CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – The Horry County planning commission narrowly rejected a plan to build more than 1,400 homes next to a wildlife preserve.
The vote was 4 to 3, however, this is just a recommendation. Horry County Council will have the final say.
The proposal concerns a development on about 865 acres near the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. It would also connect South Carolina Highway 90 with Old Highway 90.
People living near the proposed site packed Thursday night’s meeting, saying the development will hurt the area.
“The more natural areas you turn into developments and you add impervious surfaces, you’re going to negatively impact water quality and add to flood risk in the flood plain,” said Waccamaw Riverkeeper Cara Schildtknecht.
The developers say the proposal will fix their concerns since most of the property is already zoned for development.
“It’s not really whether or not we’re going forward with it, it’s really how we’re going forward,” said Claude Epps, a co-owner of the property.
The developers say they could donate about $4.4 million to the county for improvements to emergency services and infrastructure. That would come from fees on each individual lot sold.
There’s no word on when county council will vote on the plan.