News Title:Major Conway-area rezoning proposes 1,300 homes and industrial development on nearly 800 acres near Conway-Horry County Airport
A significant new development proposal could bring as many as 1,300 residential units along with industrial uses to a large tract of land in the rapidly growing Conway area. The application, filed October 28, 2026, requests rezoning approximately 796.76 acres of an approximately 883.65-acre property from CFA (Commercial Forest Agriculture) to PDD (Planned Development District).
The property is located along Highway 378, Cates Bay Road, Airport Road and Highway 134, with the Conway-Horry County Airport directly adjacent to the property. The proposed rezoning would establish a framework for a large-scale development incorporating residential neighborhoods and industrial uses, although the specific types of industrial development and the ultimate arrangement of uses will be determined through the planning and approval process.
The application represents another substantial development proposal in an area west and southwest of downtown Conway where residential construction has been expanding along the Highway 378 and Cates Bay Road corridors. Several new home communities are already selling homes or moving through development, while other large residential projects are in the planning stages.
What does PDD zoning mean?
A Planned Development District, commonly referred to as a PDD, is a zoning classification that gives developers greater flexibility in planning a large property than would typically be available under conventional zoning districts. Rather than applying one standard set of zoning requirements across an entire property, a PDD allows different land uses, residential housing types, densities and compatible commercial, institutional or industrial uses to be incorporated into an overall development plan.
For a project of this size, that flexibility could allow residential neighborhoods to be developed in designated portions of the property while other areas accommodate industrial or other approved uses. The arrangement of these uses, including their access roads, internal buffers, open spaces, drainage facilities and infrastructure, would be addressed in the project's conceptual plan and written development narrative.
PDD zoning does not mean that every proposed use is automatically approved or that the entire property can be developed without additional review. The specific uses, development standards and conditions ultimately approved by Horry County Council become the framework governing future development. Changes that substantially alter the approved uses, density or character of the development can require additional county approval or another rezoning action.
The proposed 1,300 residential units are therefore an important part of the application, but the industrial component is also significant. The application summary does not yet identify the precise industrial uses being considered or how much land would be devoted to them. Those details will be important in understanding the eventual character of the project and its relationship with neighboring residential communities.
Conway-Horry County Airport is an important neighboring property
One of the distinguishing features of this proposed development is its location directly adjacent to the Conway-Horry County Airport. The public-use airport is located off Airport Road and serves the Conway area as part of Horry County's airport system.
The airport occupies approximately 265 acres and has a paved runway measuring approximately 4,401 feet long and 75 feet wide. Although it is much smaller than Myrtle Beach International Airport, it remains an important piece of local aviation infrastructure.
The proximity of the airport introduces additional considerations when planning such a large development. Building heights, airport approach and departure areas, and the compatibility of neighboring land uses are all relevant to the eventual site layout. Horry County's PDD regulations specifically require compliance with applicable airport height restrictions.
The placement of residential neighborhoods in relation to airport operations and the location of industrial uses will also be important considerations as the proposed development moves through the review process. The airport's presence makes this more than a conventional large residential subdivision proposal.
A growing residential corridor around the proposed development
The proposed rezoning comes as several other new home communities are adding to the pace of residential development in the broader Conway area. Brookhaven and Kingston Preserve at Brookhaven are among the larger projects associated with the Highway 378 corridor, while additional communities are extending residential construction toward Cates Bay Road.
Brookhaven
Brookhaven is a large planned development located off Highway 378, just west of downtown Conway. Published planning figures have identified approximately 1,017 single-family homes and 650 multifamily units, illustrating the scale of the larger master-planned development. Its location along Highway 378 makes it one of the significant residential projects shaping this part of Conway.
Kingston Preserve at Brookhaven
Directly associated with the Brookhaven growth area, Kingston Preserve at Brookhaven is a separate new home community being developed by D.R. Horton. The conservation subdivision is planned for approximately 407 single-family homes on about 187.88 acres. More than 44 acres are designated for permanent ecological and recreational preservation, providing a substantial open-space component within the development.
Ashton Woods – Highway 378
Ashton Woods is also moving forward with plans for another Conway-area community on approximately 120.71 acres along Highway 378, adjacent to Conway High School. The property was recently annexed into the City of Conway, and preliminary plans have shown approximately 272 single-family homes. Approximately 21 acres containing wetlands, flood-prone areas and other environmentally sensitive features have been proposed for conservation preservation and conveyance to the city. The project adds another substantial residential proposal to the Highway 378 corridor.
Palmetto Springs by Lennar
Further into the Cates Bay Road area, Lennar is preparing to introduce Palmetto Springs, a new single-family home community located off Spring Beauty Estates. The community is planned to offer a selection of one- and two-story homes with approximately three to five bedrooms and floor plans ranging from about 1,260 to 2,358 square feet. Palmetto Springs is another example of national homebuilders expanding into the outskirts of Conway as more land becomes available for residential development.
Cates Bay Crossing by Century Complete
Century Communities, through its Century Complete brand, has entered the Conway market with Cates Bay Crossing. The community is planned for approximately 95 single-family homes on about 48 acres along Cates Bay Highway. Sales have begun, adding another active homebuilding project to the growing residential area.
Coastal Farms by D. R. Horton
D. R. Horton is also building in the Cates Bay Highway area at Coastal Farms. The community offers single-family homes and represents another established component of the expanding residential development activity outside downtown Conway. Along with Palmetto Springs and Cates Bay Crossing, Coastal Farms illustrates how development is extending beyond the more established residential neighborhoods surrounding Conway.
What happens next?
The rezoning application is scheduled for its second Planning Commission hearing on December 3, 2026. The subsequent County Council schedule identifies January 5, 2027, for a reading, January 19, 2027, for public comment, and February 2, 2027, for the consent agenda.
If approved, the PDD zoning would establish the land-use framework for a development that could combine a substantial residential component with industrial uses on a property occupying an important location near the Conway-Horry County Airport.
With Brookhaven, Kingston Preserve, the Ashton Woods proposal and several other homebuilding communities already contributing to growth in the surrounding area, this rezoning is another major proposal to watch as Conway continues to expand beyond its traditional boundaries.