“Rustic elegance” gets a going over

At second reading last night, an assistance agreement for the developers of a commercial business venture near U-S 123 and 93 raised questions among county officials and negative reaction from one of the public comment speakers. At the council table, District One’s Edda Cammick raised questions about whether Oconee County will wind up with the high quality development that the real estate marketing company Casto is pursuing on property that once was a thriving textile manufacturing operation. Cammick said she was influenced by what she has heard atseveral homeowners association meetings. The agreement that requires third and final reading by the council allows Casto Southeast Realty an infrastructure improvement credit as part of a fee in place of tax agreement. Being required of the developers is a commitment to build stores that incorporate a “rustic elegance” aesthetic feel—such as stacked stone, cultured stone and field stone. However, County Administrator Scott Moulder told the council he is unsure whether the proposed agreement requires rustic elegance for the out parcels on the 42 acres. During public comment, Tamassee resident Ward Fetrow said he thinks requiring a rustic elegance theme is a bad omen.