LONGS, SC (WBTW)- Horry County council is another step closer to approving a nearly 1,300 home development in the Longs area. It would go near the intersection of Old Buck Creek Road and Highway 905.
County council passed the second reading for the project, but some people who live in the area are against it.
The impact on traffic, and road conditions on Old Buck Creek Road and Highway 905 is a major concern, and one reason why Sharon Pollard doesn’t want nearly 1,300 homes built right outside her neighborhood.
“You can’t put that kind of trucks and product they’re bringing in like stone, cement trucks on this road. It’s going to cost people money to fix it,” said Sharon Pollard.
Pollard thinks road improvements should be taken care of before thousands of more people move into the area. Councilman Paul Prince represents the Longs district. He is in favor of the development because the Longs area is seeing a lot of growth, but when it comes to the roads he said the state needs to step up.
“They need to get here and get busy helping us with these roads and improving them. We’re sending money to Washington by the bucket loads,” said Councilman Paul Prince.
Council members say the developer, EIP Venture Partners, will pay to widen Old Buck Creek Road and make road improvements, but Pollard doesn’t think that’s enough.
Pollard said another issue is there’s already not enough emergency services in the area.
“I’ve talked with the county chief, police chief and we have 1 officer for 106 miles of road. I don’t even have to bring up the crime that’s been happening in the Longs area,” said Pollard.
According to council, the developer will pay the county 500 dollars per unit once they get building permits to go towards additional fire and emergency services, but councilman Prince said the area needs the upgrades now.
“I’m not waiting if I can get the Horry County government to understand we need to go ahead with the fire station, police station, ems station,” said Prince.
The project still has to go through one more approval before it’s set in stone.