Horry County could get more housing developments along two busy highways

Construction of hundreds of new apartments along two highways received the backing of an Horry County board.

The Horry County Planning Commission agreed Thursday to approve plans to build more than 250 apartments at the intersection of Highways 544 and 814 beside CVS, WMBF-TV reported.

“We’re hoping by having the residential behind it, it’s going to build the drive for that commercial,” said Earthworks Group engineer Daniel Park, who designed the project.

Mike Costello, who lives near Highway 544, said he is worried about more traffic congestion on the roadway, the TV station reported.

“This ebb and flow of [Highway] 544, I’ve lived there for the better part of 20 years now, and I’m telling you that for six months out of the year, it’s hard to get out of there,” Costello said during the meeting.

There have also been concerns about flooding in the area, which county officials said might not actually be a problem with the new development.

“It will actually retain more water than it did in its pre-development state,” commission member Pamela Dawson said.

The commission also voted in favor of another housing development, which would allow for the construction of more than 300 apartments on Postal Way behind the Tanger Outlets on Highway 501, according to the station.

“I think everybody prefers no development, but that’s not an option,” said Mike Wooten of DDC Engineers. “We paid a lot of money for this piece of property, and it’s going to be developed.”

Horry County Council must give final approval to these projects before developers can move forward.