News Title:Bayline continues to move forward as Calabash approves master plan for one of Brunswick County's largest communities
The new home community of Bayline is located just south of U.S. Highway 17 in Calabash, less than 30 minutes from Myrtle Beach, approximately 45 minutes from Wilmington, and just minutes from the beaches of Sunset Beach. Spanning more than 1,100 acres, Bayline is one of the largest planned mixed-use communities currently under development in Brunswick County.
The new home community of Bayline was originally proposed under the name Stone Farm. In June 2021, Brunswick County approved a Planned Development (PD) consisting of 1,796 single-family homes and 363 townhomes, for a total of 2,159 residential units, along with an additional 151 residential units within the Town of Calabash. Together, the approvals established a master-planned community with up to 2,310 residential units. The original vision for the Bayline community has remained largely intact as planning has progressed.
In 2023, the Town of Calabash approved the annexation of the property where Bayline is going to be developed into the town limits, changing the zoning designation from Brunswick County's Planned Development (PD) to the Town's Planned Unit Development (PUD). This annexation into Calabash provides benefits to both the developer and the municipality. For the property owner, this annexation will now offer access to municipal utilities, police and fire protection, and zoning flexibility that can make future development more efficient and economically viable. For the Town of Calabash, this annexation will expand the tax base, increase utility customers, and will allow the town to guide future growth while improving the efficiency of providing municipal services.
The master plan of Bayline includes a new connector road linking Old Georgetown Road and Thomasboro Road, along with commercial acreage positioned along both corridors to complement the residential neighborhoods.
Criteria Development is serving as the master developer for Bayline, overseeing the planning, entitlements, infrastructure construction, and overall development of the community before delivering finished homesites to multiple homebuilders. Rather than building homes themselves, Criteria Development specializes in acquiring land, securing approvals, installing roads, utilities, and stormwater systems, and preparing neighborhoods for national and regional builders.
Bayline is planned to feature homes from several builders, including Lennar, Ryan Homes (now part of NVR), Caviness & Cates, New Leaf Builders, and Great Southern Homes (now part of Stanley Martin Homes), creating a diverse mix of home styles and price points throughout the community.
A major milestone was reached in June 2026 when the Calabash Board of Commissioners formally approved the master site plan for the now 1,137.62-acre Bayline development. The approved plan outlines eight initial phases containing 1,445 residential units, primarily single-family homes, with four additional future phases anticipated. While the overall development of Bayline is approved for up to 2,476 residential units, approximately 1,031 units remain unassigned to specific phases and will be incorporated into future development plans. Each phase must still receive final plat approval from the Town of Calabash before construction can proceed.
Status as of August 2026: Bayline has completed its master planning and zoning approvals and is transitioning into phased development. Infrastructure planning is underway, participating builders have been identified, and individual phases will continue moving through the town's final plat approval process before homesites are delivered for construction and home sales. Homes for sale in Bayline