News Title:Shelley Estates: A New Planned Community Poised to Bring an Estate-Style Feel to the Growing Highway 90 Corridor
Shelley Estates is a new home community being planned along the rapidly growing Highway 90 corridor in Conway, bringing a somewhat different concept to an area that is seeing a wave of new residential development. A request to rezone three parcels totaling nearly 70 acres to Planned Development District (PDD) zoning will be considered by the Horry County Planning Commission at its September 3, 2026 meeting. If approved, the rezoning would establish the framework for a carefully planned residential community featuring a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and cottages, while also setting aside portions of the property for conservation, open space and limited neighborhood-serving commercial uses.
The proposed PDD is particularly notable for its emphasis on preserving the natural character of the property rather than simply maximizing the number of homes that can be built. Preliminary plans call for Shelley Estates to be designed around the property's existing tree canopy, mature forest, wetlands and natural landscape, with these features incorporated into open spaces, buffers and scenic areas throughout the community. Connected streets and sidewalks are envisioned to wind through the mature trees, with views toward ponds, open areas and larger estate-style homes. The goal is to create a cohesive, master-planned neighborhood that feels integrated into its natural surroundings rather than a conventional subdivision laid out around rows of residential lots.
The preliminary plan for Shelley Estates calls for 68 residential units, consisting of 29 single-family detached homes, 30 townhomes and nine cottages. While Shelley Estates includes a variety of housing types, the single-family detached portion is planned at a notably low density, with a proposed gross density of approximately 1.09 single-family units per acre, increasing to approximately 1.29 units per acre when calculated on the developable area. This translates into substantially larger homesites for the detached residences and gives this portion of Shelley Estates a distinct estate-style character. The combination of larger single-family lots, townhomes and cottages, along with significant areas devoted to conservation and open space, makes the overall concept somewhat different from many of the larger, higher-density communities currently being proposed throughout the Conway area. Rather than focusing primarily on the number of homes that can be accommodated, Shelley Estates appears designed around larger homesites, varied housing styles, natural preservation and an abundance of open space.
The inclusion of townhomes and cottages also gives the community an unusual mix. While the 29 detached homes are expected to provide the estate-style component of Shelley Estates, the 30 townhomes and nine cottages would introduce smaller residential options within the same overall development. The remaining acreage would be devoted to commercial uses and conservation areas, creating a balance between residential development and preserved land. The limited commercial component is intended to provide neighborhood-serving uses while complementing, rather than dominating, the residential character of the community.
Location could ultimately prove to be another significant advantage for Shelley Estates. The property sits along Highway 90, one of the major growth corridors connecting the Conway area with communities to the north and the Grand Strand. Several other new home developments are already underway, including The Reserve at Wild Horse by D. R. Horton, River's Edge Plantation by D. R. Horton and Chestnut Ridge by Beverly Homes, reinforcing the Highway 90 corridor's emergence as an important new residential growth area. The proximity of Shelley Estates to International Drive also provides convenient access toward the coast and the area's beaches, making the corridor increasingly attractive to homebuyers looking for a location that offers a balance between Conway and the Grand Strand.
Transportation improvements could further enhance the area's long-term appeal and the appeal of Shelley Estates. Horry County's RIDE 4 program includes the widening of Highway 90 from East Cox Ferry Road toward Little River, a project that would ultimately improve one of the area's increasingly important transportation corridors. The proposed improvements include widening portions of Highway 90 to four lanes and adding turn lanes at intersections. As of August 2026, the project is in the Design and Engineering Phase, with Horry County having already issued a Request for Proposal and received design bids. While significant construction remains ahead, the planned improvements could provide an important boost to accessibility as the surrounding area continues to develop.
With its combination of large homesites, multiple residential product types, preserved natural areas and a strategic Highway 90 location, Shelley Estates could offer something relatively uncommon among the new communities being planned around Conway. Rather than being another large-scale subdivision built around maximum density, the preliminary concept emphasizes space, mature trees and an estate-like setting while still incorporating a variety of housing choices. With the Highway 90 corridor rapidly evolving and major infrastructure improvements on the horizon, Shelley Estates is a community worth watching as the next phase of growth takes shape in this increasingly active part of Horry County.