CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Council voted down a controversial development near a natural preserve Tuesday.
Dozens of residents opposed to the proposal for more than 1,400 homes packed the council meeting. After several contentious public hearings and the county’s planning commission recommending disapproval, many people living near South Carolina Highway 90 got the answer they wanted.
Council voted 6 to 5 against rezoning the land next to the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, which is east of Conway. It would also connect state highway 90 with Old Highway 90.
Several people living near the proposed site were against the project, saying the development would put too much stress on public safety and roads.
“Council must consider the long-term cost of widening highway 90, adding new schools, police, fire and EMS stations,” said Barbara Eisenhardt.
The developers pledged $3 million towards road improvements and $1.4 million to emergency service upgrades.
Still, a majority of council members said that wasn’t enough to pay for what would be needed.
“We’re in a crisis when it comes to developers on highway 90,” said Harold Worley, an Horry County council member representing North Myrtle Beach. “Everybody’s wanting to get in front of everybody else, but the fact remains is the infrastructure, Mr. (Vice) Chairman, is not in place.”
Worley was addressing vice chair Bill Howard because chairman Mark Lazarus recused himself from the discussion and vote on the project.
“I don’t want to see highway 90 turn into what we are dealing with still in Carolina Forest,” said Dennis DiSabato, an Horry County council member who represents Carolina Forest and most of Myrtle Beach.
The property is currently zoned for a smaller development of about 882 homes on lots of at least 10,000 square feet of land.
