Rejecting housing on Postal Way could mean more traffic in Carolina Forest

Carolina Forest residents say they don’t want a new housing development because it would bring more cars to the Postal Way area, but their opposition to the plan could actually triple the traffic, officials say.

Dozens of residents showed up at the Horry County Planning Commission meeting Thursday night to oppose a proposed zoning change of 70 acres behind the closed Gander Mountain store from highway commercial to residential.

After a heated debate, the commission agreed with residents and in a 5-4 vote forwarded their resolution to reject the zoning change to the Horry County Council, which will be consider the decision on Dec. 12.

“Postal Way is just a disaster,” said Planning Commissioner Board Pam Cecala, who lives in Carolina Forest and voted against the zoning change.

Commissioners against the rezoning echoed concerns that more housing would mean more drivers on the road.

Some residents opposed to the housing development said they would rather see more stores connecting to the Tanger Outlet area, but stores bring more traffic than residential developments, officials said.

The proposed housing development of about 480 units would add 4,300 car trips per day to the area, said David Schwerd, deputy director of Horry County Planning and Zoning.

As it’s currently zoned for highway commercial, that traffic volume jumps to 15,000 to 20,000 a day with commerical buildings, said Walter Warren, an engineer with Thomas & Hutton, the company acting as agent for the property owners.

Even with an office development, traffic would still increase to 6,000 drivers a day, Schwerd said.

But Carolina Forest residents are fed up with the growth in new residents and say the traffic problems will only get worse if more people move into the area.

They aren’t convinced that the widening project of Carolina Forest Boulevard or planned construction of the Postal Way expansion will ease traffic woes.

But without the zoning change, county officials face a new challenge in constructing Postal Way, which goes right through the property.

As it’s currently zoned, that property commands a high price and it would cost the county more than $1 million to acquire the four acres needed for the road’s right-of-way, several planning commissioners said during the discussion.

“If we don’t rezone, they won’t be providing the right-of-way for us,” Schwerd said.

The recommendation from the planning commission is not binding. The council can approve the commission’s decision with one vote, or send it back to the commission for reconsideration.

One commissioner who voted in favor of the rezoning said the county council can move forward with the project, regardless of what the planning commission decides.

“While I don’t necessarily agree with everything, the reality of the situation is, it’s going to happen,” said Commissioner Chris Hennigan.

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Rejecting housing on Postal Way could mean more traffic in Carolina Forest."