LEXINGTON, S.C. — The owner has withdrawn plans to bring massive new development to Lake Murray, a project that had gotten pushback from some residents and local lawmakers.
The attorney for the companies behind the Smallwood Cove project sent a letter to Lexington town and county leaders, dropping their plans to annex and develop the land near the lake. They said a meeting with leaders the following Monday is no longer necessary.
George Bullwinkel, an attorney representing the landowner, released a statement Wednesday night saying, "The landowner has enjoyed Lake Murray for more than 80 years and only wants the best for the community. Regrettably, the annexation and zoning process has overshadowed the thoughtful plans that would have opened up community access to this beautiful location. My client has elected to withdraw annexation and rezoning efforts at this time."
Smallwood Cove was an ambitious plan that had been in the works for years to develop 93 acres of land near the lake. The formal plan to create the development was unveiled in May.
It was set to include 1,100 residential units, including homes, condos, and townhouses, two hotels, and a conference center. There were also going to be retail shops.
The Smallwood Cove project was expected to begin construction in the next two years and take about 15 years to complete. Private developers had said they planned to invest more than $733 million into the project.
But while many residents and community leaders supported the proposal, others expressed concerns. One of the chief complaints was that the plan would bring heavy traffic to the area and make the community more congested.
The town had asked for a traffic study and an environmental impact assessment as they considered the plan.