Murrells Inlet business owners fearful of potential housing development’s impact

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW) — A couple who owns a farm and small business off McDowell Shortcut Road in Murrells Inlet are speaking out against a proposed 80-acre development.

Builders are looking to put 100 homes across from Ranch Haven Drive near Highway 707. It’s an area that even just 20 years ago used to be quiet farmland.

Today, flooding, traffic and what residents say is overdevelopment plagues the area.

“There’s no place else on McDowell Shortcut. They’ve stripped everything,” said Kristen Owens.

Horry County’s planning commission last week held early talks on the project that if approved would put the single-family homes where nearly half the acreage is considered wetlands.

Owens and her husband John moved to McDowell Shortcut Road in April 2005, finally purchasing their 11 acres in 2018.

“The only reason he sold it to us is because we weren’t going to develop it,” John Owens said. “He made us put in the deed that we were going to actually keep it a working farm, and we did.”

Since that time, the Owens’ have seen 60 homes go up next door. The new ones would be across the street.

“I mean, this is a residential street. It’s not Highway 17 Business. It’s like a highway out here now,” Kristen Owens said.

Officials say McDowell Shortcut Road is already at 95% capacity, with schools exceeding their maximum enrollment.

The development would be located at a corner where the Owens say many people zip past well above the posted 35 mph speed limit. They’re also worried about flooding and what flattening another 80 acres would mean for surrounding vegetation.

“We have 14 miniature horses and seven or eight full-size horses. Where would you go,” she said.

They want Horry County leaders to know enough is enough.

“Leave something for the future generations to enjoy,” Kristen Owens said.

The planning commission meets July 11 to make its recommendation to county council. One official believes the project will be a tough sell.

* * *

Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook , and X, formerly Twitter . You can also read more of her work, here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.