MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Some Horry County Council members say they are surprised a proposal to rezone 142 acres for a new theme park passed the county's planning commission so quickly.

The commission gave unanimous approval to the plan Wednesday, clearing the first hurdle before work can start on the estimated $200 million project at the Fantasy Harbour site near U.S. 501.

The rezoning plan now goes to the County Council, which must take three separate votes before the proposal is approved. Even then, planners of the project would still have to secure financing.

Approval by the council could take as little as six weeks, although some members expect a much longer fight.

The council will ask for more information on how noise, runoff and traffic congestion will affect neighborhoods around the site.

"I'm going to want to know a whole lot more before I vote on this," Councilman Marion Foxworth said.

Chairwoman-elect Liz Gilland, who will take office Friday, said approval by the entire council will be much slower than the planning commission.

"I told the developers that County Council is going to be a lot tougher," she said. "We're going to hold them to very high standards. We're not going to rush through this."

The theme park, which will be named for the Hard Rock Cafe, would include a 15,000-seat outdoor concert venue, rides and indoor attractions.

The park would employ 3,000 full- and part-time workers and is scheduled to open by 2005.

Backers of the theme park have already started to lobby the council and nearby residents.

The theme park will actually create less traffic than the area would under its existing zoning rules, said Greg Lipscomb of Design Dynamics, one of the firms hired by the park developers.

Also, the park will be no louder than airplanes taking off from Myrtle Beach International Airport, developers said.

"We want to be good neighbors," Lipscomb said. "Experts and professionals have been working on this for two years."

Information from: The Sun News