By PHYLLIS BRITT

News Editor

Picture a residential community complete with a clubhouse, an Olympic-sized pool and an area with upscale shops, all in one place.

That is the vision shared by developer Jay Lacy and real estate agents Shari Alexander and Matt Anderson for a piece of land on Martintown Road.

Palmetto Point is a proposed community for acreage that borders Martintown and a corner of Murrah Road.

But there's a fly in the ointment. While the residential project has been approved, the clubhouse and the shopping area have met with opposition at the building and planning department of Edgefield County.

The zoning laws are limited regarding commercial development in Edgefield County, according to Anderson. "There's no PUD (planned urban development) option, for example," he said, suggesting the neighbors are concerned about what might happen if the front 10 acres of Palmetto Point are zoned commercial.

"'Somebody could put in a junkyard' is the sentiment," said Anderson, echoing some of the concerns raised by the Edgefield planning commissioners at their last meeting.

Lacy, owner of Lacy Beauty Schools, apparently tried to get the project off the ground in the past, but met with the same opposition. Now he's partnered with Meybohm Realty, and Anderson and Alexander are the listing agents.

"This would be beneficial to the county," said Alexander.

Anderson agreed, saying, "This would be tax revenue for Edgefield County." He pointed out the proposed clubhouse would have 12,000 square feet with a seating capacity of 250 for dinner.

"This would give Edgefield County residents a place for weddings, social gatherings, reunions," added Alexander. "And Edgefield County would retain the tax dollars."

Both agents noted that now much of the tax revenue to be gained from Merriwether residents is either going to North Augusta or to Augusta.

The proposed shops would ideally include a "high-end" grocery story (of the Fresh Market variety, said the real estate agents), doctor's offices, a bank branch, restaurant and maybe even a post office.

"We want to keep the aesthetics that are there now," said Anderson, listing the natural terrain, wetlands, etc.

The Realtors went before Edgefield County's building and planning commission recently and found their major concern was accountability. "We want accountability," emphasized Anderson. But when the agents looked at the possibility of a contract to limit what can go in the commercial development, they were told "contract zoning" is illegal. They were told the only recourse would be to pursue changes in the zoning ordinance to allow for something like a PUD, "but that could take months or years," said Anderson.

The agents agreed that there are people ready to build now.

"I don't want to see Edgefield County turn into an unorganized cluster of mixed uses," said Anderson. "I want us to be held accountable ... I want this project to look nice."

The project also would open the door to the development of an adjoining 430 acres off Gregory Lake Road (which encompasses Capers Lake). "It could become something more like Mount Vintage but closer to town," said Alexander.

Anderson maintained Lacy's goal is to establish a nice development ... "something he could be proud to have his name associated with."