A massive housing and retail plan for Carolina Forest is delayed again. What to know.

Developers behind a plan that would bring thousands of new homes and retail space into the heart of Carolina Forest have asked for another three-month delay to finalize a proposal expected to ultimately win county approval.

At issue is whether to flip 175 acres of woodland along Postal Way into space for up to 1,154 homes and mixed-use commercial, creating a Market Common-type of experience inside Horry County’s largest community — a prospect so unattractive to some Carolina Forest residents that it’s being used as an argument for incorporation.

“We moved from a state where we had issues just like this, so it’s sad to see this overbuilding and overcrowding,” 17-year resident Nick Katsanos said of he and his wife. “It’s way, way too much for Postal Way to endure this type of development at this time.”

Votes authorizing a rezone and accepting development agreements for the properties were initially pushed back from May, and now won’t happen until Nov.r 14.

Dennis DiSabato, whose council district includes Carolina Forest, said the property could wind up within Conway’s city limits if the county doesn’t act — depriving it of licensing fees and other revenue that can be used to manage future growth.

“We’re putting in subdivisions in areas where we don’t currently have service,” he said.

Project architects have already agreed to put $14 million worth of private capital into Postal Way upgrades that would include wider lanes, better pedestrian access and more inter-connectivity within Carolina Forest, a master-planned community.

None of those perks would be available should the county reject the plan and let Conway act on it, DiSabato said.

“All of that slows down with this,” he said of Conway’s potential interest for annexation.

Chatham Crossing would bring more retail options to U.S. Highway 501

Planning documents for a phase called Chatham Crossing show a request to change 34 acres along Postal Way — which feeds onto U.S. Highway 501 — from light industrial into a more versatile retail zoning.

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

Thousands more homes are proposed in the middle of Carolina Forest

A 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.

The road upgrades, including modified pedestrian access, two roundabouts and expanding Postal Way to three lines, would take place between summer 2024 and spring 2028 as part of the development deal.

This story was originally published August 15, 2023 at 7:09 PM.