Will Conway accept one of the largest developments in Horry County history? What to know
A team behind the largest planned development in Conway’s modern history will have another month to finalize its sales pitch as grassroots opposition builds.
Over the next 25 years, Fort Mill-based BRD Land & Investment hopes to transform more than 1,700 acres bounded by S.C. Highway 701, Kinlaw Lane and Pitch Landing Road into a massive mixed-use community with 3,300 homes and nearly 1.4 million square feet of commercial space.
But rather than build the project in Horry County, developers want what’s tentatively named Warden Station to become part of Conway — a lengthier process that requires annexation and approval of a development agreement that runs some 500 pages.
Given the project’s scope, planning officials set an Aug. 3 date to consider the annexation request and make their suggestion to the city council.
But hours before that meeting was to begin, the proposal was pushed to Sept. 7.
“It could be developed in Horry County with no control on the part of the city, so you end up having to deal with all the problems that could be created while not getting any contribution, any additional open space, nothing else that benefits the city,” Robert “Shep” Guyton, an attorney representing BRD Land & Investment, told the town’s planning commission on July 13.
“There’s value in the brand of being in Conway,” Guyton said. “You all have created a name that does add value, it’s where people want to live. Horry County of itself doesn’t have an identity.”
What the development would include
If Conway approves the deal, the development would include the following:
Creation of an internal road network and future improvements based on building permits
Still undefined sanitation and public safety enhancement fees
An 8-foot multi-purpose path
Installation of at least one new sewer pump station
Stormwater delivery and retention systems
Fees representing the estimated cost to upgrade five intersections
Installation of at least four pickleball courts and recreation fields
Offering of 500 acres to the city for open space and preservation
Outside the city’s planning offices on Aug. 3, Elaine Kemp stood clutching a stack of petitions collected from dozens of residents who are against the venture. She’s also administrator of “Conway People for Responsible Building,” a Facebook watchdog group.
Long-time residents like Tim Wolfe, who lives off Pitch Landing Road, said despite the developer’s accommodations, such heavy use in the rural area would affect his quality of life.
“Most of the people I know that live down in this area, we don’t want another Carolina Forest, and that’s exactly what this place is going to turn into,” Wolfe said.
A traffic study included as part of the development plan shows annual daily trips of 7,800 on Pitch Landing Road and 16,600 on S.C. Highway 701 — figures expected to nearly double by 2050.
“Traffic control all along the coast in this area, not just in Conway, is a problem,” said Conway resident Sam Viola. “Car insurance is skyrocketing in state. Homeowners’ insurance is skyrocketing in the state.”
