Proposed 2,000-home development heads to county planning commission in December
Updated: 4 days ago
By: Terry Ward
The portion of southern Horry County known as the Burgess Community is growing, just like almost every section of the county.
With each new cluster of homes, there are questions from existing neighborhoods regarding traffic, school capacity and density.
HarborTrace is a proposed mixed-use development that would be built on 1,426 acres off Highway 707, adjacent to St. James High School.
The 2,000-home development also borders the Blackmoor Golf Club and the Waccamaw River and more specifically would consist of 1,529 single-family homes and 471 townhomes, commercial space, recreational amenities and conservation areas.
Its developers describe the project as "a thoughtfully planned, walkable neighborhood that balances growth, conservation, recreation, and community amenities while respecting the character of Murrells Inlet."
A request to rezone the property is scheduled for consideration by the Horry County Planning Commission on Dec. 3.
The plan is an amended iteration of a 2021 proposal that included 4,000 homes. That plan was withdrawn after some community groups in the area opposed it. Traffic, stormwater runoff and school capacity were cited as some of the reasons for opposition to the project.
Since then, HarborTrace developers said they have engaged with the community and worked to come up with a new "Master Plan" for the property.
The new plan, they say, is shaped by community feedback and designed to create a better long-term outcome for future residents and neighboring communities. HarborTrace developers also say their plan is generous.
“From day one, our first priority with HarborTrace has been to listen to the people of Burgess,” said Mike Wooten of Bolton-Menk, the firm representing the landowners for the proposed HarborTrace. "We've held numerous community meetings and had conversations with neighbors, heard their concerns, and made real changes to our initial development plan because of that input, including donating land for a new fire department and recycling center, reducing density by half, adding buffers for other neighborhoods, while improving road access for all. That feedback is a big part of why this proposal now preserves 686 acres. Our goal is to develop the property responsibly, with conversation and public safety at the center, and to build something that benefits both current residents and future generations of the Burgess community.”
Highlights of the new Master Plan include:
A traditional neighborhood layout that looks and feels like the walkable Market Common;
686 acres of the property will remain in a Conservation/Preservation district within the HarborTrace PDD
48% of the land area will remain as natural areas to protect sensitive wildlife habitat, drainage systems, and land adjacent to the Waccamaw River;
36 acres of community recreation open spaces and amenity areas within the new development;
Includes a proposed 10-acre land contribution to both Horry County and the YMCA;
Small retail/service sites within a walkable community layout (architecturally designed to reflect the image, small-scale, and character of the Murrells Inlet area of the Grand Strand).
“Our focus remains on a residential plan shaped by community input. We believe it is the best fit for the property and for Burgess,” Wooten said.
What happens if the property is not rezoned for HarborTrace?
Developers have identified mining and alternative residential construction as potential uses of the property should the rezoning effort fail.
Under the property's existing zoning, portions of the land could be developed for residential and commercial purposes without the broader master plan currently being proposed.
The property could also potentially be used for timber harvesting and topsoil mining, subject to applicable permitting requirements.
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