News Release

Town Council Meeting Highlights - August 19, 2025

August 22, 2025

During the regularly scheduled meeting on August 19, the Hilton Head Island Town Council's actions included approval of amendments to the Land Management Ordinance (LMO), adoption of a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a Cultural District Designation from the South Carolina Arts Commission, approval of the first reading of an LMO amendment to traffic impact analysis requirements and standards, and approval of the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize the conveyance of 0.02 acres at 25 Dunnegan's Alley.

A full recording of the meeting is available on the Town's YouTube channel, and a complete meeting overview (agenda and packet materials) is posted on the Town's website. The next regular Town Council meeting is scheduled for September 16. 2025 at 3 pm.

Actions taken by Town Council on August 19, 2025 include:

• Approval of the following amendments to the LMO (second reading):
  • Enhanced tree protections including stronger preservation requirements for Live Oak and Laurel Oak trees, requiring larger replacement trees for mitigation purposes, an expanded native plant list, and extension of specimen tree protections to include all single-family lots to reduce unnecessary removal of significant trees.
  • Addition of a new section regarding construction management standards will require improved site management and safety during construction activities and certain severe weather events. The changes address noise and hours of operation, stormwater discharge, refuse and site cleanliness, traffic and parking, site management, and enforcement issues.
  • Amended the Major Subdivision, Minor Development Plan, and Major Development Plan review processes to improve transparency, enhance community involvement, and ensure that the public is better informed about potential developments in their neighborhoods. The updated processes include provisions designed to increase public notice and provide more opportunities for community engagement. The Planning Commission will ensure that community members have a platform to learn about proposed larger developments and certain minor improvements adjacent to residential areas, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.
  • Changes to design regulations and requirements for major subdivisions that improve common open space and pedestrian and cyclist connectivity. The changes refine the definition, calculation, and design standards for open space within development, emphasizing connectivity and design consistency; prioritize functional, connected, and accessible common open space, enhancing the quality of life for residents; enhance walkability and improve community interaction; and ensure a cohesive aesthetic within the Town's subdivisions.
     
• Adoption of a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a Cultural District Designation from the South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) in Spring 2026. The SCAC defines a Cultural District as a “geographic area of a city or town with a concentration of artistic assets, cultural facilities, creative businesses, and placemaking activities.” Districts must be walkable, contain accessible venues, and serve as hubs of cultural and creative activity. The Shelter Cove area has been identified as the proposed Cultural District due to its existing concentration of cultural venues, events, and public art.
   
• Approval of the first reading of an LMO amendment to the Town’s Traffic Impact Analysis Plan requirements and traffic analysis standards. Town Council directed the Town Manager to implement the following amendments immediately through pending ordinance doctrine for new applications. The amendments:
  • Reduce the threshold for requiring a traffic study from 100 peak-hour trips to 50 peak-hour trips, requiring more potential developments to study traffic impacts;
  • Require the traffic study to include signalized and roundabout intersections as well as unsignalized intersections;
  • Expand the scope of the study beyond traffic to include multimodal infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit services; and
  • Expand the type of mitigation options that can be used to address transportation impacts.
     
• Approval of the first reading of an ordinance that would authorize the conveyance of 0.02 acres at 25 Dunnagans Alley to Clear Daze, LLC, the owner of the adjacent property at 144 Arrow Road, to remove existing encroachments.