County says yes to Lakeside Lodge incentives

Oconee County Council approved the ordinance of incentives to keep a planned condominium project at Hartwell Village from annexing to Clemson. The 4-0 vote, with Paul Cain absent, followed a public hearing at which two people spoke on the issue of the incentive agreement with the Lakeside Lodge developers. Councilman Julian Davis, addressing remarks toward the developers seated in the audience, said they could have taken their project elsewhere and explained that, in spite of the inducements the county is making to avert annexation to Clemson, the condos will provide jobs and there will be taxes paid to the county. The first public hearing speaker, Elaine Masceri, complained about what she sees as “creeping Clemson kudzu invading Oconee County.” Masceri was followed by Cherokee Gardens resident Donnie Blackmon who expressed similar sentiments, but questioned how far government should go to assist the private business sector.