A proposed redevelopment of The Witch golf course moves forward despite public opposition
Despite declared opposition from a couple dozen nearby residents, the Horry County Planning Commission on Thursday recommended approval by County Council of a proposed rezoning and development on The Witch Golf Links.
The request is expected to be on the County Council agenda at its next scheduled meeting on Sept. 15 for a first reading. Approval requires the passing of three readings, and public input is allowed at the second reading.
Of the area residents who were permitted to speak, all cited either flooding from storm water runoff or increased traffic as reasons they didn’t want to see the golf course off S.C. 544 in Conway become largely new homes and townhomes.
“This development will divert runoff water onto my property,” Robert Johnson, a nearby resident, said while pointing to a map he brought along to show commissioners how and where he thought the water would enter his property.
Sasha Baker, too, a nearby resident whose backyard borders the golf course, said she was concerned about flooding.
“We have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars because of the water already in our backyard so of course our main concern is the water runoff,” she said.
And Eric Sieling, a 67-year-old resident of nearby development Dunn Acres, cited traffic. He said traffic along 544 was already significant and he worries the new development would make it even worse.
“I come out of Dunn Acres on a Friday night, [it takes] 20 minutes to get on 544. I’m the only car turning. We don’t see this as an improvement,” he told commissioners.
Representatives of developers were before the planning commission seeking approval to rezone the area to allow for a greater number of homes to be built than is currently allowed under the current status. The proposal covers 120 acres of The Witch that includes the back nine, clubhouse and driving range.
The preliminary plan submitted by G3 Engineering & Surveying of Pawleys Island calls for a 330-home residential development — 119 townhomes and 211 single family homes — as well as a 6-acre commercial element along S.C. 544.
The main access into the proposed development would be aligned with Myrtle Ridge Drive, and Horry County Planning and Zoning Director David Schwerd said developers will be working with the S.C. Dept. of Transportation on traffic signal adjustments at the intersection of Myrtle Ridge and 544.
On Thursday, Felix Pitts, a partner of G3 Engineering, said the traffic adjustments would include measures to slow cars down and make turning into the development safer.
Planning Commissioner Chuck Rhome, though, wasn’t convinced. Even though it’s not a requirement at this stage in the county’s process, he cited resident concerns and said he wanted to see a completed traffic study and storm water study for the development.
“Chuck, we never have those,” Planning Commission Chairman Steven Neeves reminded him.
“I understand that,” Rhome countered. “We’re voting on a proposal that could have a ton of information that could come to make all of us commissioners a lot smarter and make much more informed decisions and we don’t have that in front of us.”
Rhome was the sole no vote on the proposal, which received an 8-1 recommendation.
The 6,800-yard par-71 Dan Maples design opened in 1989 and is owned and operated by D.G. Golf Management. Company president Claude Pardue said last week that he expects the course to remain open through at least 2021 regardless of the outcome of the rezoning request.
Pardue said he has a homebuilder ready to buy the proposed residential portion pending the zoning change, but added the sale will only work if a buyer of the proposed commercial property can be found.
The parcel subject to rezoning is currently zoned SF10 for single family housing with minimum 10,000-square-foot lots and highway commercial, according to Schwerd.
The requested rezoning of MRD3 and RE4 would reduce lot sizes and setbacks, allow for multifamily housing, move lots away from 38 acres of wetlands and floodplains on the property, and reduce the amount of commercial area. It also includes recreational open space and a community garden.
The front nine of The Witch is farther inland from 544 and stretches over more than 400 acres of property, Pardue said, and building on it is not feasible because it runs through a swamp that is susceptible to flooding.
D.G. Golf Management, which operates as Mystical Golf, has three courses including The Wizard and Man O’War, which are adjacent courses off U.S. 501 in Carolina Forest.
Mystical Golf has attempted to have the zoning of The Wizard changed to allow for housing on a couple occasions over the past 15 years, including last year, but it has encountered opposition from area residents and neither attempt was approved.
So the owners have turned their focus on trying to sell The Witch to developers instead.
In response to the criticism Thursday, Pitts said he felt like he and his team worked with county planners to reach a design suitable for the area and nearby residents.
“We feel like we made some concessions and the Planning Commission agreed with us,” he said. “This is the right thing and it’s compatible with the surrounding community.”
Pending further approvals, Pitts said he expects developers to break ground on the project in early 2022.
This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 9:23 PM.
