News Title:The Preserve at Harbor Trace: A Major Residential Development Proposed for Horry County’s Burgess Area
A proposed master-planned community in the Burgess area of southern Horry County could transform approximately 1,426 acres along S.C. Highway 707, bringing a large residential development to an area already experiencing significant growth. Known as The Preserve at Harbor Trace, the project is being planned by The May Company and involves two major parcels of land totaling approximately 1,426 acres. Its location between Blackmoor Golf Club and St. James High School places it near established residential communities, including Blackmoor and TPC Myrtle Beach, and within reach of the broader Surfside Beach and Murrells Inlet areas.
The scale of the property provides an opportunity for a substantial master-planned community. Preliminary plans envision approximately 2,000 homes, along with community amenities and significant areas of preserved land. The proposal represents a considerable reduction from an earlier concept introduced in 2021 that called for nearly 4,000 homes and more than 500,000 square feet of commercial space. That plan was withdrawn in 2022 following opposition from area residents.
The two large parcels are central to the revised concept. Approximately 686 acres are proposed for permanent wetland conservation along the Waccamaw River, while the remaining approximately 740-acre parcel represents the other major component of the development area. The preliminary vision also includes recreational amenities and potential provisions for addressing infrastructure demands associated with future growth. These elements remain subject to further planning and approval, and the ultimate layout and development program could change.
One of the most significant factors shaping the area's long-term development outlook is the planned Extension of S.C. Highway 22, also known as the Southern Connector. Included in Horry County's voter-approved RIDE 4 transportation program, the project carries a budget of approximately $1.56 billion and is intended to connect U.S. Highway 501 near Aynor with the Surfside Beach and Murrells Inlet area. The proposed four-lane highway is intended to improve regional connectivity, provide additional travel options and strengthen hurricane evacuation routes.
For Harbor Trace, the Highway 22 extension represents a potentially important addition to the region's future transportation network. Highway 707 already serves established neighborhoods, schools, golf communities and new residential developments, and continued growth is adding to the demands on the existing road system. A new regional highway connection could provide another route for some motorists traveling between inland Horry County and the southern Grand Strand. The extent of any benefit to Harbor Trace residents and traffic along Highway 707 will depend on the highway's final alignment, connections and design.
The Highway 22 extension is a funded transportation project, although construction has not yet begun. The project remains in the formal environmental review and planning process, and its final configuration and construction schedule have not been established. Nevertheless, its inclusion in the county's long-range transportation program makes it an important consideration when evaluating the future of this part of Horry County.
Harbor Trace is also one of several large residential developments being contemplated in the broader Burgess area. Pine Ridge, another major proposed community on a large tract of land nearby, adds to the significance of future transportation planning. While the two developments are separate projects, together they illustrate the scale of residential growth being considered in the area and the importance of coordinating new housing with transportation infrastructure. Pine Ridge, by Pulte Homes, is also associated with plans for an extension of S.C. Highway 31 between Highway 707 and the U.S. Highway 17 Bypass, a separate transportation project that could influence regional access.
The potential scale of Harbor Trace has already prompted questions about how the surrounding area would accommodate additional residents. During a community meeting on August 27, 2026, residents raised concerns about traffic on Highway 707, drainage and flooding, school capacity, hurricane evacuation and potential effects on the historic Freewoods community. The development team outlined proposed measures intended to address some of these concerns, including a Residential Investment District that could direct funding toward off-site road improvements, wetland conservation and land for recreational and public-service facilities. These were presented as components of the proposed development, not as completed improvements.
The Preserve at Harbor Trace remains in the early stages of planning and review. Additional details about its layout, housing program, amenities and infrastructure commitments will emerge as the proposal advances through Horry County's approval process. For now, the size of the property, its location along Highway 707, the proposed conservation acreage and the prospect of future regional highway improvements place Harbor Trace within a larger discussion about how southern Horry County will accommodate continued growth.