Hilton Head Island
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The Town conducted a critical review of its Land Management Ordinance (LMO) and plans to amend the LMO to incorporate policy changes to the code to address:
The amendments will also bring the LMO into alignment with the comprehensive plan, Our Plan, while incorporating the growth framework and district planning recommendations.
An assessment of the Land Management Ordinance's (LMO) strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) was initiated in January 2023. Town staff with the assistance of a code assessment consultant identified code deficiencies and strategized a plan to update the LMO.
The LMO Amendments Plan is comprised of five phases.
Phase 1 amendments were approved by Town Council on March 7, 2023.
View the Phase 1 Adopted LMO Amendments
Phase 2 amendments were approved by Town Council on March 7, 2023.
Section 16-2-103.F: Provide standards for deviations from previously platted subdivisions.
View the Phase 2 Adopted LMO Amendments
Phase 3 is intended to address a few small changes to definitions needed for clarification.
Phase 4 will address residential and commercial development, design standards, and natural resource regulations.
Phase 5 will include a comprehensive review of all chapters, overall code organization, user-friendliness of the code, and will incorporate amendments to further align the LMO with Our Plan and integrate the district planning outcomes through the Town's Growth Framework and District.
The amendment content presented in the first four phases correlates directly with input received from the Island community and neighborhoods. Phase 5 will build on the preceding community engagement activities from the Growth Framework and District Plan initiative process.
Feedback provided by the community will be incorporated in addition to public hearings and public meetings that are a part of the LMO amendment approval process.
View the Anticipated Critical Path Calendar
A summary of the critical path calendar is as follows:
The proposed LMO changes create efficiencies, practical expectations, and effective processes for staff and applicants. In addition to the comprehensive LMO amendments plan, staff is overhauling the development review process. The development plan review program is now a team approach. Plans will be reviewed by an internal plan review team, by the Planning Commission and by Town Council with the expectation that the team and public review process input will result in better site design.
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