Community opposition in 2025 stalled the 1,050‑acre proposal, and no new filings have surfaced since
LAKE WACCAMAW, NC — A major development once proposed for Old Lake Road remains dormant more than a year after county leaders declined to act on the 2025 rezoning request, following months of sustained public pushback from residents along the Lake Waccamaw–Bolton corridor.
The proposal, submitted in early 2025 by Advance Land & Timber on behalf of Bay Branch Timber LLC, outlined a Planned Unit Development covering roughly 1,000 acres, give or take 50 at 3584 Old Lake Road. Early concept materials described thousands of residential units and nearly sixty acres of commercial space stretching between Lake Waccamaw and Bolton.
As details of the project became public, residents responded quickly and in large numbers. Meetings that summer drew room filled crowds, with community members raising concerns about traffic capacity, water and sewer limitations, flooding, environmental disruption, and the long‑term impact on the rural character of the corridor. Many questioned whether emergency services and existing infrastructure could support a development of that scale.
The Planning Board ultimately recommended approval and forwarded the case to county commissioners. But despite the board’s action, commissioners never scheduled a hearing and never took a vote. The developer did not withdraw the application, and the project was effectively tabled during a period when county leaders were reviewing broader development rules.
There has been no indication that the proposal has returned for consideration. No new filings have appeared on county agendas, and no revised plans have been public.
The absence of movement does not eliminate the possibility of future development. The land remains privately owned and zoned for rural use, meaning the owner — or a future buyer — could file a new rezoning request at any time. Large timber tracts in the region often change hands, and growth pressure around Lake Waccamaw continues to draw interest from residential developers.
If a new application is submitted, the process would restart from the beginning, including Planning Board review, public hearings, and a final vote by county commissioners.
For now, the Old Lake Road proposal remains shelved. But the events of 2025 made one point clear: residents along the corridor were willing to stand their ground, and their sustained opposition played a significant role in halting the project’s momentum.
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