News Release

Town Adopts Strategic Action Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2028

September 9, 2025

The Hilton Head Island Town Council unanimously adopted the Strategic Action Plan for Fiscal Years 2026–2028, reaffirming the Town's commitment to strategic investment and protecting the qualities that make the Island a cherished place to live, work, and visit.

"Great places are the result of deliberate, cumulative choices — not by chance," the plan states. That guiding principle is at the heart of this three-year roadmap to the Island’s future.

Developed through months of collaboration among Town Council, Town Manager Marc Orlando, senior staff, and the community, the plan outlines 10 strategic goals, supported by detailed strategies, action items, and key performance indicators. It aligns policy and resource allocation with the community’s values and long-term vision.

"I believe we've landed on a forward-thinking document that enables effective governance, directs the Town’s consolidated budget, and delivers on quality-of-life improvements that benefit the entire Island," said Mayor Alan Perry.

Strategic Goals

"It is my pleasure to present the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Strategic Action Plan for Fiscal Year 2026 through Fiscal Year 2028," Orlando said. "This unified vision was crafted to preserve what makes Hilton Head Island exceptional while advancing our shared goals for the future. I'm grateful to Town Council for their leadership, our community members for their trust and engagement, and to the dedicated Town staff whose work made this plan possible." The plan centers around the following 10 goals:

1. Protect Island Character Through Managing Growth
2. Invest in Stormwater Management Infrastructure
3. Enhance Major Corridors and Streets
4. Enhance Public Safety Readiness and Facilities
5. Support Economic Development and Business Recruitment and Retention
6. Reinforce Island Resilience
7. Preserve, Protect, and Celebrate Gullah Geechee Culture and Heritage
8. Advance Workforce Housing Opportunities
9. Protect and Enhance Environmental Sustainability
10. Enhance Community Well-being through Implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Program Enhancements

Each goal includes measurable outcomes tracked through a digital public-facing dashboard which will be available on the Town’s website this month, ensuring transparency and accountability.

First-Year Actions Already Underway

Strategic actions within the plan's first year include:

• Assessing a potential moratorium on new short-term rental, timeshare, and major subdivision developments.
• Updating the Land Management Ordinance (LMO) and adopting growth management and development policies.
• Adopting district plans for Skull Creek, Main Street, Mid-Island, Parkway Arts, Marshes, Bridge to Beach, Chapin and Forest Beach area neighborhoods and businesses.
• Advancing land acquisitions and conservation easements that support strategic action plan objectives.
• Updating the Town's municipal code addressing beach parking, beach park rules, short-term rental rules, administrative citations, fireworks, noise, special events, abandoned boats, and recycling and waste management. 
• Identifying necessary improvements and opportunities to better manage stormwater across the Island and enhance storm preparedness and recovery.
• Establishing a unified, long-term vision that promotes context-sensitive design principles, ensuring safe, accessible, and multimodal transportation while preserving the unique character and environmental quality of the Island's key corridors.
• Advancing the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor project with a focus within Town limits that prioritizes safety, mobility, aesthetics, and the preservation of the Stoney Historic Neighborhood.
• Advancing workforce housing public-private partnerships at Northpoint and Bryant Road.
• Establishing a Muddy Creek Neighborhood Stabilization Plan combining zoning policy updates and public infrastructure improvements.
• Establishing a Workforce Housing Index to track programmed and naturally occurring workforce housing to help guide Town Council decisions.
• Advancing the relocation of the St. James Baptist Church and protection of the Cherry Hill School.
• Supporting the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation Strategic Plan to implement neighborhood revitalization, land retention, and business incubation strategies in alignment with the Town's programs.
• Prioritizing public infrastructure investments (roads, parks, stormwater drainage, fire hydrants, water/sewer, sidewalks, and other utilities) in Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods.
• Adding two new parks, Patterson Park and Taylor Family Park, within Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods.
• Preparing facility plans for a new Fire Rescue Headquarters, Emergency Operations Center, and Dispatch Center.
• Improving the South Carolina Accommodations Tax Grant Awards and Affiliated Agency application processes.
• Expanding access to procurement opportunities for Hilton Head Island-based businesses, including small and minority-owned businesses.
• Supporting Town-sponsored signature community gatherings including sporting events, recurring festivals, concerts, and heritage events.
• Expanding and diversifying business sector recruitment and retention including health care, technology and other primary job sectors.
• Ensuring long-term sustainability, funding, and operational readiness for periodic beach renourishment efforts, as well as disaster recovery operations.
• Researching potential grant funding to sustain the Lateral Sewer Connection  and Home Safety & Repair programs.
• Expanding recycling programs across all Town-managed parks and public facilities.
• Implementing South Carolina's first municipal Integrated Pest Management Policy and expanding recycling programs.

A Community-Driven Process

On February 26-27, 2025, the Town Council, staff, and community partners convened for a two-day strategic planning workshop to assess past progress and shape future direction. Following months of refinement, a final plan was presented to the community at a June 24 workshop before being unanimously adopted on July 15.

"While I believe we have achieved a great deal in a relatively short time, our real work is just beginning," Orlando added. "The momentum we have built must now carry us through the necessary and strategic work ahead. This plan sets the course — and we will deliver on it with discipline, integrity, and a long-term commitment to excellence."

To find out more information about the new Strategic Action Plan and download a digital copy, or follow progress through the dashboard (coming soon), visit the website at https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/strategicplan/.