Rose Island development could be in near future
Plans are moving ahead to create a unique community in northern Beaufort accessible only by boat.
On the books for a decade and a half, the 20-home Rose Island development is gearing up in light of an improving real estate market.
"This would have gone ahead if the economy hadn't changed," said Jeff Pinckney, representative for the John Murdaugh family that owns the land.
The idea would be for simpler, fish-camp style homes that would likely max out at about 2,000 square feet because the intent would be outdoor-style living, he said.
The only home on Rose Island, which could become a clubhouse, now runs off batteries powered by a diesel generator. While utilities could be run to the property, that would be expensive and green energy options would be preferred, Pinckney said.
Motoring around the islands last week, Pinckney guided a skiff through the marsh and tied it up to the dock of Rose Island. He pulled back the rope on a "No Trespass" sign and a few steps later, a hand-painted "Welcome to Rose Island" sign nailed to a tree marked the start of a path to the island's only home.
Past the home, the path extends into woods that Pinckney said will largely remain as they are. The intent is to develop lightly.
"There's nothing like this," he said. "It's got great fishing, it's on the coast, it's close to everything."
The town of Port Royal annexed the islands in 2000, and was sued by the Coastal Conservation League and Beaufort County. The S.C. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the annexation, which involved a controversial line-of-sight rule allowing the town to cross the Broad River to add it.
The conservation group has continued to keep tabs on the islands and declared its opposition to the proposal to increase the number of homes.
A planned-unit-development agreement from the annexation allows 19 homes on Rose Island and one on Little Rose Island. Pinckney recently unsuccessfully requested an update to allow five homes on Little Rose.
According to the agreement, lots must be at least 5 acres each. The islands encompass 357 acres, of which 107 acres are upland.
Dividing Little Rose, which has eight acres of upland, could have meant those lots could sell for under $150,000 each, putting it within grasp of less affluent buyers, he said. Right now, he's estimating lots would begin between $300,000 and $400,000.
"Everyone was saying it was to make more money, but it was to get another price point," he said. "Because now only the rich can be here."
Conceptual drawings are being prepared and then the project will go to market, Pinckney said. Because there is no sunset on the planned unit development agreement, the next step of review would be building plans by the town.
Follow reporter Erin Moody at twitter.com/IPBG_Erin.
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This story was originally published February 8, 2015 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Rose Island development could be in near future."