News Title:The future Highway 31 corridor and Pulte's Pine Ridge highlight the next chapter of growth in Horry County
Pine Ridge is a proposed new home community coming soon to the Myrtle Beach area, in the well-established Burgess community—a location often referred to simply as "Burgess" by locals. Situated just off U.S. Highway 17, the new home community of Pine Ridge offers a convenient location just minutes from Surfside Beach and adjacent to the Queens Harbor Landing area. Residents of Pine Ridge will enjoy easy access to the beaches, Murrells Inlet, Market Common, shopping, dining, healthcare, and the many attractions that make the southern Grand Strand one of the region's most desirable places to live. With its combination of a peaceful setting and excellent accessibility, the new home community of Pine Ridge has the potential to become one of the area's most significant future residential developments once it moves forward.
The established communities of Windsor Plantation and Queens Harbour are adjacent to where the new home community of Pine Ridge will be developed. Other new home communities in the immediate area include Grande Pines (Mungo Homes), Sayebrook (Pulte, Toll Brothers and Saussy Burbank), and The Cove at Glenns Bay (D. R. Horton).
The planned extension of Highway 31 to Highway 17 – which would run through the new home community of Pine Ridge - is expected to become one of the most transformative transportation projects in Horry County, opening new areas for residential growth while improving access across the western Grand Strand. As the Highway 31 corridor continues to evolve, major master-planned communities are beginning to move from concept to reality. Among the largest is the proposed Pine Ridge community, where the Pulte Home Company is working with Horry County through a Development Agreement that will establish a long-term framework for responsible growth, infrastructure investment, and transportation improvements.
At the July 14, 2026 meeting, Horry County City Council took another significant step toward advancing the proposed Pine Ridge community by giving Ordinance 73-2026, the Development Agreement with Pulte Home Company, favorable consideration on this recent reading. While additional public hearings and Horry County City Council approvals are still required before the agreement can be formally adopted, the action signals continued progress for one of the county's largest proposed master-planned communities. If ultimately approved, the Development Agreement with Pulte will establish the long-term framework for how the approximately 636-acre development will be phased, including infrastructure improvements, utilities, transportation commitments, and other public benefits.
Once the Development Agreement is adopted and recorded, Pulte Home Company can continue with the engineering, permitting, and subdivision approval process for individual phases of the community. While the agreement establishes the framework for the project's long-term development, each phase of Pine Ridge will still require additional county approvals before construction can begin.
Large master-planned communities require more than just quality homes—they require a developer willing to partner with local government to ensure growth occurs responsibly. The Pulte Home Company has taken that approach with the proposed Pine Ridge community by working with Horry County through a comprehensive Development Agreement that addresses infrastructure, transportation, utilities, stormwater management, and the long-term planning needed for a project of this magnitude. By establishing these commitments early in the process, Pulte is demonstrating that successful growth is built on collaboration, careful planning, and a willingness to invest in the infrastructure that supports both new residents and the surrounding community.
In general, Ordinance 73-2026 with authorize Horry County to enter into a Development Agreement (DA) with Pulte Home Company for the Pine Ridge property. A Development Agreement is essentially the "rule book" for how a large project will be developed over many years. It is not the final subdivision approval nor a building permit. Under South Carolina law, it allows the county and developer to agree on long-term development rights and infrastructure responsibilities. The ordinance does not approve zoning. Instead, it simply approves a Development Agreement (DA) under South Carolina's Development Agreement Act. This type of agreement establishes the long-term rights and obligations between the county and the developer and provides greater certainty for a large, multi-phase project.
Rather than approving every lot, the development agreement will establish the maximum number of residential units allowed. This will give Pulte flexibility to adjust individual neighborhood layouts while staying within the overall cap approved by the county. Another prime reason Pulte is seeking to enter into a Development Agreements is vesting. That means if Horry County changes zoning or development regulations in the future, Pine Ridge can generally continue under the rules established in the agreement for its vesting period, provided the developer complies with the agreement. This provides long-term certainty for a project expected to be built over many years.
Pulte is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States and has extensive experience with long-term master-planned communities. That experience will be helpful as it can influence everything from community design and amenities to construction phasing and marketing. Pulte's involvement suggests Pine Ridge is intended to be a flagship community rather than a small, stand-alone subdivision.