Residents voice concerns about proposed 4500 home development in Lake Waccamaw

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WWAY) — More than 100 people gathered inside the East Columbus High School auditorium to learn about a proposed housing development of more than 4,500 single-family homes.

It would be built on more than 1,000 acres on Old Lake Road near Lake Waccamaw.

Waccamaw Siouan Tribe Chief Michael Jacobs said he does not mind development, he’s just not happy with this one right now.

“I’m against the project in the size that it’s prescribed now,” Jacobs said. “If it’s going to help Columbus County and provide homes that our people can afford, that it’s going to better them, sure. But not to the fact that it’s going to damage the lake in the situation that it’s already in.”

Some people at the meeting raised concerns about stormwater and runoff from the development into nearby creeks, and the impact the development could have on the lake.

Andy Mills is a senior project manager for Colliers Engineering.

He said it’s understandable for people to be worried, but the project would ensure the safe collection of such water.

“We’re going to work in harmony with the land to ensure that we are able to collect and convey and treat any storm water and control the runoff to not harm any of the downstream properties and waters,” Mills said.

Mills said the project could take as long as 15 years to build, a time frame that resident Dan Smith said could end up affecting many more people years from now.

“This is a long term project, if it goes ahead,” Smith said. “And it may not affect my life, my use of the lake. But I want my son to enjoy Lake Waccamaw as it is now, this special place.”

The development is still in the very early planning stages.

Mills said, even if it were to be approved within the next month, which is not expected to happen, it would take more than 2 years for construction to begin.