BEAUFORT, S.C. - Officials from Port Royal and the State Ports Authority should reach a compromise over the town's waterfront in the next several months.

Both sides began working on their visions of the town shortly after Gov. Mark Sanford signed legislation closing the Beaufort County port by the end of 2006.

"It will bolster economic activity in that little town, produce millions for the state and better the quality of life for South Carolinians by opening new access to the water," Sanford said about the port's sale in his State of the State last month.

The state's vision, presented by Sanford, is a 400-slip marina, almost 400 homes and a 64-room hotel on the 40-acre waterfront property.

Port Royal's plan includes 400 to 500 new homes, apartments and condominiums, up to 150,000 square feet of commercial space, a 250-room hotel, a marina, restaurant and public boat slips.

Port Royal Town Manager Van Willis said the town faxed its concerns about the state's plans to Ports Authority officials last week, but no formal compromise talks have taken place. Port Royal also plans at least two public hearings to discuss the ideas.

Willis said he expects it will take about three to four months to work out the details with the Port Authority.

Glen Kilgore, a member of the Ports Authority board of directors, said the ultimate goal is to benefit the developer and the town by having appropriate open space, public access to water, density, retail and homes.

The state's redevelopment plans have received mostly praise from Tara McGrath, director of the Beaufort office of the Coastal Conservation League.

The group likes the open space and public access to the water. But it has concerns about the proposed 400-slip marina and questions if there's enough demand for a marina that large.

During Sanford's visit this month, Port Royal Mayor Sam Murray also said the marina was too large. Murray also wants the town's main streets to open to the water.