CONWAY, SC (WMBF) – A project that has been in negotiations for months in the city of Conway has finally cleared all hurdles, but residents are still skeptical.
Conway City Council approved a final reading Monday night that clears the way for more than 1,000 new homes near the intersection of Juniper Bay Road and Highway 378.
This nearly 450-acre project has been in the works for nearly a year, but work was delayed until last month.
City staff say they have made several changes from the original proposal – for example, they have reduced the amount of land to be built on and the number of homes to actually be built.
They also plan to create a park and recreation center for the neighborhood.
WMBF News spoke to several residents Monday who did not want to appear on camera but said traffic on Highway 378 is bad enough and they are concerned about the impact the new development will have on traffic.
City council members said they understood there had been concerns about traffic, but said incorporating the land into Conway would allow them to conduct development “smarter.”
“Folks, this is smart development,” said Councilman William Goldfinch. “You could go ahead and build everything out right now, with no trails, no parks, no improvements, no anything. But if I remember correctly, instead of 446 acres, we’re going to build 240 acres for residential use. That’s what smart development looks like.”
Another concern that council members addressed Monday night is the impact that further construction will have on area schools. City staff said they have spoken with Horry County Schools about this.
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