News Title:Howell Homes' 51-acre Highway 66 development in Loris remains on hold six months after approval
A major residential development planned along Highway 66 in Loris remains in a holding pattern six months after receiving key Horry County approvals. The proposed 51-acre project is one of several residential development opportunities connected to local custom homebuilder Howell Homes, whose recent land activity suggests the company may be expanding its role in the Grand Strand housing market.
The proposed development involves a 51.17-acre property along Highway 66 in Loris and is being pursued through CM66 LLC, an entity associated with Howell Homes. The conceptual development plan calls for 91 single-family homes, making it a substantial project compared with the company's traditional custom-homebuilding activity.
The property consists of two adjoining tracts of roughly 24.76 acres and 30.11 acres. The project received its zoning approval in April 2026 after the property was rezoned from Forest Agriculture (FA) to Multifamily Residential District – Planned (MRD-P). Horry County Planning Commission recommended approval, and County Council subsequently approved the ordinance on April 21, 2026.
Despite the multifamily residential zoning designation, the conceptual plan calls for up to 91 detached single-family homes, with proposed homesites measuring approximately 7,000 square feet. Public water and sewer service are anticipated. Approximately 5.63 acres of the overall property are identified as wetlands, and the development is projected to generate approximately 728 daily vehicle trips once fully occupied.
Despite securing the necessary zoning change, the project has not yet moved into a publicly confirmed construction phase. As of October 2026, there has been no confirmed announcement of a homebuilder, release of floor plans or pricing, or published construction schedule. The project remains in the planning and development pipeline rather than being an active new-home community.
A growing Howell Homes development portfolio
The Highway 66 project is particularly interesting when viewed alongside several other properties and residential developments connected to Howell Homes. The company has established itself as a custom homebuilder in the Myrtle Beach area, including work in communities such as Waterway Palms Plantation, Waterbridge and The Bluffs on the Waterway. However, its more recent activity suggests an expanding interest in acquiring land, pursuing subdivision approvals and potentially developing residential communities of its own.
One of the more significant connections is Trestle Ridge, a long-planned single-family development along Highway 319 in Aynor. Preliminary plans call for 163 homes on approximately 74.25 acres, north of the Highway 501 and Highway 22 interchange. The property is also immediately adjacent to the Aynor Area Passive Park, providing an existing area of open space alongside the proposed community.
Trestle Ridge has been planned for several years, but construction had not begun as of October 2026, and no builder had been publicly identified. A water utility encroachment permit applied for in April 2025 and issued the following month provides evidence of more recent activity involving the property.
The ownership history also helps connect the project to Howell Homes. The property was originally associated with Campbell Frank Bryan, who transferred it to Holliday Associates LLC in 1998. Holliday Associates subsequently transferred the property to Campbell 319 LLC in 2022. Campbell 319 LLC's registered agent is Mickey Howell, and its registered address is the same business address associated with Howell Homes in Galivants Ferry. While Howell Homes has not publicly announced itself as the builder or developer of Trestle Ridge, the ownership connection makes the proposed community an important part of the company's broader development story.
Another recent acquisition involves an approximately six-acre parcel along Highway 129 between Galivants Ferry and Aynor. Howell Homes purchased the property in September 2026, acquiring land that straddles Sandy Ridge Road.
No formal development plans have been released for the property, but its existing Forest Agriculture (FA) zoning could allow for a small residential development with relatively spacious homesites. FA zoning generally allows residential lots of one-half acre or larger, subject to applicable development, access, water and septic requirements.
Rather than pursuing a rezoning for a higher-density subdivision, one possibility is that Howell Homes could develop a limited number of custom homes on larger lots. That approach would fit naturally with the company's custom-building background while creating another opportunity for residential development in western Horry County.
The Highway 129 property is also situated in an area with other residential activity. Baylee Estates, located in the same general area, brought 61 homes to the market and completed development in 2023. Farther along the Highway 501 corridor, the much larger Rolling Hills development is planned on approximately 209 acres. Its proposed buildout includes 421 single-family homes, with Horry County having approved the Phase 1 development plan. Diamond Shores is involved with the land development, and D.R. Horton is expected to build the homes.
Howell Homes has also been associated with Arbor Ridge in Conway, a smaller residential development involving approximately 18 homes. The project provides another example of the company's involvement in residential development beyond individual custom-home construction.
A changing role in the local housing market
Taken together, the projects paint a picture of a homebuilder exploring opportunities at several different scales. The approximately six-acre Highway 129 acquisition could lend itself to a small collection of custom homes, while Arbor Ridge represents a modest neighborhood development. Trestle Ridge, with its proposed 163 homes, and the 91-home Highway 66 project represent considerably larger undertakings.
The projects also extend across several different markets, including Loris, Aynor and Conway, rather than being concentrated exclusively in the more established coastal communities.
For now, the Highway 66 development remains on hold, and the timing of construction has not been established. However, when viewed alongside Trestle Ridge and Howell Homes' other land interests, the project becomes part of a broader pattern of residential investment and development activity that will be worth watching as the company continues to expand its presence in the region.