The story of Carolina Forest development is still being written. It’s only halfway built.

In many ways, Carolina Forest is a microcosm of Horry County itself.

A planned community prized for its centralized location off U.S. Highway 501, the sprawling development mixes housing with retail and essential services so seamlessly that many residents never even have to leave the area.

Yet like its host county — where an onslaught of growth fed by 216 days of sunshine, proximity to the beach and one of the nation’s lowest tax burdens have propelled its meteoric rise — Carolina Forest is grappling with what it all means for the future.

“I am not opposed to growth and development in our area, as long as it’s smart, planned and coordinated with our entire area,” said Terry Ewing, who lives in the Myrtle Beach National neighborhood.

According to 2020 U.S. Census figures, Carolina Forest’s total population was 23,242. If it were its own city, that would make it larger than North Myrtle Beach and nearly the size of Conway.

Carolina Forest still has lots of room to grow

A 1998 Carolina Forest development concept outlined just how large the community could become.

“At build out approximately 40 residential neighborhoods will house an estimated 22,000 families and 56,000 people,” the plan says.

The latest concern for area residents is the rezoning of 175 acres off Postal Way that would allow for 1,154 more houses and additional retail — a proposal coming at a time when close to 2,300 already permitted homes remain unbuilt.

“My question is, ‘why the rush? Why do we need to rush to have this property approved,” asked Carolina Forest resident Jim Medeiros. “Pump the brakes a little bit. Let’s see what all these other developments are going to do the surrounding area before we approve another one. It’s going to devastate the people that live there. And I live there.”

The Postal Way plan — described by developers as a “Market Common style” concept —is one of two high-profile Carolina Forest-related decisions currently facing the county council. Conway Medical Center is hoping to put a $160 million, 50-bed facility on International Drive.

The former could win approval as early as May 16.

The Postal Way rezone could change the future of Horry County development

It hasn’t been an easy few weeks for Dennis DiSabato. A founding member of the Carolina Forest Civic Association, his county council District 3 east covers most of the area.

DiSabato has come under fire from constituents for supporting both the Postal Way and Conway Medical Center projects, though he insists many misunderstand his position.

“We are working from behind the eight ball. The county never really prepared for the type of growth that we’re experiencing right now,” he said.

And for Carolina Forest, that meant “it grew very quickly for a large period of the time that it was growing, it was not necessarily the focus of people who were elected to serve on the county council.”

A May 10 public meeting on the Postal Way proposal hosted by the county devolved into a shouting match that left DiSabato frustrated.

He believes if the rezone is successful, it could alter the trajectory of other legacy projects brought in front of county leaders.

That’s because included in the development agreement are nearly $14 million worth of privately funded upgrades to Postal Way, including lane widenings, better pedestrian access and more interconnectivity.

Getting those concessions worked into the deal would give the county leverage in future negotiations, DiSabato said. It also makes a very congested area safer

“It’s difficult and a difficult decision that needs to be made. But the thing that’s frustrating to me is, I looked at this particular project as an opportunity to show the rest of the county that this is how we should do business moving forward,” he said. “If we were to get it through, it would kind of be a landmark situation.”

Area schools are already overcrowded, with some saying that regardless of road improvements, the problem will only get worse: Carolina Forest Elementary and Carolina Forest High are already 126 percent over capacity, and Ten Oaks Middle School is at 99 percent.

“Whatever he (the developer) brings forward, it is not worth the value of our quality of life in any way, shape or form,” Carolina Forest resident Keith Davidson said.

This story was originally published May 15, 2023 at 5:00 AM.