 drones operating from a local launch pad facility. The aircraft would carry packages weighing up to five pounds—roughly the size of a standard shoebox—and release items from an altitude of about 13 feet above designated drop zones. Operations would be capped at a maximum of 1,000 deliveries per day within a seven-and-a-half-mile radius of the launch site.

Local residents expressed specific safety concerns about dropping items from the air, citing potential damage to vehicles, pets, or family members if GPS targeting experiences errors. Other concerns centered on the noise of frequent flights and privacy risks associated with onboard navigation cameras. Representatives for Amazon stated that safety remains the primary focus, explaining that camera feeds function strictly like vehicle backup cameras to ensure clear landing zones, with no video footage saved or shared.

Technical requirements and local environmental factors could also limit where the drones can operate. The system requires an 18-foot clear diameter drop zone free of obstructions like mature trees, and flights are restricted from established red no-fly zones on local maps. Furthermore, Amazon acknowledged that coastal weather conditions could disrupt service, noting that flights must be paused during anything beyond light winds until conditions settle. While Federal Aviation Administration regulations control air space travel, individual HOAs or property owners can restrict landings on their specific land.

The North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed drone launch pad facility on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Community members following the proposal can attend upcoming municipal meetings or review municipal agendas to stay informed ahead of the vote.