COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina House has rejected a plan to let wealthy oceanfront property owners rebuild a seawall on an eroding public beach in Georgetown County.
The proposal would exempt several dozen homes at Debordieu Beach from the state’s ban on seawalls.
The bill passed the General Assembly earlier this month, but was vetoed by Gov. Henry McMaster. The House voted 60-43 on Monday to override the veto, failing to get the two-thirds vote needed.
Debordieu property owners have fought to reconstruct the battered structure for years, saying it was built before South Carolina banned new seawalls more than 30 years ago. Supporters say Debordieu residents pay 14 percent of Georgetown County’s property taxes. The county has 61,000 residents.
McMaster says lawmakers were wrong to try to pass the special exception.
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