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Carlos Galarza

The Palmetto Pointe marker off Highway 130 northeast of Keowee Key designates the proposed 13-acre site for a commercial marina with lodging, restaurant and store.

WALHALLA — Oconee County might not have much influence over the final look of a proposed commercial marina complex that would include a lodge and restaurant off of Highway 130 on Lake Keowee, but Duke Energy does.

Oconee planners said this week that they don’t have much say over the plans for the proposed Palmetto Pointe development submitted by Anderson County-based Fretmac LLC. Planners said there are no design standards to regulate commercial projects in the county.

Fretmac principal Raymond Fretwell submitted the plans in the spring to build a marina on a 13-acre tract that he originally wanted to develop into a small subdivision.

Described as a public-use marina, it would include a restaurant, 10-bed lodge, ship’s store and dry-boat storage for approximately 250 boats.

Yet, for the project to move forward and prior to beginning any construction, the development must receive written authorization from Duke Energy Lake Services. The developer still has many hoops to jump through before land can be cleared.

Duke Energy Lake Service staff reviews and evaluates applications for marina facilities based on applicable lake use policies, the Shoreline Management Plan maps and compliance with the Shoreline Management Guidelines. More than three dozen specific regulations apply to marina facilities.

One of these states that “expanding commercial marina facilities will not be allowed in narrow coves on the cove-head side of the point where the cove narrows to 300 feet or less in width.

Gary Owens, who heads Advocates for Quality of Development, a group that monitors development on Lake Keowee, said he toured the Palmetto Point area by boat and found it to be narrow with shallow waters. AQD plans to keep watch of the marina project.

The marina developers submitted an application to Duke Energy Lake Services to also construct 56 floating slips, one lake access ramp and one concrete pier for launching boats from dry storage. The public would use the slips, ramp and pier to access the lake, lodge, restaurant and ship’s store, developers said in a letter to county planners.

carlos@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375