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The site's owners, who include several members of the Malphrus family, want to build the Lowcountry Commerce Park at S.C. 170 and S.C. 462. It would include residential, commercial and light industrial space.
Among other changes, the owners agreed to limit retail space to 35 percent of the site and adhere to more stringent stormwater standards while the county works to update its ordinance.
County Council is slated to consider the revised plan April 5, planning director David Jirousek said.
The original plan had sparked concern among planners and environmentalists. The development would be near the headwaters of the Okatie River, where pollution levels already exceed state standards. It also is a short drive from the proposed Okatie Crossings, where the Sembler Co. plans to build a 280-acre, 1.6 million- square-foot shopping center and luxury outlet mall at S.C. 170 and U.S. 278.
At an information-only session before last month's planning commission meeting, the commerce park's owners presented a plan for 575 homes and 2.64 million square feet of commercial space. That would put more development on a site smaller than Sembler's.
Jasper County staff, however, has recommended the county not approve how much can be built on the commerce park site until developers submit a master plan. That plan would include more detailed analysis of the site's appropriate capacity.
Although the owners think parcels along the highway are well suited to retail use, they are most interested in light industrial uses, said Andy Smith, director of estimating and business development for Malphrus Construction Co.
The owners are particularly interested in aviation-related businesses that would tie into jet manufacturer Gulfstream in Savannah, a Boeing assembly plant planned in North Charleston and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The air station is expected to house some Joint Strike Fighters, the next-generation military jets.
"Our vision for the project isn't retail anyway," Smith said. "Our target is to get aeronautics-type businesses."
Although the commerce park might seek designation as a multi-county industrial park, which would bring property tax breaks, the owners don't plan to seek sales tax rebates such as those Sembler is seeking, Smith said.
Smith said the owners have discussed the commerce park for more than a year with the Lowcountry Economic Network, a public-private partnership that recruits businesses to the area.
The network formally notified the county of its support for the commerce park Tuesday.
"We have experienced significant business prospect interest in this corridor, however we have no identified business park or building to show any prospect," network executive director Kim Statler wrote in an e-mail. "... The creation of (commerce park) gives us a critical location to market and position for future business opportunities."
The Coastal Conservation League, which previously expressed concern over the impact of the project, is pleased with the changes sought by Jasper County's staff and hopes the park will bring high-paying jobs the county needs, said Andrea Malloy, the league's South Coast project manager.
She said the league will scrutinize any future master plan. No stormwater ordinance can protect the river if the commerce park includes as much pavement as is planned at Okatie Crossings, she said.
"The jury's still out," Malloy said. "It's headed in a better direction."
