GEORGETOWN, S.C. — It has been more than a decade since brothers Richard and Donald Smith first approached the City of Georgetown about a new housing development along the Sampit River in Maryville.

Because of the economy and lawsuits, nothing has happened on the property between Bayview and the Caroll Campbell boat landing but the brothers are still hopeful.

They met with the Georgetown City Planning Commission this week with a new sketch for the property which they say should help them sell the lots in the struggling economy.

The new plan is to increase the number of houses on the 43 acre tract from 119 to 187, an idea that drew mixed responses from members of the commission.

Donald Smith said the extra houses on smaller lots is necessary in order to compete in the current real estate market.

“We have seen a lot of foreclosures. There are lots that were $130,000 selling for $15,000 in the area,” he said, adding his brother, Richard, came up with the smaller house plans that would be sold for as low as $150,000. That would be the house and lot in what Smith called “less desirable” areas of the property.

The more sought-after lots and homes would be priced up to $400,000.

“We need to increase the density to lower our prices to compete with the market of today,” Smith said.

The plans for the 119 home development were approved by the planning commission in 2007.

Those plans called for the marina to stick out into the Sampit River which resulted in a lawsuit filed by the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, the Georgetown County League of Women Voters and the S.C. Coastal Conservation League.

The Smiths won the lawsuit and thought they could then begin construction but were then informed the plaintiffs in the case planned to appeal.

The Smiths decided to redraw their plans and have the boat slips adjacent to the perimeter of the property rather than sticking out into the river.

Along with the 67 additional houses, the Smiths are proposing some of the land be used for commercial purposes which would include a restaurant and a store for boaters to buy ice and other essentials.

They estimate once all the houses are built, it will add about $47 million to the local tax rolls.

Planning Commission member Bob Sizemore said what the Smiths are asking for constitutes a major change for the property and they will need to present a new master plan for the panel to consider.

Commission Chairman Winfred Pieterse said he is concerned because the new plans show only ten percent of the property set aside for greenspace.

Douglas Green, a Bayview resident, told the commission he does not want to see any of the trees in his neighborhood removed because of the development.

“I surveyed lots for 20 years and the lot sizes they are now proposing are too small,” Green said. “They should have no more than 60-65 lots.”

The motion to have the Smiths return with a master plan to be considered passed 4-2.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com