CONWAY, SC (WPDE) — Conway city leaders have finalized development agreement and annexation plans to welcome another major residential development project.
Council members unanimously approved the Brookhaven project along SC 378, Dunn Shortcut and Juniper Bay roads. The project was previously called Tributary. A new developer has taken over and reduced the number of homes to be built. About 1,260 single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes are to be built there over the next decade.
In 2024 alone, this is the second project that will transform one of Conway’s highway corridor systems. In January, the city approved an agreement and annexation plan to bring more than 3,000 homes to Highway 701 at Pitch Landing Road. This latest project is just over three miles northwest of that agreement.
Without question, without doubt, there will be those who say, and I quote, ‘I don’t have a problem with development, I just want smart development.’ Folks, this is smart development,” said Councilman William Goldfinch.
READ MORE: 2 annexation requests move forward in Conway
Goldfinch also pointed to the planning director’s comments that if the Brookhaven project were built outside of the city, it would not include amenities and enhancement fees that the city would require. The developer agrees to pay an enhancement fee of $5,750 per detached single-family home. Nearly 1,100 homes are slated for construction in this neighborhood. This fee is approximately $4,000 per townhome and semi-detached home. These fees will increase annually by the Consumer Price Index starting in 2026.
The developer, DR Horton, has also agreed to improve the roads surrounding the development at certain development points of the project.
About ten road improvements will be made over time, including turning lanes along Highway 378 and Juniper Bay Road. Widening of SC 378 around the development and traffic lights are part of the agreement, but there is no specific timeline for the installation of the traffic lights as this is also subject to SCDOT approval. Some of the road work is scheduled to begin as early as 2029 and as late as 2034.
The development agreement also provides for approximately 20 acres to be donated to the city for the construction of a park and trail system.
Instead of developing 446 acres, we are developing 240 acres for residential use,” Goldfinch said.
No residents were allowed to speak at Monday afternoon’s meeting, but several raised concerns about drainage and traffic at the planning committee meeting earlier this month.
The development agreement between the developer and the city states: “All stormwater shall be designed to meet or exceed the City’s stormwater regulations in effect at the time of plan submission.”
