Market Common vs. Carolina Forest: ‘Not in my backyard,’ residents say to block development

Weeks after Myrtle Beach leaders derailed plans for a 200-home development inside Market Common, Horry County officials were given details on a large project that would alter the scope of Carolina Forest.

A common refrain of ‘not in my backyard’ seems to be popping up in discussions from residents in both communities in attempt to block future developments.

Market Common residents have said they don’t want to be the next Carolina Forest, mean lots of homes. Carolina Forest residents do not want to be the next Market Common with mixed development including businesses near homes.

“We don’t want to see another Carolina Forest,” Paul Meunier, president of The Reserve at Market Common, said. “If it gets to have so many houses down here, it’s no longer like the area we bought in.”

As opponents lined up against both, common themes emerged with concerns about overcrowding, traffic, public safety and flooding dominating the conversation.

“You keep on adding people and adding people, and it’s going to affect quality of life down the road. You can’t look at it in a myopic way,” Carolina Forest resident Sherry Reed said.

Here’s a look at what might happen in both areas in the coming months.

Market Common says the failed housing plan could stall future investment

Although the popular shopping district expects to hit full retail capacity by the end of 2023, the inability to add 200 more rental units means lost revenue and a likely delay in building renovation work, property manager Heather Gray said earlier this month.

In late March, the city council’s vote to halt MarketWalk — a planned residential plaza at the intersection of Farrow Parkway and Phillis Boulevard — cut nearly $472,000 a year in anticipated rental income.

MarketWalk’s defeat came on the heels of major pushback from a nearby homeowners’ association and other Market Common residents who said the prospect of marathon stop lights and even more congestion at a gateway to the community should matter more than putting more rooftops into the district.

Market Common owner HomeFed could return to the idea of a hotel on the property — the original plan for the area.

A quiet piece of Carolina Forest is being eyed for a “Market Common” style future

At issue is whether to convert 175 total acres for commercial and retail use — anchored by 1,154 homes.

Although the residential and commercial components must be decided separately, they’re designed to complement one another.

Planning documents for a proposal called Chatham Crossing show a request to flip 34 acres along Postal Way — which feeds onto U.S. Highway 501 — from light industrial into a more versatile retail zoning to include multi-family residential, townhomes, gas stations, self-storage, restaurants/bars, retail, grocery stores and gyms. Medical offices and repair services also would be permitted.

Norm Fay, president of the Covington Lake HOA inside Carolina Forest, said pulling land out of commercial zoning to make room for housing would affect future growth within the area by limiting retail options for existing residents.

“Down the road, this area is going to need commercial property along 501. To take away that commercial property, I think, is absolutely wrong,” he said.

County officials said if the rezoning is approved, no homes would be put into Chatham Crossing. Construction would start in June 2026, with full build-out by the spring of 2028.

A neighboring 129-acre parcel abutting Chatham Crossing would go from undeveloped commercial land into a planned mixed-use development called The Waters. That brings the possibility of mobile food trucks and a farmers market along with the 1,154 homes.

As part of the deal, project managers would make $1.7 million worth of infrastructure and road upgrades to support the additional population, including adding a third lane to Postal Way and building two roundabouts within the subdivision.

When fully built out, the Waters planned development district could add an estimated 10,000 more daily trips along the roadways, according to a traffic analysis. It currently sees 17,500 trips.