COASTAL OBSERVER

There are 36 vacant tracts larger than 7 acres on the Waccamaw Neck that would be subject to a proposal under review by Georgetown County to reduce the density of residential development. A Charleston developer is proposing a total of 109 townhouses on two of those sites in the Parkersville community.

The projects on 6.9 acres off Petigru Drive and 7.9 acres off Parkersville Road will be up for review by the Planning Commission this month. Because the property is already zoned “general residential,” which allows multi-family units, the commission’s review is to ensure projects comply with county regulations.

The Parkersville Road project shows 56 two-story, three-bedroom townhouses, the maximum number allowed.

There are 53 townhouses proposed for the Petigru Drive project in two phases. That is three less than the maximum.

Under a proposed change to the “general residential” zoning district, developers would be required to maintain half of the property as open space for projects of 10 units and above. The amendment was drafted by the planning staff at the request of Council Member Bob Anderson.

The Planning Commission deferred action on the amendment in June after a hearing at which only one person spoke. Members said they wanted more information about the impact on affordable housing and minority property owners.

In July, the commission deferred the measure again without comment.

Anderson said this week he agreed to the delay in order to meet with residents in Parkersville, a traditionally African-American neighborhood.

“I’m willing to help families keep their property,” he said.

But he said the townhouse projects were the type of development his zoning amendment was intended to restrict.

“Absolutely,” Anderson said. “We’ve got to slow down growth.”

Both tracts are owned by members of the Nesbitt family. A copy of the signature page from the sales agreement with Laine Commercial Real Estate of Mount Pleasant that was submitted with the plans shows 28 sellers.

The Parkersville Road property is part of 13.7 acres that were the subject of an heirs property suit in 2007. At the time, there was an offer to buy the tract for $1 million. The buyers and one of the heirs filed suit to quiet the title and confirm that there were 10 living heirs to William Nesbitt, who bought the property in the early 1920s and died sometime before 1930 leaving no will but four children. The suit was dismissed at the request of the plaintiffs in 2015 and the property was not sold.

Commission member Marla Hamby said before the public hearing on the open space amendment that heirs property was a target for development even though the community didn’t want multi-family projects.

“The issue is very complicated,” commission member Robert Davis  said. “You want to make sure everyone is dealt a fair hand.”