Variance allows old house to straddle new beachfront lots – Coastal Observer
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Variance allows old house to straddle new beachfront lots

The 1.75 acres where the Gibbes Cottage sits will become three lots, as they were when the cottage was built in 1939.

The owner of a Pawleys Island house that dates to 1939 will have to preserve the structure for at least 10 years in exchange for a variance that will allow it to encroach on a newly-created oceanfront lot.

But it is the investment in renovations rather than the variance that will preserve the Gibbes Cottage, according to the real estate broker who handled the sale in 2020.

“If you look at the amount of money that’s going to be invested in this property,” said Lee Hewitt, owner of Garden City Realty and a state House member, “nobody would invest that kind of money and tear it down in 10 years.”

The variance approved last week by the Pawleys Island Board of Zoning Appeals was the latest effort by the town to try to preserve houses that give the island its “look.”

The Gibbes Cottage sits on 1.75 acres of beachfront property. It was three lots when Caroline Gibbes bought it for $3,600 in 1938.

It was one lot when Kirkman Finlay bought it. He told the appeals board last month that he plans to renovate the house and add another 675 square feet to the existing 2,300 square feet.

He also wants to return the property to three lots so he can leave the property to his three daughters.

In the meantime, he needed a variance to allow the Gibbes cottage to encroach on one of the new lots. He also obtained a demolition permit from the town.

Finlay can subdivide the property under the town’s unified development code, but the Gibbes Cottage, which occupies the center lot, would extend 28 feet into the northernmost lot.

“This can be fully subdivided into three lots,” said Dan Stacy, who represented Finlay before the appeals board. “He’s not shooting for the moon here. This is a reasonable request.”

The board deferred a decision on the variance in December, asking for more information about the encroachment and asking if Finlay would agree to a façade easement similar to the one attached to the variance for the 19th century Liberty Lodge that the board approved last year.

Finlay agreed to preserve the cottage for at least 10 years and limit construction on the northern lot to an accessory building while the cottage is still standing.

“We think this is a great opportunity to preserve one of the older homes on the island,” Stacy said.

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Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us. Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com.   , .

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