For weeks now, rumors have spread faster than facts. Social media posts and news blurbs have painted a false picture of our project. We care deeply about this region and its future — and we can’t sit by while misinformation replaces facts.

Michael Nieri, who owns East Shore South, is a South Carolinian through and through. He graduated from Clemson and has built a solid reputation over more than three decades. He’s committed to doing things the right way because he is deeply committed to this community.

So let me be clear: the claim that we’re planning 5,200 homes near Newry Mill is false. We never asked for 5,200 homes.

Some time ago, during our initial conversations with the County, they asked us to use the Planned Development District (PDD) process. We agreed and submitted a draft PDD to Oconee County. That document — which the County has had for some time — outlines the real numbers.

Phase One is fewer than 400 homes, built gradually over the next few years. The overall plan spans about 20 years and caps the project at 3,154 homes. 40% less than the number reported. That number will go down because of site requirements and because we have not been able to complete the PDD process.

Most people are surprised we agreed to the PDD process — because it actually gives us less flexibility and requires more oversight. The Newry property is currently zoned Control Free District, or CFD. That’s the County’s baseline zoning — often called the “wild west” of development — because it doesn’t require County approval or a public process. Under CFD, a landowner could pursue a wide range of uses, including student housing or apartments, without Council oversight or public input.

But we didn’t take that path.

We agreed with the County’s request because the PDD process requires transparency and community involvement. The PDD also requires multiple public meetings, Planning Commission review, Council approval, and a legally binding plan that cannot be changed without going back through that same public process. It gives the community a meaningful seat at the table and provides predictability for everyone.

Over the past 18 months, we’ve met with County staff, Council members, and neighborhood groups to listen, learn, and explain our vision. We’ve already made changes based on that feedback, and we want to continue doing so — but only the full PDD process allows that to happen.

Let me also correct another false claim: Clemson University is not involved. Nearly two years ago, we had preliminary conversations with Clemson about development opportunities in the region. We were transparent with County officials and even invited them on a visit to the Convergence Center at Purdue’s Discovery Park to show what a research-driven district could look like.

Clemson ultimately said they weren’t interested. That was the end of it.

Student housing was never part of this plan. This project is for families and people who work and live here today — teachers, nurses, first responders, retirees, and young families being priced out of the communities they serve. Local businesses struggle to hire because employees can’t find housing. We want to help change that.

Our vision is a true town center — a walkable place with neighborhood shops, restaurants, trails, parks, public green space, and water features that everyone can enjoy. We want this to be a gathering place, not just a development — a community asset that honors the historic character of Newry Mill and keeps the feeling of the village alive. We believe the past should guide the future.

We know traffic and schools are on people’s minds. That’s why we’re phasing construction — to let infrastructure grow with demand. We’ll do our part and continue working closely with the County, SCDOT, and the school district to make sure growth happens responsibly and predictably, not all at once.

The bottom line is this: the PDD process gives the community transparency, predictability, and control. All we’re asking for is the chance to complete the same public review process any landowner is entitled to. In fact, that is all we have ever asked of the County.

Oconee County is growing whether we like it or not. The real question is whether that growth is planned and community-driven, or whether it happens under the “wild west” of CFD with no say in the outcome.

We’re inviting you to be part of the solution. Come to the public meetings. Ask questions. Tell us what works and what doesn’t. Help us make it better.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing — a thriving Oconee County where families can stay, businesses can grow, and community still means something.

— Mark Hart, president, East Shore Development, LLC

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