Beaufort County, South Carolina Town of Hilton Head, 26 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: Town of Hilton Head Island, Public Planning Committee, January 26, 2023, 10 AM

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Town of Hilton Head Island, Public Planning Committee, January 26, 2023, 10 AM
Meeting Agenda is available at https://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/towncouncil/agendas

A

Welcome all to the public planning committee meeting of January 26th, it's a Daya, are we in conformance or in compliance with foia? Thank you very much. Would you call the roll please here.

B

A

Is there a motion to agend the amend the agenda.

C

Yes, I'd like to make a motion to amend the agenda to move the Chairman's report under a parents by citizens and before new business. Thank.

A

B

A

Second, all in favor signify by saying.

B

A

Aye aye. Thank you pass this unanimously. Thank you, I believe we have one person who uh signed up to appear is that correct Zendaya? Who is that? Thank you very much skip Hogan. Are you here turn.

D

The only one interesting uh skip Hoagland windmill Harbor. Why has it a master land plan ever been created into perpetuity so we'd have the tools necessary to save ourselves from over development, untenable traffic and ongoing runoff pollution caused by encroachment of our Creeks rivers and estuaries? Polluted oysters are the first bad sign, one million years to create destroyed in 30 years by having no master land plan. Why has one road and one Bridge, all the way to I-95, never been taken into consideration?

D

What does dot say about this one road and its maximum usage with Bluffton and Hardy bills, out of control over development with 200 here 300 there and no master land plan? Has any thought been given as to what will happen 10 years from now, not to mention how long it will take to get off Hilton Head in a hurricane or your next trip to the airport?

D

Has any thought been given about increased wrecks and traffic delays, emergency vehicles, reaching hospitals, our future Road repairs and delays, and negative impact on three million tourists about three million terrorists versus 45 local residents that we now experience tourism is welcome, but not at Local's expense. What does dot have to say about these same three million tourists entering Hilton, Head and one road and one Bridge? Don't you think it's time to stop kicking the can down the road?

D

The bridge is nothing but a stent for your heart and will do little to nothing over the last last next 10 years. It's a 300 million dollar waste of taxpayers. Money I am a 47-year resident I moved here for the Charles Frazier vision for a low-key high-end retirement and resort that took nature and the environment into consideration.

D

It's like the song goes by Johnny Mitchell. They took all the trees, they put him in a tree Museum and they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them. Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got until it's gone. It's not your fault.

D

You were all just another: long line of failed controlled, kicked the can down the road appointed officials controlled by the developers, the Crooked Town managers and town lawyers in conflict with developer clients, chamber tourism interest and their illegal profits, and the secret greater Island council members special interest green. Unfortunately, too late to repair all the Damage Done only will get worse, with no master of land plan into perpetuity. We are at six pounds in a five pound bag, we're heading to 10 pounds and it's like a slow growing cancer.

D

If you don't stop it and remove it, it will eventually kill you also defund, the chambers, millions in a tax in the missing millions of hospitality, taxes that are unaccounted for and add this to Senator David's one percent tax and let the tourists pay not the locals, to buy lands and improve our infrastructure and Technology provides all the tourism we need for free. We need to defund this chamber and stop the robbery and stop the insanity. Thank you very much.

A

Thank you, Mr Oakland. We next move on to the discussion in the Chairman's report of Jonesville I have a couple of comments that I'd like to make to the residents of the Jonesville area.

A

Your concerns have been heard and are shared by Council.

A

I think I think you know that, because of the conversations we've had recently, I think there is a Hilton Head Way of developing and what we have seen in the Jonesville area and other areas on this island is the regional developers approach to to development.

A

That is not the Hilton Head way, and the council recognizes it.

A

I'd, like to reiterate, staff, has been focused on the LMO men's LMO amendments to improve your situation. Sean we'll talk about that in more detail in a minute.

A

Thirdly, council is committed to do what it can to mitigate to the greatest extent possible the negative impacts of the proposed developments.

A

Fourth Council has analyzed the moratorium versus Expediting LMO amendments and has asked staff to expedite those LMO amendments in the district planning and and also in the district planning, while exploring other opportunities and I can't say more than that. At this moment, I am hopeful. You will respect our sincerity and commitment to make things better for you and better for the island. Thank you.

A

And there are seats up front and Scattered throughout if you want to join in I, see one two three four and in the front here um please make yourself comfortable.

A

John Coleman. Thank you very much morning.

E

Mr, chairman Committee Member Sean, Cohen assistant, Town manager and director of Community Development, it's a great day in Hilton Head, Island I'm, happy to be in front of you today, uh Mr Hoagland you're, going to get your wish, where you're going to do a master plan and we're going to do it right and we are going to do it immediately as it relates to Jonesville I want the committee to know that staff has met with representatives from Jonesville and other areas, Folly, Field, Forest, Beach um and understand the pinch points and where our code is not delivering our expectations.

E

We did meet with the Jonesville group a couple of weeks ago with several staff members and disciplines to help address some issues that they've experiencing out there. So we had folks from natural resources and drain storm water and planning and traffic, and we outlined a plan of attack for the Jonesville area that will go in parallel with our LMO code changes, District, planning and recalibration of expectations for the future of Hilton island and so I wanted to cover a few key points.

E

So the town is engaged in doing a traffic impact assessment and Analysis of the Spanish Wells Jonesville area um and we'll complete that in the next two to three months and have that available to make help us make decisions, help us drive in the infrastructure, changes that need to happen in and around that area, whether it's through the town, CIP, the county, CIP, jointly or or expense of a potential project that would an applicant that would propose a project in that area.

E

We have mapped all the all of the properties in our GIS system and our tracking to make sure that area residents are notified on any activity that occurs in the area of Jonesville.

E

There are pending subdivision applications in Jonesville, only Bailey's code phase, one has been approved, subsequent phases for Bailey's Cove tidelands, one two and Twin Oaks have not yet been approved. We continue to work through the review process. We continue to push the applicants, meet expectations on value-added communities that provide the design and aesthetic and experience that I think will be long lasting rather than just maximizing the number of stamps or Lots I hear them called stamps. That kind of irritates me a little bit they're just selling stamps.

E

That's really not the way to approach it, you're selling, a home and an experience so, but we're working actively. All of our review is done by a team. Everyone has eyes on this: it's not an individual decision and so we're making sure all disciplines involved are part of that team discussion. We have a development review team, they call it the dirt team, you know but um and I say well, let's get down and dirty then like. Let's make a difference and pay attention to details, but it's a full team approach.

E

We've begun taking our major subdivisions and major development plan, reviews to the Planning Commission to live in the sunshine for information and input from the Planning Commission and will soon be adding those same level of projects to Town Council to bring forward for input and information.

E

um Again, the town LMO amendments I want to thank Town Council. We spent two days this week in strategic planning and I'm happy to say.

E

One of the reasons I came here many years ago was because Hilton Head was known for being a well-planned community and I came from the City of Greenville, where I was working on District plans there and really saw an opportunity to build upon the Stony initiative plan, the chapel initiative plan, Bridge of the beach and others to help Define Hilton Head for the future, and so we are actively working on a code assessment. We had a full LMO SWOT analysis done.

E

We've evaluated IT staff met last week to include the town manager with that code assessment team and our internal team for two days at uscb to really understand where we are weak, where we have opportunities to improve. Also a few things that we're strong on and I, don't want to lose, lose sight of that, but to really understand where we're at so. We know where to go and be purposeful and efficient in delivering a code that meets expectations, so that happened.

E

Last week, Our Town Council under strategic Workshop yesterday supported a full plan to complete these District plans, growth framework, LMO changes both in an immediate term and in the long term, and so we're we are actively engaged, we've already written some code. Some will be on the agenda later today, but some additional amendments will come forward in the 30 60 90 day time frame, District planning will be engaged with Jonesville AS, a pro as a priority District to advance immediately for assessment and determination of the right land use pattern and intensities.

E

That should exist to help guide that Development Area for the future and then by the end of the year, we'll bring forward a complete, comprehensive, relevant and current code that reflects Hilton island expectations grounded in our plan, our comprehensive plan and all of the good work we'll do with individual communities in these districts, so I just want to make sure that that's conveyed we have now committed. This is the number one priority at staff and we will make sure that this is not budged, moved unless we get hit by a natural disaster.

E

I think that's the only thing that I would allow my staff to to focus on Okay, so um so again, District planning part of the help guide. This long-term update and some of these short-term actions that we'll bring forward here in the next two or three months.

E

We also have in our town Capital program the assessment of um non-vehicular infrastructure out there Pathways to serve bike and put bicyclists and pedestrians that assessment's underway and we'll bring forward whatever the options are to implement a project and just want to make sure that that's that's what we've heard from the community and we're advancing that as part of our CIP, and there is funding to complete that assessment and then move that forward.

E

um I mentioned we've, we've included in our GIS our geographic information system. Mapping of all of this, um and that's going to be very critical to understand where there are additional, um well opportunities or threats areas. We need to protect areas that um could be opportunity for developers to come in, and we want to make sure that we're protecting and understanding what those long-term impacts, short-term and long-term impacts um could be I wanted to share that information to let you know that we are taking this seriously.

E

We are meeting with members of the community and my team, uh with the support of the Town manager and Town Council. Have this as our top priority and we'll Advance it immediately to address these concerns. Thank.

A

You Sean I would like to reiterate two items for emphasis: Council has made the decision to make Jonesville its number one priority in District planning and secondly, yesterday in the strategic planning session and I think I speak for everyone on Council growth management is our number one issue before the community at this time. Thank you.

A

There are a there is a group of citizens from Jonesville who would like to address the public planning committee um I, my expectation is the first few will be three minutes and after that the president or chairman of the Jonesville preservation group will have longer to speak. Is that correct? Okay, the first Speaker Kelly LeBlanc.

F

I wanted to thank you all and uh staff I. We. We know that you're working really hard on this issue and we do appreciate it and we really appreciate being engaged uh to help with the develop the LMO as well so uh I'm Dr, Kelly LeBlanc I'm, the author of the survey on over development and the secretary of the Jonesville preservation, Society I'm, going to be presenting the results of the survey, which can be also seen online at jpshi.org jpshi.org.

F

uh There are currently three major subdivisions planned for Jonesville Road, with a total of 243 units which could triple our population. The JPS team formed just over one month ago and quickly realized that this is an island-wide issue and our strategy is to engage all citizens of Hilton Head that are concerned about over development. To date we have over 1400 responses to the survey question one on a scale of one to ten How concerned. Are you about over development? The average response was 9.5 out of 10. question two.

F

We focus the survey on residents, 83 percent say they were full-time residents. Question three uh I said two before that was two so question three. We received responses from all over the island, fifty percent from the North End 45 from mid Island and south end and five percent from off Island question four: do you want the Town Council uh to roll back zoning and over limit and limit over development? 96 said yes, question: five: do you want a six-month moratorium on major building projects?

F

91 said yes, question: six, their top three concerns were of impacts were trafficked volume, 93 percent, quality of life 91 and environmental impacts. 87 percent. The current uh comprehensive plan does not adequately address those top three concerns. The lack of Workforce housing is a major consequence of over development. More short-term rentals leads to more expensive, long-term rentals question. Seven, where is the best place for Workforce housing? 49 said that Workforce housing should be within walking distance. In other words, one mile to public transportation.

F

Short-Term rentals threaten the quality of life of residents. Question eight, should short-term rentals be restricted to specific areas? 83 percent said yes, I want to thank you again for your attention. I want to say this I want to thank the crowd also for coming uh This Crowd would not be here if there had been public notice of the developments on Jonesville Road, the Bailey's Cove subdivision was approved without public comment. The Alamo must be written to require public notice on application of subdivision major building projects or major rezoning.

F

The public has the right to respond to Applications of major building projects before they are approved. Thank.

B

G

F

Thank you very much, foreign.

A

To the meeting it was made known to me that pizza is ill, but there is a substitute for pizza. Would that person please come forward.

H

Good morning, good morning, I'm not sure from an adequate substitute for peach Shore, but I do have some vested interests in your name, sir. My name is Newton. Green and I am extremely invested in what's happening on Jonesville Road I, remember Jonesville Road when it was dirt, so I've seen many many iterations of Jonesville Road.

H

Throughout the years uh my career within 18t and IBM I have designed and implemented communication systems and Data Systems across the continental United States, as well as across Europe. So I have some understanding of planning to implementation. So I just want to point out a couple of things in looking over the documents associated with the developments on Jonesville Road, which I think are some major oversized some misses.

H

If you look at the traffic configurations, it would appear to me that not enough analysis was done on increasing the traffic over 50 to 60 percent. There is no way that uh access from Jonesville Road can be accomplished. Just with that one turn going into Spanish Wells Road. A great deal of attention now needs to be given two Miller Road.

H

Heavy Focus needs to be given to Miller Road.

H

Now, given that there are three points that I believe the gentleman I'm representing would have brought up today is looking at the plant as it is right now, I, don't believe from my analysis and looking at I'm looking at the time block as well, that a traffic study was done encompassing all three developments.

H

If a traffic study had been done with all three developments, there's no way the amount of houses that are there right now would have been approved. So one of the things that we're looking for is another look another look, the short to ensure that adequate attention has been given to the increased traffic. Any development will pose on Jonesboro Road safety. Another issue: if you look at the current configuration of uh what is being proposed, there is a recreational area.

H

If you look at that recreational area, you will see access to. It is directly across Jonesville Road through two blind turns on the road, an extremely hazardous and potentially dangerous area. That obviously needs to be looked at again.

H

Also, whoever looked at a freshwater Pond there again I, don't think that enough homework if the freshwater Barn fills up is going to flood Jonesville, Road so again, I think that needs to be looked at as well. So again, my background says: do your homework before you implement something, don't spend millions of dollars on something that's going to be pulled back, fought over and not implemented. Thank you very much. Thank.

A

I

Thank you, um I'm Donnie, kunich I have been an island residence for almost 40 years and for the past 21 years living on Jonesville Road.

I

This morning, I was asked to speak a little bit about the environment and the impact the growth has had on it, and it's obvious through my Discovery and research that the town already knows the impact.

I

There's no reason for me to go over it again to talk about the 100 year old oak trees that have been cut down, displacing Wildlife the impact on our waterways, the beach, even the marshes. You already know that what I discovered is we lost our vision. The original vision of this island wasn't what it is today so to Sean mentioned the GIS mapping, so I went backward 20 years ago, almost in 2004. Look at those Maps compared them to today's Maps.

I

The part: that's alarming is the number of trees that have been taken down just put a stamp on the ground for a house. We need to stop that. Then I did another little research, one on the town's website. You already have instruments in place that were voted upon in the 80s and 90s to protect this island. We just need to revisit the vision in 1980s we're the first island of the first place of its kind to put in a tree ordinance to protect our trees.

I

Later in the 80s, there was a land trust that was developed to protect the land again later in the 80s. The town commissioned a long-range master plan. It's already here, which is the following.

I

Those Master plans were to slow down the growth and in the 90s there is a a area that was to manage the growth of the island, protect the areas in fact, to date, over 1300 Acres have been purchased by the town to protect those lands.

I

These protected areas precluded commercial development, Hotel development and new homes. These are your words. This came right out of the town of Hilton heads article in 2018 from the Chamber of Commerce, and it's there to today, so you're saying what we're asking for then in 2020 there's a plan that you all put out.

I

If we just read it and follow it, we take care of all the problems in that plan talked about right sizing.

I

Talking about how the growth of this community is More, Than This Island can handle on page eight, which is my topic.

I

Environmental goals and I'll read to you environment to protect and preserve the natural environment of Hilton, Head Island simple, so we're asking you today is re-look at the vision that we had originally the same thing. That's causing all these people to come in here today to speak, they're, passionate about it I. Thank you and I. Thank everybody here as well.

A

A

Thank you, Miss Anthony,.

J

Good morning, for the record, my name is D. Anthony I live on Walking Horse Street, which is off of Jonesville Road um and going through the survey and reading the comments and looking at things. There have been a few things in our household that have been highlighted.

J

um One of them would be the hospitals. Our emergency room has 24 beds without having enough primary care. Physicians. Patients are sent to the emergency room, I have personally sat in the hallway in the ER due to overcrowding. To date, our inpatient beds are at 100 percent capacity.

J

Overcrowding affects the quality of health and of health care for residents and visitors alike. Another thing that our households have been talking about is our schools. What's the capacity of our schools, hillnad High School according to the County website, is at or over capacity. This makes very, very tough learning environment. Our schools are overburdened. They are lacking teachers and substitute substitutes. If a teacher is absent, a class has to split between two other classrooms. This creates huge class sizes and stress for the students and the teachers.

J

What's our school's capacity is any of this being taken into consideration as part of the planning any of the towns planning I think we need to step back. Take time, evaluate we have a hard-working staff. This staff needs time to make the changes that need to be changed.

J

Thank you. Thank you.

A

And Daniel Anthony.

K

Daniel Anthony, president of the Jonesville preservation, Society uh first off. Let me just say: um I wrote this speech about a week ago, because I knew that that this week was going to be just bought, it I was going to be bombarded with all kinds of things. Y'all too y'all had a busy week, um so I took a little bite out of this, but not all of it. Okay, so here we go good morning. Everyone. My comments here today are not meant to offend, but they are meant to get your attention.

K

There has been a lot of talk lately about what does Hilton Head stand for? What did people think when they think of Hilton Head? What are our core values? The question in me is simple: it's hard, it's the love that we all have for Hilton Head, the love we have for our homes. We have all made the decision for one reason or another to make Hilton Head our home, but you know it really only boils down to one thing: we all love this island.

K

We love the history, the wildlife, the beaches, the picturesque sunrises and sunsets our neighbors and communities. The god-given beauty that surrounds us, whatever your passion, is this island provides it for decades. This island has been subject to the degree to developers and we, as a town, have allowed it to happen all in the name of progress.

K

We have not been good stewards of what God has given us. We are at a Crossroads. We are in a very unique position. We can together change the future of this album. We can right the wrongs of past Administrations. We can in one voice, declare Hilton Head is no longer up for sale. I, ask what say you, the elected leaders of this island.

K

What say you are you going to take a breath step back, reaffirm your commitment to the citizens of this island, the commitment all of you have expressed the commitment of making Hilton Head the elite world-class community that we all say we want it to be, or are you going to continue the decades-long practice, our prostitute in Hilton Head to the highest bidder? This is your time, your time to make a difference, your time, to tell everyone. This is our home. This is our Island.

K

The moratorium will give you the break that you need to break the step back, reflect give thoughtful insight to the demands of this island before going forward before making any more mistakes. As I have shown you through surveys and comments, you have the support of the community.

K

You have all at one time or another, ask for the residents to get involved to communicate with you to express their concerns. Well, they have residents from all over. The island have expressed their concerns through emails comments and our own independent study, the results of which you have take time to read through this information.

K

Although my highest concern is for Jonesville, if you study the information we provided, you will see that this is an island-wide concern, Asian neighborhood, when Town officials to protect them from over development. This is not a hard decision. This is simply choosing to do the right thing over what has become the status quo. We Are, Better, Than This are better than this, but this will take courage. This will take strength.

K

You have to push yourselves beyond your comfort zones, I believe in each and every one of you I believe you're all good people who want to do what's right. You must search your hearts search your souls because the decisions you make today, we all will live with the results tomorrow and forever.

K

You must do your duty, protect Hilton Head protect the residents. That is your oath. You have all heard at various Town meetings, the concerns of the residents of Hilton, Head traffic and safety. Being at the top of the list you are all are. Are you all really ready to gamble on the safety and well-being of the residents of this island? Simply because you may be afraid to offend a developer, or perhaps it's just not politically beneficial? For you. We have all experienced the loss of life on Hilton Head because of poor planning because of oversight.

K

When we fail to plan we plan to fail again, we need to be proactive, not reactive, please, for the love of God. Let's make this island a safe and secure Community for everyone, residents and visitors alike, a place where we all can be proud of a beacon of light that the whole world can see, and in me, but in order to do that, we must gather all the information says you can make a sound and secure decision before moving forward. We, the residents, have given you our Insight.

K

We are still waiting for the traffic analysis and the district analysis to be completed. You cannot make a sound judgment without these two items and more discussion about the results. So I ask you again: please Institute the moratorium before it's too late. Thanks.

A

Thank you, Mr Anthony I think it's important for my colleagues to be able to also say in a brief word or two because we're in the interest of time what they think about this Glenn.

L

First of all, I want to say I appreciate you being here, I appreciate your sharing. Your sincere concerns I feel those concerns we spent the last two days in strategic planning. Number one item is to amend the LMO and to come up with management of control of development on this island. I will support that and we're prepared to move forward with that. So thank you for being here.

A

Yes, Bryson.

B

Yes, chair. Thank you for the opportunity of speaking about this. uh I took my oath of office on December 6.. Shortly thereafter, I received lots of emails about the Jonesville area, so I drove out there myself to see what was happening. I also looked at the subdivision plans that were being considered and then thanks to Mr, Anthony and Dr LeBlanc I got a tour on a golf cart which gives you a more upfront and and personal view of the Jonesville area. So I share your concerns.

B

I hear you. We have been pressing on the town, manager and staff to help find resolutions. I really appreciate the report that Mr Cullen gave us today. He gave a lot of information out so um and and I hope that you picked up on some of the key things.

B

Certainly the district plan for Jonesville and and perhaps if there's time, Mr chair, he could give just a thumbnail view of what a district plan is like not not a detailed description, but just you know like a couple of sentences so that you know what we're talking about. In addition, one of the things he talked about was notice about, what's going to be happening in the Jonesville area, I've heard that I agree with it I'm hoping that in our LMO amendments will include some stronger notice, Provisions for the public.

B

In addition, the LMO amendments and the schedule, the acceleration I've been pumping the gas on this I plead guilty to that and I'm so grateful that the staff has hurt us and that they have a 60 to 90 day plan for some code revisions. It will take a little bit of time to go through the process before the Planning Commission before in the public planning committee and in the Town Council so bear with us.

B

We are pressing the gas as fast as we can on that, and what I will tell you is is that when I look at decisions about what is coming before, Town Council I thought it might be helpful to develop a set of Standards or qualifications in making my decisions. So all of these are equal consideration in my book. Here's my five part standard. First of all, how does it affect the safety of residents? Workforce and visitors to the island.

B

Secondly, and again these are equal in my view, does it have respect for and protection of, the natural environment? Thirdly, does it provide for stewardship of all our resources, Financial land, fresh water, natural Waters?

B

Fourthly, how does it impact the quality of life of all our inhabitants? Thank.

A

You Miss Bryson.

B

And, fifthly, does it provide respect for and protection of, Heritage, especially the native Islanders, the gala Heritage on this island? Those are my standards, and that is what I'll apply in doing my best to move forward. Our concerns about growth Management on this island. Well,.

A

M

C

Thank you all so much for being here when I look out, I see how government works. It's because of you that we sit here, and so our responsibility and our duties to look out and to reflect your wishes in our actions to the very best of our abilities.

C

I was one of you sitting in that seat eight years ago, when my neighborhood was also impacted by many of the things that you're here about today. It's not academic.

C

For me, it's real I will say that we have had successes in progressing through the LMO and making changes, but this is the first time and I commend my council members, Our Town manager and our staff for moving with us quickly now, because this is the first time this has been a priority to understand that what is happening on Hilton Head is not consistent with what our vision of Hilton Head was intended.

C

The lives that have been impacted are yours, it's mine and it's across the island. I've read the survey responses and my heart aches.

C

When I was first contacted by Bob and Duchess, and they said they had no idea what was happening, my heart ached, because as it happened to us, we had no idea and we were not as well organized as you are, but we got organized and we made a difference. We're still. We still have challenges in our neighborhood.

C

There are still challenges the south end to the North End and in the midsection I'm here today, to tell you that yes, I know that the statement has been made, that we are in the progress process and we are moving with all due diligence and speed to make it happen.

C

I'm concerned about what happens between now in that 90 days, if I had my druthers I would not only take a breath and work as I worked quickly, but I'd stop and I'd make sure that nothing happened between now and when we have regrouped and put residents first honestly put residents first in this Community First and built the type of Island that we all moved here.

C

Believing we were moving to I will do everything I possibly can to support you and to make it happen as quickly as possible and make sure that no further damage is done across this island. It's why I'm here I hope. That's why I was sent here. I believe it is, and you have my promise.

A

Thank you very much, Miss Becker.

A

That is the conclusion of our discussion today on the Jonesville situation and the town's plans going forward again again want to emphasize that this is a sincere priority for the Town Council and staff and I think you can count on the staff's constant communication with you and also the council's attention to your issues. Thank you very much for coming. If you don't intend to stay, please exit the room as quietly and as quickly as you can, because we have agenda items to follow. Thank you very much, foreign.

C

A

Exit the room as soon as possible.

I

L

I

G

G

A

Foreign on the agenda is new business. The first item is a consideration of the proposed amendments for the Land Management ordinance for the town of Hilton Head Island. Is there a staff report.

N

Yes, there is Chairman thank.

O

A

N

G

N

Thank you very much. I would like to bring forward today. uh Some proposed LMO initial uh amendments that you guys I think are aware of. um You know obviously we're ramping up to get a series of these to you, but today's let's get started with some Brian.

A

It's my understanding that this committee first saw these amendments as proposed in a list of priorities.

N

A

Previously, and that we have also reviewed it in more detail subsequently- and this is what we hope to be a an approval to send it on to council- is that correct? That is correct. Thank.

E

You, sir, this was part of the bigger set these have been drafted, are ready for review and consideration to send out a council. Hopefully we can clear a few of these from the deck so that when we come back with the next batch, um we're not overwhelmed.

A

N

So one of the first ones that are that is before you. You want me to go through these line by line I.

A

Think it's important for each member of the public planning committee to weigh in on any issue that they have a uh a question regarding. So um you don't have to go by line item by line item, but I do think you ought to highlight what what is proposed in the ordinance okay. So the public knows.

N

Well, the first is on exhibit a is dealing with staff waivers.

N

This was a process where town staff was able to issue uh waivers from the LMO for on concerning a number of different items, and so we're we're asking you at this time to remove that ability from staff to Grant these waivers and instead have these considered as variances that shall go before our bza.

N

Instead, okay is.

A

There any question on that in that regard from you, Ms Becker, no.

B

A

B

Sir um I'm sorry I didn't catch your last name: Brian Eber, Eber, Mr Eber. As the former chair of the board of zoning appeals, bza I recall this coming before us. uh Every month we would receive a report from staff about the waivers that staff had granted and we developed the board developed a concern about that and asked for staff to make a report on that and then the the response which we appreciated um at the time is when I served on the BCA.

B

It's great that we were taking a careful look at that, but the bza was concerned about how many more cases they might hear. As a result. So we asked the staff to go back and take a look at that and I know that Ms Dixon made a report and it looked as though, because of uh non-conformities addressing non-conformities remained in the LMO that the impact on the number of variances that the bza might consider would be less than feared at first and I. Don't know anyone I say anything else about that.

B

But I want to send a message back to my former bza colleagues that, as I sit now I'm I'm still listening about that, but I believe the bza felt more Comfort based on that staff report and I'm glad to see this moving forward. I will certainly support the change and I hope that the bza will continue to communicate with us if they see any issues in this or anything else.

B

With regard to the LMO and I don't know their staff wants to add to that same as like standing up who uses staff to bza she's used to me asking questions, sometimes I put her on the spot. Perhaps I did today, but I'd try to give her a little warning so.

P

Thanks Miss Bryson I have the staff report that Ms Dixon prepared for the BCA, and there was a summary of how many waivers had staff had approved within a time period between June of 2020 and July of 2022, and there were 34 staff waivers that were issued. 20 of those were for substitutions of non-conformities, which is not again being proposed to be removed and then of those 14 did not deal with fully with non-conformities um and then five of those 14 that remained would have to go for a variance to the bza.

P

So that pertains to the volume concern that the bza had in it likely won't be a huge increase in caseload to the BCA.

B

Thank you and I certainly support the change. Thank you. Glenn thank.

L

B

A

L

A

This is what I'd like to say is we have a number of items so to the degree we can keep our answers to yes or no or a question. It's.

L

Hard for a recovering lawyer to do that.

A

That's why I said.

L

The best that I can, in any event, I see this as a proper correction of the LMO, the number of waiverses of concern, I'm, not saying they were abuses, I'm not saying they were necessarily erroneous, but we do have other processes there to create waivers to create exceptions and so forth and I prefer to see those processes followed. So I support this as well. Without.

A

Objection: let's move to the next one.

A

um Can we can we do it at the end Chet? Yes, thank you.

N

So the next proposed a minute uh will allow variances from all sections of the LMO other than use, density and height.

N

The next proposed LMO any questions, yeah.

A

Is there anything on that one? Okay, go ahead: okay,.

N

The next Amendment will allow outdoor screened bike storage in the two districts that the town has both the LC and the CC zoning districts to Bright, which will also allow for more specificity, as it relates to screening for the bicycles that are stored, stored on site.

B

Mr, chair I'll just jump in quickly. This was recommended by the vza.

A

B

And I support it. Thank.

A

You, okay, any other comments on this one Glenn Tammy.

C

Not at this time, I believe that we can move on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead.

N

The next amendment is seeking to clarify the man, the definition of manufactured use, classification as it relates to the size and type of a brewery.

N

What makes it a manufactured use versus a bar or eating establishment and again I believe this is a recommendation from the PCA as well.

A

And again, the this committee has been hearing these issues now for several months, so without objection we can move to.

N

The next one thank.

A

N

The next Amendment um is replacing the uh instead of using June traffic counts, instead of going with July traffic counts. This is an effort to provide better data for traffic decision data, driven decisions.

A

Again without objection, thank you.

N

This next amendment is a change kind of a change when the plantings are done as part of a subdivision or a LMO. A development plan review.

A

I think just so the public understands what this is uh sure. There's a. Why don't you explain it.

N

Yes, so what this will afford? The town is, is a mechanism to ensure financially that the the plants that were planned and approved actually get are get off to a good start. They can mature and grow healthy, and it's a financial uh burden is being pushed now onto the developer. To make this happen,.

A

But there's also the other side of it. We use to require the plants to go in early and they were destroyed by construction, and this corrects that right.

N

Yeah, this allows them to shift that to a later date, when it's more appropriate to plan. Thank.

C

You this is a win-win. It.

N

L

This is common sense. Yes,.

B

I agree, as my mama said: don't plant that this time of year Patsy it's not going to grow so.

N

B

Either of a performance guarantee until the planting is done, thank you. Thank.

A

You without objection go ahead.

N

The next Amendment deals with sign Updates. This is kind of the modernization of how signs are coming into being today versus when you went out there by hand and changed things to where it's more uh of a electronic situation for science, Give.

A

An example please, these.

N

Changeable signs, as we know and like for gas, for example, gasoline gas stores prices are fluctuating quite often, so this allows for the change of your sign no more than twice daily, so it's not something, that's rolling and scrolling and changing all the time. This is a twice daily change that can be done electronically.

C

I think a clarification that was needed throughout these discussions was. This does not mean that there's going to be a backlit there's, no lighting, there's nothing along those lines, so that would have been clarified. I just want to I'm, not sure. If.

E

That's what you read my mind: yeah yeah, the the signs, look exactly like an analog. A lot of this has to do with Staffing, and some of these Enterprise only have a staff or two. So for someone to go out and change with the old little suction cup and pole on high ones that we have monuments, it allows a mechanism to be changed from inside it flips the price it looks like analog. So no, it does not look a backlit. It's.

A

Thank you any other.

L

Comments this case came up before the drb uh involving the McDonald's revision and I came to understand that all this did was. It allows them to change the price on an item or the listing of an item on their electric electronic menu That's. All, rather than have someone go out and change it mechanically.

N

Yeah, that's it's a it's a just a modernization of our science, which is really what we're going.

A

Here, I support this without objection, go ahead.

N

This next Amendment amends the the remaining sections of the code that were kind of missed when we did our big uh floodplain mapping update a couple years ago. So this this is regards to measurement how it's measured, how things are measured for flood zone and just clarify the remaining LMO sections that need to be amended.

A

um Height is an issue in the community and in our conversations today does this actually change the height of a building or it's how we calculate it.

N

um I would say not overall it's in relationship we used to base everything on the base. Flood elevation.

E

Yeah go ahead and get my exercise today, so it's great yeah. It doesn't really change the way we measure it um when we did the FEMA map updates uh a year or so ago.

E

um We changed the base, lot elevations changed here and we made sure it was protection for residential non-residential development when you're not in a flood zone. The use you measure from existing grade and we're just making sure that that's clarified and so we're just making sure the Alamo is consistent with the flood controller. Thank.

A

You any further comments on that without objection move on to the next one. Thank you, Brian.

N

This next Amendment deals with I I think it's important to point out. These are existing minor subdivisions and the the goal of this is to um allow for better communication and a better process for those people that live in existing subdivision when minor changes are are done.

A

That's not clear to me, it may not be clear to the public.

A

What is a minor subdivision, and how does this impact the people around those minor subdivision or within it, or what.

N

L

Showing their chairs up front their shares up here that you're welcome to use.

E

Yeah this one, it's really uh more administrative owner's consents required for all other applications, but for some reason it was not listed for minor subdivisions. Minor subdivisions are subdivisions that are five or less um and so having orders. Consent right is an important piece to make sure we're processing an agreement with the owner. Thank.

A

You without objection.

B

Mr chair so I think the bottom line here is this is not uh affect the subdivisions under consideration in Jonesville. No.

N

A

Without objection go ahead, Brian.

N

Again, this one is another one that is um provide standards for previously planted subdivisions where proper notification and process and to the existing residents within the subdivisions. Again, this is a minor subdivisions, but.

A

I I again I want the public to understand what we're talking about here.

E

Yeah, so if, uh if you're, if you have a previously plotted subdivision and you are modifying the lock configurations to increase the density beyond the original approval, there is a set of criteria and a process that this goes back before the Planning Commission to review and make sure it doesn't increase the impact. There's a correct infrastructure and other Provisions. So there's a list of criteria that are part of that evaluation, and so, if it forces that back to the Planning Commission to make sure there's concurrence about increasing density through replanting of these previously plotted subdivisions.

A

So the goal is to protect the residents of the existing subdivision.

E

Right so it goes to Daylight it'll, be at a public meeting at Planning Commission and at the Planning Commission thinks it meets the criteria. They'll make a recommendation that it be approved. Okay,.

A

Any comments on that on that. Thank you. That's the list as I have it am I correct in that? Yes,.

Q

A

Like to have a motion and then we'll hear public comment.

L

Mr chairman I would move that we recommend all of these changes forward for approval by the Town Council.

B

A

A second call the rolls and Daya, please I,.

B

Think he wants to comment. Oh.

A

I I'm very sorry. Yes, of course, I almost got it. Chad.

R

I'm Chester Williams I'm, the only issue I want to make sure that you're all aware of is with respect to the person, the removal of the waivers. It may not substantially increase the work of the bza, but it definitely will increase the work of the BCA. But, more importantly, it's going to complicate the development process, often for small development, single-family development.

R

That sort of thing- and it's you know the the recommendation- says it's more appropriate for any waivers for varying from the code to go to the bza I mean the waivers have been on the code for years, um they're fairly minor and they help development, often in the native Island communities and they're all going to have to go to the bza. It's going to complicate things for them and I. Think you just sort of think about that twice before you move forward with that. Thank.

A

You thank you, Chad. Are there other public comments.

A

Any final comments: bye public planning committee sadea, please call the roll.

L

B

For the motion, yes,.

A

Yes passes unanimously. Thank you, Brian thank.

N

A

Next item on the agenda is the consideration of report proposed ordinance to amend the Land Management ordinance to create a new use called Islander mixed use within the Sea Pines Circle, District and I believe we'll have a staff presentation and then the opportunity for the applicant to address the public planning committee.

P

If I could, before we start on the next agenda item, we had sent some additional proposed. General LMO amendments pertaining to two definitions, as well as an accessory use provision.

P

They were proposing changing definitions for multi-family, single family and the elimination of divisible dwelling units, and if the public planning committee chooses, we could send those back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and then bring them back for full consideration.

A

I, don't want to take a lot of time, but I do think you should hear opinions of the public planning committee- okay, okay, Becca,.

C

C

Yeah, it's it's over, it's you know as I've, read them and I'm sorry I know that you're either wanted one word answers, and so I was trying to be as quick as possible, but I can make it longer. um As I um know. The Land, Management, ordinance and I know the residential neighborhoods on the island. There's in Conflict there, with expectations and with proper land use and I. Think this change corrects that and it should be done with Allstate.

L

I have no objection.

B

No objection the process I agree that we need to take a look at these okay.

A

Thank you very much, oh no, it was not and that's why we're just passing it back to the public Planning Commission Mr.

B

Sure I think it might be helpful to just if I can read the summary. If I've got the right, one Ms look, you can tell me it says the prepared Amendment proposes modifications to single family and multi-family definitions and eliminates to visible dwelling units, for instance commonly referred to as lockout units close friends. That's what we're talking about am I right. That's correct! Thank you, but.

A

There's also the discussion that we were going to have the definition of single family and what that meant on a single lot. Is that correct.

B

Yeah I think that's what the summary was meant to include. If it didn't right, that's correct, maybe another princess would have helped I, don't know. Yes,.

A

We'll get you a copy.

C

Do you need a motion or.

A

Is that we're just no I'm recommending you can just go back all right, all right now, you're going to yes work onto the Land Management ordinance Amendment! Yes,.

P

Okay good, so now we have another uh text, Amendment proposal um that we would like to discuss with.

P

You is called Islander mixed use, and this was a applied for by Josh tiller of JK, tiller and Associates, and the request is for a new use to be created with conditions within the Sea Pine Circle district, and that includes creation of a definition for the new use, use specific conditions for that new use, as well as some exceptions from our development form standards and again, I wanted to remind everyone that this is a text Amendment request, and although there is a specific development that this applicant has in mind, it would be applicable to the parcels that meet the conditions within the Sea Pine Circle District.

A

Just for just so that we understand this does not impact the base zoning. This is an add-on. It's.

P

A new use that would be allowed in the Sea Pine Circle District only as proposed correct, so the base zoning is still Sea, Pine, Circle and, and if approved, this would be a new use that would be on the menu of uses allowed within that District. Thank.

A

P

um And so we're recommending that the public command public planning committee review this and then um make a recommendation on it. um So again, I'm just going to summarize the applicant's request. The applicant also has some slides that they would like to do as well and then I'll provide some staff analysis on the request as well. So first is just a summary as it was proposed, and so it's a new use and it proposes a new definition which is on the screen.

P

The use is called Islander mix use and it's a development that includes two or more different uses which shall include multi-family.

P

Actually I'm sorry, this has our proposed definition, not their existing one on the screen, so I apologize for that, but I will read it from the amendment itself.

P

So it's a development that includes two or more different uses which shall include Islander mixed use and one or more of office uses as described in 1610, 103, F or one or more of the Commercial Services uses described in 1610, 103, G or some combination thereof. Such uses should be functionally integrated and share. Vehicular use areas, Ingress, egress and pedestrian access group living dormitory use is allowed within this use type.

P

So pretty much their use category that they're proposing is very similar to our mixed use definition, but they also want to include a group living dormitory use.

P

So the request also includes separate parking spaces required for residential at 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit and then separate parking spaces required for non-residential at one per 500 square feet of gross floor area and they're proposing this used to be permitted with conditions and and those conditions would include that the use must be within 500 feet of an education use that short-term rental would be prohibited um and that it would allow that this use type could participate in a short shared parking plan.

P

So they also have some changes to the development form. Standards that are proposed. One is that it would have undefined density, meaning that there would not be a density cap for what's proposed, but the density would be limited by the applicable design and performance standards and they're, also looking to request a height exception of up to 55 feet again. The Sea Pine Circle height limit is 45 feet for all development.

P

So now I'm just going to go through the staff analysis of the use. Certainly it's a concept that we've been discussing for some time with the LMO committee and the Planning Commission. It's certainly a worthy for more discussion and we've been working with the applicant team for some time.

P

The definition does have somewhat of a circular nature, and so we were working with the applicant to propose a different definition because it it referred back to the use type Islander mixed use. So the proposed definition removes that circular nature, and it is what is up on the screen right now.

P

um So we had that proposed change and the applicant was amenable to this definition. Change.

P

um So mixed use is allowed in the Sea Pine Circle District, but it has a density limit of 12 dwelling units per net acre and 10 000 gross floor area for non-residential again, so the Sea Pine Circle District mixed use does not allow a shared parking plan. So that's what's different in this proposal, of course, is undefined density, as well as the inclusion of shared parking applicability.

P

So the the use as described by the applicant and the intent was that it would be provided providing housing for Islanders. However, as drafted that use um for the undefined density, as well as the use is not currently tied to any affordability component or Workforce housing or fair market rents.

P

So just wanted to point that out also for the group living dormitory use. It's not currently allowed in the Sea Pines group living is not allowed in the Sea Pine Circle District, so as proposed. This would be a component that would only be allowed as part of this proposed use. Islanders mixed use um also as proposed. There isn't a unit mix so per their definition. They could have a component of commercial use and then the remainder could be all group living because there isn't a unit mix.

P

That's part of The Proposal staff was considering that there could be a unit mix proposed somewhere around 20 percent cap to the dormitory use.

F

B

That a percentage that you're recommending perhaps.

P

B

P

So again, the proposal is for undefined density and that it would be limited to those applicable design and performance standards. You know High parking setbacks and buffers.

P

The other applicable District we have within the code is the caligny resort District. It also doesn't have any density and it's also defined by its development form standards.

P

So again, I wanted to point out that the the density is not tied to Workforce housing and we had proposed or recommended that it be tied to some sort of affordability, factor or utilizing some of the standards that we already have in place as part of our Workforce housing program um and in the workforce. Housing agreement requirement that we already have in our code.

P

So the proposed The Proposal again is for 1.5 parking spaces for the residential and one per 500 for non-residential, as well as the shared parking plan. We do allow shared parking plans for other uses, not mixed use currently, and those would allow up to 50 percent of parking spaces could be part of a shared parking agreement. Those become recorded with the register of deeds, so they run with the land.

P

It's a it's a permanent um agreement, that's made, and so this is something that we allow for other development types if they meet those criteria and typically there's where you're looking at different, differing parking demands based on those uses. So you would have you know. Commercial use is occupied during the day in residential in the evening. Something like that.

P

So the proximity to an education use currently as proposed The Proposal, is that this use type would be allowed within 500 feet of an education use. So you can see from this graphic. We mapped a 500 foot radius, a thousand foot radius and 1500.

P

Certainly walking or biking, is reasonable between 500 and 1 500 and then the next slide identifies how many Parcels are within those distances. So there were 23 Parcels that could be impacted if, as proposed, it would be. This use would be allowed within 500 feet, 34 Parcels within a thousand feet and 49 Within 1500., um because if this is a use that is desirable, it may be because of those walking and biking tolerances.

P

You may look at considering allowing it to be expanded, such that this use could be within a thousand feet of an education use.

P

So again, the height as proposed is is 55 feet again. The Sea Pine Circle district is 45 feet. We just talked about some of the changes that are coming for in our previous Amendment set So. Currently, residential is measured from 13 feet above mean sea level and non-residential is measured from 11 feet and that we have the proposal that that Mr Eber just talked about and that we're also going to change it to the 13 fever, residential or 11 or pre-development grade, whichever is higher.

P

So that's what was in that previous Amendment set and then currently we have waivers and we're removing the waivers so currently in this language, of course, is proposed to be removed, that you could seek a waiver for architectural Embellishments, but as proposed- and we just talked about that- that Amendment uh may not be allowed anymore.

P

So we did also go out and find some buildings and and their um their height. So this is water, walk it measures at just under 59 feet.

P

And there's two different buildings here: aquatera buildings out at 55 Gardner: this is the three-story, it's 44 feet, 10 inches and then their four-story building is 54 feet six inches, so just to give some context as to three and four story: Heights on the island.

P

So overall staff has been working with the applicant. We still have some concerns based on the overall intensity of the use, the size scale, mass and and have been working with the applicant to try to address some of that analysis, and certainly there is a development, that's proposed, and we would like to hear if the public planning committee also would like to see some additional analysis on some of the impacts that that could occur. Should this use be adopted.

P

A

I, don't even have to ask you.

E

Thank you, Sean colon, again yeah, so I just want I want to link this back to the previous conversation about master planning and making informed decisions, and this is a text amendment that would apply to this District, not a specific project right now, but we do know, there's a project, that's being discussed and so understanding what the impacts of these changes would have not just to this property but to others.

E

In the district, I've heard a lot of have a lot of questions and concerns that have come into our office about what those impacts might be. We do know that, based on the performance standards, there is a envelope right that that will guide the amount of mass and scale, but really understanding. What that looks like in the third dimension, I think would be, would be a benefit and use a case study so that and if we've got a project underway case study to make sure Council understands what those impacts look like on the ground.

E

We know there's concerns about traffic and you know based on what's there today, what could be there based on all the entitlements that currently exist in the district and then what is potentially being proposed here? That's warranting the change of the way we look at density and some of these other standards and so I think we can continue to work to try to provide some more information related to those key items.

E

I think a traffic assessment is I know when this comes forward when I have to go through this process of Planning Commission about major project review and back to Town Council I'd like to know kind of what the traffic assessment is. We know what happened with uscb when, as part of that Tiff project, it replaced the old office. You know underperforming office space and the concern about traffic generation, and it was going to overwhelm that area. So I know those questions are going to come up with traffic assessment, sort of understanding in 3D.

E

What the what the mass and scale items would be, the intensity of the site. What the impacts of the use would be understanding that shared parking agreement and the implications it would have on running with the land if it's a shared parking agreement with another private versus a public entity, and what that? What what that would be so I I would like to have the council consider requesting this information so that we can bring back more more information related to those key items for consideration.

E

I work with the applicant in the next 30 days to really develop it I, there's a lot of what's being proposed in the project that I really like and I. Think it's creative and I want to make sure that we are promoting investment. I know, there's a lot of entitlements that currently are within the Sea Pine Circle District.

E

That I would not like to see happen on this site, and so I just want to make sure that, if we're making decisions and what district planning does right is really decisions and framework to guide public and private investment, an infrastructure and then the capital to make sure we have that information so that you're making the right decision, because we we won't be able to complete a full District assessment, but I think really understand. Impacts for these key items would be of benefit before decision making and we're committed to make that assessment very quickly.

E

With the with the application.

A

Thank you, Sean. Okay, questions of staff, while Nicole.

L

I would suggest that we hear from the applicant and then impose our questions. We may get gain more education. Well,.

A

I I'm going to ask a question now just so that I understand a definition and I wondered whether or not there might be something like that of others.

B

I do have just a quick question. Thank you, Mr Cullen, for coming up here again um and and Ms lewick. If you could go like just a bullet points of the staff recommendations on this, so I I recall the height you're, not encouraging a height um and uh you're, encouraging an expansion of the the proximity to a use um to a thousand feet um and tying back to the workforce. Housing definition uh regarding density with so there'd be some sort of limit on density um and um I can't remember what else.

P

Is in the staff recommendation, those.

B

Are the kind of bullets I wanted to hear sure.

P

I think you got all of them, but there also was the use type provision for the percent of dormitory.

B

Use yeah the one I ask you about which I completely forgot right away. So thank you.

A

My question is group living and the way you said it group living dormitory and are those two, the same kind of use or what? What distinguishes one from the other.

P

um Actually, the group living definition is quite lengthy. It's a whole paragraph and dormitory use is just one component of group living and so, as proposed, it's only the portion of the group living definition that pertains to allowance of dormitories.

A

Okay, all right, thank you appreciate that all right.

A

Sure are you going to make a presentation also Alan.

A

All right, why don't you come up.

C

May I just follow up on on what you just said. So the group living dormitory is a segment within group living yes, and this proposal speaks to just dormitory. Does that necessarily then exclude all other aspects of that? Bigger definition?

C

Don't have to answer me now, but um I.

P

C

Interesting of.

P

How it's written, but yes, we can certainly look into that and make sure that it doesn't include the rest of group living definition, I.

C

Just want to yeah thank.

P

C

A

All right, Alan, please.

S

T

um Earlier today, you were talking about cleaning up the LMO as a high priority and there's a significant loophole in the LMO that has been used before on the island to create group living without fitting into the LMO. That is that a dwelling unit as defined includes living, sleeping eating, cooking and sanitation right availability.

T

We this property as the applicant will talk to it, could have 54 units with no limitation on how many beds you could put in it, and similar applicants in the past have put eight or ten beds behind them, which creates four or five hundred beds.

T

um That is the wrong use for most of the island, and certainly this spot in. My in my opinion, so I would hope that when you look at the LMO revision priorities, this term of unlimited density is a misnomer. We already have unlimited density. We can put as many beds as we want without getting caught by the LMO and preventing it.

T

So the unlimited density, in this case being protected by the development form standards of buffer setbacks, height restrictions, Etc, is a far better use of the Town LMO I believe than allowing unlimited beds within a single room within behind one door that just has eating sleeping facility sanitation, so I would hope that we would revisit the dwelling unit definition as part of your priorities. Thank.

A

You thanks appreciate that okay presentation by the applicant.

U

Hi I'm Louis Hammond here for the applicant. We have several members that are going to talk about some detail, but I was asked to say a couple of things up front when there be some question arrays as to whether there was any spot zoning applications. You know to this or worries um my opinion. There's absolutely not usually spot zoning is classically applied when there's one piece of property- that's zoned.

U

Here we have four as part of this proposal but, more importantly, spot zoning refers to when zoning is put in a place that totally conflicts with surrounding uses and makes no planning sense.

U

Typically, many of them are like if, if a council rezones it so the mayor's brother-in-law can put a store in a residential neighborhood that that's the kind of thing you've usually seen. But there's there's nothing about this, that that goes in that direction, plus a wide variety of mixed uses and multi-families are already allowed, and the fact that we're next to the university suggests that adding the dormitory use it makes good planning sense. So I don't think we have any traffic zoning problem.

U

Also I just want to point out. Most of you know, um I guess at least one of you know is better than others. This particular site is somewhat dilapidated. Some people would call it blighted it's an old office complex that would get redeveloped under this plan square footage of office it's allowed on there now, if it was redone and and filled up with businesses, would generate more traffic than this development.

U

So even if developed the way, we'd like to it's a reduction in traffic volume and we've had traffic engineer, look at it for that to let us know it's a matter of just looking at traffic generation tables.

U

We think the traffic would even be lower than the tables suggests, because we'll have people that are walking to school across the street and we'll have people that are walking to work in nearby businesses immediately around it, but even with normal traffic generation figures, this down zones it from traffic impact, which is we heard from others- is probably the major. In many cases, the the major concern about development is its Redevelopment and it lowers traffic impact when it comes to the unlimited density.

U

I think Allen did a good job of explaining to. We could get the number of beds or even more on this site. This is more about doing a development that makes sense and looks good and is attractive for the community and for the people that live there than shoehorning people in we're not doing that.

U

The site standards that have been adopted over the years by the Town open space, storm water, drainage, but for setbacks, all those things apply and limit what can be done and it was pointed out by by staff. You already have this in Coligny, which is right down the street, so it's not a new concept of the town and I think it. It serves well because we're trying to serve a very um distinct purpose with this development. That's why it's there.

U

Our two partners in this so to speak, are the university that needs some housing and we've got the shared parking arrangement with them and, of course, the surge group is the biggest employer and they need places for people to live that work here and a major focus of our thing will be arrangements with major employers as well as our arrangement with the University.

U

It's also as you look at density, the fact that we've got 75 spaces off-site you know makes the normal density analysis different. If we can, if we can added enough room to put 75 spaces to this property enough acreage for 75., we're doing it shared spaces. But if we added that, along with the drainage, the open space, everything that would go with that much parking, it would be a considerably larger site and the calculated density would be considerably lower.

U

I just point that out for what it's worth, um it's it's not unlimited because of site standards and it's the parking standards that are off site that allow it to to appear higher other sites that don't have such parking. Arrangements off-site could not achieve what we're doing here.

U

If they develop those arrangements, then they could, but, but we don't see that happening at any rate. um With all that in mind, um oh I want to emphasize one other thing that she would say the town has identified. You know the need for housing that workers can live in and afford is, is a very, very major goal and one of the most serious reasons you don't have it is because all of the multi-family has been converted to short-term rentals or substantial part of it.

U

We are restricting we're prohibiting short-term rentals. So just the fact that we're putting these units on the market and can't be short-term helps feed that that market helps to get us in the right direction.

U

So anyway, with that I'm going to turn it over to Josh tiller. Who can talk about some of the specifics of the plan and to others who may want to say something? Thank you Lewis. You wouldn't ask me any questions or wait, not.

A

At this point, welcome Josh.

M

Morning, thanks for having me Josh, tiller, I'm, just a humble landscape architect, with an idea that I think will help solve some of the islands problem with Workforce housing and the University's problem with the.

J

E

M

M

Oh Hilton Head, my hometown, I, was born and raised here. I lived right down the road from this site here on North Forest Beach. My parents came here in the early 70s. My dad came here to work for Ed pygmy as a landscape architect, and he believed in the vision of Charles Frazier and wanted to work on those cool projects.

M

So I appreciate ural's commitment to Charles Frazier's vision for Hilton, Head and um I I, also my first job as a kid was right down the road from here at Jody's, Fine, Foods and her family early on lived above that restaurant and later on. Her employees lived above that restaurant and I say all that, because the idea of mixed-use, affordable housing is not an entirely new construct for this area of Hilton. Head I feel like it's appropriate.

M

It's also going to help the university with their housing needs their enrollments down for this campus, but they feel strongly that having housing here will help enrollment and I've got. We've got Miss. Eva Smith is here as well. So you can ask her. If any questions you might have from the University standpoint, um we did get approval from Planning Commission. With our proposal.

M

I know there are a number of issues that Mrs Lewis alluded to that we that came up later after that decision, we've agreed to a number of those and I'm not going to go back through those, but there are certainly a few that were happy to discuss today.

M

We, we agreed to the definition where we had that circular definition problem the we had proposed 500 feet within. We didn't want this to you know, spread throughout, but if a thousand feet opens up more opportunities to other Parcels to develop to utilize. This use we're okay with that um the cap we're willing to discuss that issue.

M

um We're still not sure where that needs to be if 20 is appropriate um on the height I've got Mr Tom Parker with the Parker Design Group here to discuss, building massing and height. So if you've got questions about that, we can certainly address it, but we are willing to limit it to four stories. So we're not going to go beyond four stories and that's what our proposed site plan includes.

M

um How does this um I guess? The question is: how does this text Amendment apply to the to the land and I'm, going to kind of walk you through our plan and how it relates and it'll help you further understand density and what this building may or may look like on the site. um This is the site. There's four Parcels.

M

It's all accessed off of office way, there's parcel 6, 8, 10 and 12., um and then we're directly just due north of the University campus um and within walking distance I think the 500 foot boundary is is about that distance.

M

We get to a thousand you capture, some of these Parcels out here, including Park Plaza and cross Pope Avenue to some of these commercial areas as well, so we're all this site is perfect for enhancing the the University campus, providing students, a walkable commute to classes, so they're not concerned about driving from Bluffton and getting installed on the bridge and late for class. That kind of thing they've also got easy access to shopping entertainment. The beach is is certainly going to be a draw for students.

M

This is the existing site survey. Again. This is uh parcel 6, 8, 10 and 12. they're existing buildings on the site and just to clarify I know the packet mentioned repurposing these buildings there will be no repurposing there's some. Some of these buildings have some asbestos in them. So the the plan is to raise these buildings and redevelop an already developed sites, we're not going into a green field and plowing trees down we're actually going to protect a lot of these trees. This. This is a office way here.

M

This is um what was it Office, Park Road here, there's a heavy vegetated Edge along this road. It's a little open up that this access point here, um but for the most part, this whole area of the site has um does have trees, but it's not as treated as this. This buffer is here.

M

Our site eliminates those existing buildings, and one thing to note is this: this area of existing tree canopy this building we're only required a 20-foot maximum setback from the property line. This building the main I guess widest facade, is about 100 feet off that property line.

M

um We get closest here we're about 25 30 feet along this edge here, but we exceed the required setback.

M

This building occupies it's got, 132 total units, and that includes the dormitory, which would the university is committed to we've got a restaurant facility here that'll occupy two stories: it's a one-story, the the the the restaurant, occupies one story, but there will be living above that, but um but it's a total of two stories in height on the inside um circulation we've moved.

M

We've got currently there's two access points here and here we've reduced that down to one access point on office way and we're proposing a new one here off of Office Park Road, so you pretty much Loop through the site.

M

We've also got 75 off um 75 parking spaces. The universities willing to share with us as part of this because we anticipate most of their students, will be either in these dorms or renting rooms here.

M

um So it's been talked about the density. um It's not really unlimited. When you factor in buffers setbacks, storm water requirements, parking that tends to paint you into a corner with the amount of density you can get on the site because, as you increase density, you increase parking demands, throw them water demand. So you you get to a point where you can't go beyond a certain level of density and it's it's tough to come up with a number to apply to an entire text. Amendment for a for an area um per zoning.

M

District here um I know there have been some questions about Building height, we we've we're limited to 45. um We're asking for 55.

M

um and I've got a couple slides here of the streetscape um I'm. Sorry, sorry, can you go back? I will go back. I just wanted to show you this tree candidate. This is that existing tree canopy I, talked about earlier, so those buildings will sit back in here far beyond that um that tree canopy there. This is, if you had your back to Pope Avenue looking in um or no actually yes, correct. That's correct! This is the intersection Office Park Road.

M

So this is that corner uh right here, this corner that we're looking at and that that image.

M

So you can again see that large, canopy and large buffer of trees that this building will be nestled behind um and I'll, be happy to let Tom talk about.

V

Mr, chairman committee, my name is Tom Parker, I'm, just a humble architect, a long time, Island resident 39 years, and our firm is doing everything we can to try to get one of these kind of projects approved. We feel that this is just a perfect location for it by right. This is a 45 foot requirement in that area and as you can, this is this is a graphic it has nothing to do. Our building is not designed. Yet this is a four-story building with a roof on it.

V

That uh We've shown in its just for the discussion of what the extra height would allow people to do so at 45 feet. We can put four typical stories in and put a roof on it. That's the the drawing. On the left hand, side you can see once you've put in your floor to floor Heights for four stories.

V

You're, you end up with six to eight feet of ability to create a roof above that fourth floor, and we end up with a a datum line that doesn't allow any play in the roof massing per se. There's a little bit of tweaking. We could do down in front of Windows and that sort of thing, but you are hard to that upper line.

V

So you end up with a parapet that is flat across you can throw in a Gable or two like what's shown here, but you can't go above that line if you only have six to eight feet to work with, so we we have a project that was recently approved that has a roof very similar to this just kind of goes straight across the extra 10 feet. If the verbiage were limiting it to four floors because 55 feet, you obviously could add a floor.

V

um If you limited the four floors, the 55 feet allows the roof massing to create a hierarchy from the lower roofs to Upper roofs and allows a roof form to be created and Hilton Head architecture was based in creating roofs. It's a roof type architecture. People can't really Define what Hilton Head architecture is. You know we've argued about it over the years, but everybody agrees that it has a lot to do with the roof form and the extra height.

V

If we limited the four floors, the extra Heights it can be contributed into the roof architecture and the roof architecture helps break down the scale of the building. When you look at these roofs, they're sloping, you have to remember they're, sloping away from you.

V

So while the building's higher doesn't necessarily feel higher in the field, a 45-foot building, a 45-foot building with a straight flat roof and a 55 foot building, if they're, not right next to each other, may feel very similar from a massing standpoint, and that's that's where the idea of the extra height is coming in and limiting it to four floors so that there's no ability for somebody to come in and add another floor and have this slow, low slope flat roof. Look because that's exactly what would happen if she didn't limit the four floors.

V

Do you have any questions comments.

B

Mr chair, if I may ask a few questions, um I would turn around and look at the screen. I was trying to read the height of each floor. Is it 10 foot only and I realize this? Is not your plan at this point, but the the drawings that you're showing us is each floor. 10 feet. Yes, ma'am this.

V

Is a 10-foot Florida floor with a one foot, two structure? Okay? So it's uh it's getting down to close to. You know the eight foot height on the inside for ceilings which, in the modern world is uh not really market rate. People wouldn't be happy with a low ceiling like that. But it's it's very, uh very typical in modern construction and.

B

What's the slope on those two sketches of the roof.

V

uh This is a eight and twelve.

B

Eight twelve.

V

B

V

B

In both of them.

V

B

V

It's the exact same thing: if you look at the.

B

V

The beginning of the the hip roof on the drawing on the left hand, side, that's the exact same drawing, but it has a roof added. A hip roof continue on up and when you create a hierarchy of massing, it.

B

Really does help break down that skin. Okay, all right and and the other question is we were shown some um I I call them fisheye the wide-angle views of the tree, canopy and and Alice close I used to live in South Forest Beach I used to walk to CVS I used to walk to Park Plaza theater um used to walk to eat there um so and walk I'm saying walk, not bike, a bike there too, so the tree canopy there seems to be very impressive.

B

So my question is what is the average height of that tree canopy along Office Park.

V

uh Those oak trees that are uh 24 to 36 inch Oaks along the front they've got to be 50 feet tall.

M

V

Yeah, we don't know the answer to that question, but um yeah because.

B

I'm very concerned folks have heard me talk about this before about the mass and scale density and height of buildings um and I as I understand it, the preference on the island is to maintain height at or below the tree, canopy so and.

V

If we were to go forward with an actual project, we would plot those trees and actually show them for the Committees to look at.

H

That determine.

V

If that's the case, thank you, I.

M

L

Couple more things: yeah.

A

Okay, now you can both stand there for the moment, because we might have questions of both.

L

Of you I think Josh has some more presentation to give yeah.

M

We um you know, there's been some statements made in the press that there's concerns that they're not providing housing for family for families. We do have some three bedroom units that are part of this.

M

We've also got a lot of support not only from the University and The Surge group, but there are other um of the service related businesses on the island that have provided support, letters and commitments to providing some or using utilizing some of this housing I'd like to share with you. Please.

L

Leave those with Zendaya, if you would.

M

Okay, um the and I was just trying to hit on all the points, so we don't miss anything with the uh with the staff's comments.

M

um There is a component they've asked about the affordable, um Workforce housing, tying it to the rent index and and Alan wolf is here to discuss that if you'd like to we'd like to keep that as kind of an open discussion, um but that being said, I I think that's about all. We've got so.

A

I have a couple of questions, but first do you want to ask anything of them specifically to the design or whatever.

O

Sorry I wanted to mention some of the stuff on the on the traffic yeah I'm Dylan Turner I need to grab my phone real, quick because I have something on there too to present, but Dylan Turner with Kimmy horn, a traffic engineer. It's fine.

C

Well, you're doing that can I just ask a question of in terms of the layout that you had shown with the various buildings and how the site plan looked yeah, maybe which of those buildings, are not planned to be 55 feet tall.

V

The dormitories.

C

The ones in the Forum, okay, okay, but everything.

M

Else this building here right and that's the one that's closest to Pope and that's where you see the smallest amount of of buffer. This is that building would sit in here, but we, our plan, is to close this access point and replant that area. What.

C

Is the height of that building.

A

Two-Story building, it's probably.

C

30 dormitory building, no, the no, the dormitory.

V

Building, oh the dormitory yeah, potentially 45 feet.

C

M

This is where that area would be planted. Thank.

A

You what will be done about the ditch? What are your plans? Just this isn't material, but I was just curious. What your attitude is towards a ditch. You.

M

Know are you referring to this.

A

Yeah here, in other words, what what's your drainage planned at this point.

M

um We haven't engaged a civil engineer yet, but this would more or less we would like to protect it, because it's going to anything, we do to it. It's going to impact those trees, so we'd like to avoid it and that's why we place this building so far back.

A

So your drainage is going in a different direction.

M

um Well, we're showing uh pervious parking areas, so there might be some underground storage. We've.

G

M

Got some surface areas for for infiltration.

A

As well, I noticed in that drawing um Riley's Plaza right next door. What interconnections are you anticipating uh and pedestrian Pathways? Have you had conversations with Riley's Plaza about what they might like to do jointly? What's going on, there.

M

Had any formal discussions, we're certainly hoping to connecting there from a especially a pedestrian standpoint, we're also showing an access here at this point as well, but if they're willing to work with us we'd be happy to connect. Okay,.

A

M

Some interconnectivity.

A

You've answered my question about the height of the dormitory dormitory, but what of the the restaurant building is going to be the same height as the others, so.

V

The restaurant building is the plinth of the two.

A

V

So we have restaurant building, that's two stories and two stories of residential.

A

So, basically, the same height as the other okay. This is commercial at the bottom, instead of residence, okay, any other physical design. Questions of the design team, incidentally, I'll, say I've- dealt with both of these firms in the past they're, a quality firm, both of them are quality. Designers.

A

I'll make some other comments later on about that, though,.

A

Thank you. Thank you.

O

Thank you and I just wanted to speak briefly on traffic, so we've done a preliminary traffic analysis, assuming that this is the site plan we're going to move forward with once again Dylan Turner with Kelly horn.

O

um The first thing that we did was we did a memo that looked at hey if we developed office buildings that are there compared to this. What happens So currently the vacant office buildings are about 170, 000, total square feet um and our plan had 5600 square feet of the restaurant space. 160 low-rise, multi-family and low rise is typically three stories or less, but it also has a higher traffic generator than mid-rise.

O

So we wanted to be more conservative with the trips on the network, so use a little bit of a higher trip generation, even though this could be mid-rise according to the definitions and then 200 and or sorry 16 dwelling units of off-campus student housing and the result of that. If we compare what the Office Buildings there today versus this proposed plan is um about 179 less am peak hour trips and 142 less PMP, Tower trips.

O

um So then we did a TIA just so that we were informed once again, assuming we go for this plan once this plan goes forward, we'll turn it into D.O.T because it seeks their threshold in we'll turn it into the town as well. But just to give you an idea, um we studied the roundabout. We studied um the office way at Pope, Avenue so office way as it goes over to ride and ride out.

O

We studied Hope Avenue at Orleans, Road or New Orleans Road, um and then we did our office park at Greenwood and Office Park at office way a lot of office office, um and we found that really the the site has no impact on on offsites. We wouldn't be recommending any off-site improvements. Obviously, I'd have to go forward to the town of Hilton Head. We used the Land Management ornament ordinance to compare the results to to make sure we weren't exceeding any thresholds there.

O

So all in all this site doesn't have major impacts on the road Network, and we would turn that into D.O.T and the town Hilton Head for review as well. Assuming this is a plan that we go forward with so.

A

Just for my own education, how do you calculate um impacts of units? Is it on a square footage basis or.

O

Are you it's on the number of dwelling units, so we would look at the number of each individual dwelling unit so the unit it could have one bedroom to three bedroom.

O

So they do a survey of Apartments all over the U.S and they is the ite so Institute of Transportation engineers and they average out all this data to then create a formula for us to plug in the dwelling unit to, and then it says, here's the anticipated number of trips that you would have coming in and out of that site daily in the AM PM and a few other that we typically.

A

O

Get which is a generator? Yes,.

A

Has staff seen that report the.

O

Staff has not seen this yet we didn't want to turn this in until we you know. If this is the plan, we're gonna go for, but I can send it over to staff too. If they want to see what our draft.

A

We do have a chicken or egg situation here, a.

O

Little bit yeah yep yep.

A

Any questions of Dylan.

C

How many dwelling units are there in the dormitory building.

O

C

With an anticipated 64 heads on beds, there.

G

C

Yeah, that's what I recall thank.

O

L

I have a question of Alan.

L

I've heard surge group referred to as a partner in this before. Can you just Define and describe for us the nature of that partnership.

T

um We've been at this Workforce housing discussion for going on eight years now, and this is the first time that we've drummed up amongst our 38 local Partners, a significant amount of money to try and be a partner in bringing one of these products to Market.

L

Is surge group contributing to this project? Yes, is surge group agreeing to lease a certain number of the units and, if so, for what period of time.

T

We will absolutely do so. We do not have that agreement in place. We've got interest from more than enough hotels to fill the space. This isn't a surge group project entirely by any means. This is meant for The, Wider, Workforce understanding, so we'll be happy to step in as much as we can.

T

Typically, we've not been in the guarantee of lease because it's just been a chicken and egg, as Mr Ames pointed out so we'd probably be interested in 10 or 20 percent of the units will be my guess, just on unit count, and it's of the 116. I've seen a 16 already separated for dorms a.

L

Lot of the support for this project comes from providing housing for students, but also for uh I guess we would say hourly workers or workers who are dependent on gratuities and so forth, and so I need to see a quantification of how many of those types of employees will actually be served here and so before.

L

I would be prepared to vote in this I need to see a commitment from a number of businesses to, in fact, do make Master leases on this, because that means it's going to be locked in for the purposes intended sure and I'm, not implying in that that there is any smoke and mirrors here, but I do need to have that confirmation in order to move it forward. So thank you. You've answered the question. uh You're definitely interested you're making some contribution, but you have no commitment legal commitment at this point to lease any unit. No.

T

It would just be a very Sound business interest on our part. I understand, yeah, all right.

M

Glenn, just to help ease your concern. These these letters of support also state that the number of units that they're interested in.

L

That'll, be that'll, be very educational to me Josh. Thank you. I, look forward to that. uh Did you want John Mr, chairman I have some other comments to make whenever you feel is appropriate.

C

Question I just want a long about the the return on investment that obviously is driving the bottom line on all of this and how that would translate to anticipated rental costs, um because I think that has been a part of the concern and discussion.

C

um While there's a commitment, I understand for a number of different business entities to to lease these out, I want to make sure that when rented out they're actually affordable to those they're renting them out too, and so I'd like to hear a little bit more about that.

T

um I would like to to go back to the Chicken and the Egg we're proposing a support for an LMO text, Amendment, primarily that we think helps this entire region. This property would certainly qualify for it. We've not taken the steps to get to the point of putting together any sort of pro forma. That is that could answer that question permanently at this point. If we get that in inclination- and you want us to spend the next 30 days focusing on that be happy to do so- but we're not there at this moment.

C

I would ask for that yeah.

T

All right can I uh respond to Mr Stafford, um just one point about your income levels as we approach that for this project, I would probably look at the housing needs assessment. The Beaver County completed five years ago now, we've hit our halfway point when we were supposed to have introduced 1600 rental units to the market for Hilton Head, and we have another 700 to go in the next five years and unfortunately, thanks to our short-term rental problem, we have lost water out of the bucket, so we're losing ground.

T

So when we stand here and promote this use for this area, there's a wonderful blend between some of the items that you focused on Ms Bryson, which are people, can work where they live, and that's a priority that really the south end of Hilton Head has an exclusive on if we develop this appropriately. So this is a tremendous use, along with the dormitory of tie-in that we could that we could accomplish. So.

T

My hope would be a positive recommendation in Town Council on the construct of the text Amendment as it applies to these Parcels in the area for redevelopment of the existing dilapidated office building, and it would create Islander housing yeah, the name of it that's going to improve the quality of life for all of us and that's been the drum that I've beat since even before Miss Becker joined the council. Mr Ames is here we drum on forever.

T

Quality life is availability of services, cost of services and quality of services, and we are woefully becoming short in all those three areas. This stride will be a very nice step in the right direction towards that for all the island residents uh best part, no short-term rentals on this one.

A

Thank you, Alan yep,.

A

We will have a time for public comment. Glenn. Would you like to lead off on your general comments? I.

B

Think we have some more folks.

A

Oh I beg your pardon, welcome, uscb.

W

Hello I'm a little nervous, although I speak to big huge classrooms of students and the four of you intimidate.

L

We don't buy it.

W

It's okay, um I'm, Dr, Eva, Smith and I'm. The brand new chair of the hospitality Management program at uscb, and our program of course, is housed over here on gorgeous right off of Pope Avenue and yes, there has been an enrollment decline as most people use as an excuse. Ours is actually pretty legit in that the pandemic played Havoc with our enrollment. However, the number one reason that students come to uscb to study.

W

Hospitality management is to work here and to live here and to learn here, because it's the number I mean it's the perfect resort area. It's the perfect classroom all the way around. It's got everything you could offer.

W

So when our students come to uscb, they want to live here and that's a deterrent when they're when they can't live here. The commute is a deterrent.

W

um You know, I, don't mind the commute, I think it's a beautiful drive, I live, live in Bluffton and, of course, I've only lived in this area for several months, but I was born and raised in South Carolina in the upstate I've lived here, my entire life, my father and his family.

W

um Well, that would be us living lived in Myrtle Beach for 30 years, so the low country is has that Mystique. We have the opportunity and the university support to Market and sell our program. They want this program to grow. It needs to grow. It has every growth potential. The only little thing that holds it back is the inability to house our students close to their classroom.

W

So it's this is really a win-win scenario in, in my opinion, of course, in my humble opinion, because we have not only are our students coming here to learn, but they are this, this Workforce Development they are working all almost all of the students that come to class go to work from there and they're working on the island and they're fulfilling those hourly jobs. Those hourly waged positions, so you know it's you're, not only providing you know.

W

I I understand how the word dormitory kind of could have a pejorative meaning, but it's really more of providing students a place to live while they learn and work.

W

It's it's just a fantastic opportunity, all the way around and I'm happy to answer any questions that that you have that I'm available to answer the financial executive Chancellor. She was not able to come today because she had car trouble so and I think we all had car trouble getting here. But that's okay, we're here now! So what is there something I can address for you perhaps.

A

Tammy great questions sure.

C

um Thank you first of all and welcome. Thank you um just general numbers in terms of how the uscb campuses functioning here on the island anticipated number of full enrollment Okay.

W

So at our in the in the Heyday, so to speak, we had close to 200 students.

G

W

Number is considered, you know marginal when it comes to programs that have that are specifically directed in Hospitality management at currently, we have 98 students enrolled half of those are Juniors and seniors which have class here on the island. The freshmen and sophomores generally take all of their courses in Bluffton because those are their general education requirements. So that's the English, the math, the science that kind of History. We don't want any of that out here, no I'm teasing.

W

um We we want to keep it to the cool stuff right, so we have about 50 students that are coming on and off that the campus right now and some are perfectly fine with a commute they carpool. They all come at one time and then go back to Bluffton in one car and leaving cars. Here they bicycle to to their work, I mean to to their jobs. They walk to their jobs, they're pretty Savvy. When it comes to that. You know, there's just there's room for more that that building is not at capacity and it's.

W

It needs to be.

C

And is there a is there a tracking of how many of those students are actually working and employed um when they're not in class, on Hilton Head.

W

Would how many are living on the island, no you're, working or just working I? If I went right now and took a took a survey, I would say: 75 I know there are a good number of student athletes that can only come like two days a week because they have practices and whatnot and it's too their benefit to live in Bluffton, and they make special trips out here for us for for their for their passion. These kids have a heart for service that they want to be here. They want to work here.

W

It's just not always in.

C

The class offerings currently at uscb. What are how? What does that schedule, look like that are relevant to those, maybe Juniors and seniors, and are there any for the lower classmen.

W

So as the maker of the schedule so I get to create the schedule, that's very flexible. However, at this current time we offer courses Monday through Thursday from 9 00 a.m, to 3 P.M and they're, um like Monday Wednesday, Tuesday, Thursday, um 75, minute courses, and so they generally meet with three different professors.

W

We have a quantity, food production course going now that only meets on Mondays, but it's a four-hour course where they're cooking for 50 for 50 people and then the remaining students, faculty and staff that are in the building we get to eat lunch. You know, eat what they prepare. Thank.

C

You for those general questions about how the university is functioning here. What I would ask, and maybe we'd get an opportunity in the very near future, I'd love to come over and see how how things are happening there now. I would love that and next question I, though they have relevant to this project, is in terms of a housing dormitory for students taking classes here at our campus and at uscb campus.

C

How does this fit into the bigger scope of housing available in terms of what the cost might be to a student.

W

I'm hesitant to talk about to talk to cost, because I know that those discussions have taken place outside of my purview, I'm I'm, an academic, so I'm, not a budgeting person. However, I do know that our housing that we offer our students in Bluffton and in Beaufort are top in the nation. You know we that's one of our selling points is that we have these fantastic dorms.

W

I lived in one for six months now, I was ready to get out because I had the soccer coach in his entire family over my head, and um you know I'm too old for that. But that's beside the point: it's a beautiful dorm. You know that we have. Our students seem to be very happy there. They have very few um disruptions in terms of lots of you know stuff that college kids can get into so.

C

I guess the the relevant point is I would go back to what.

W

B

Six thirty day.

J

Request is I'd like to know what it is. That is.

C

There a different scale for the dormitory, how fat that fits into financial aid and how the budgeting for college education works, because, obviously, if this dormitory building is meant for those 64 students who would be able to take advantage of it, I want to make sure that plays correctly right.

W

Well, it would be part of their, it would be part of their tuition. I would not think that there would be a significant increase or decrease I think it would be straight in line with what the university charges for housing and.

C

I, just would love to see that analysis.

W

Thank you, and also with room and board, is a food plan which they would not have here unless.

A

W

Was some kind of deal with with the restaurant or.

A

They could eat at surge all the time yeah Riley yeah.

W

It's not for the surge group, but what else can I? What else can.

A

I help you with questions.

L

You may not be able to speak to this, but one of the things concerns that I have is whether or not the parking easement is a permanent easement. If there were to be some change in the use of the building by uscb, would these prop these new buildings and their residents still be able to park there? And so it's a question of? Is it a permanent easement? And if you don't know it's fine to say you don't know.

W

I don't know, but I I would hate to think about this building being used for anything but the academic. Now, of course, it's used for conference and Convention space some some now, but in terms of us not being there as an ad as an educational um opportunity, I I shiver to even think about that.

L

I can assure you, the town feels exactly the same way.

W

Yeah I mean we want it, but there.

L

Are there are changes that go on? Of course, um are there vacancies in the dormitories in Bluffton.

W

Very few very, very few there are and I know that that and the only reason I know this is because the housing person who does this walks my dog and she told me that they're going to put several dorms gonna make them go dark so that they can update them.

W

um Some of them are 20 years old, so they're gonna, you know work work on those in terms of some structural issues and some you know AC. That kind of thing um Beaufort is packed the Beaufort campus. There are no vacancies at all they're they're dying for something over there and I'm thinking. You know we need to have that same problem. Sure.

L

You mentioned that there are about 98 students in the hospitality program. Yes are many of those students studying online rather than being live in the classroom. No.

W

No, we I I'm, I, love online education and there's definitely a place for online learning. I I get it. I was developing online courses back in 2000 when it wasn't cool to be online. However, hospitality and teaching people about service teaching people about dealing with people, those kind of people skills is hard to to do in an online modality.

W

So, yes, we have students that are that are in Hospitality through the Palmetto College, which is our agreement with the mothership. You know USC and Colombia, and we get 15 20 students, but they are not they're, not considered they're not considered in this number. What I would love to do is have those students do internships in our in this on the island in the summer, and then we could house them either in Bluffton, or should we be fortunate enough to have this housing they could they could.

L

So those online students are not counted in the 98 that you said are in the program. Yes, sir, thank you. Mr chairman.

A

Thank you in the interest of time I'm going to try to Shackle the four of us to briefer comments. Curious minds want to know and ask questions. Do you need me? uh Thank you very much. Dr Smith, you should say.

W

Yes, we need you, but we don't have to say anything else to say: okay, all.

A

Right what I'd like to do is move on to sort of final comments by the public planning committee Tammy. Would you like to lead off.

C

um Sure so, um probably not unexpected, in addition to the questions that I have in terms of how this really fills a need for Workforce without it being clearly stated as an offering, and so we know um that's a problem for me: um I love, the I should probably start with positives I love the idea of Redevelopment on the island, these buildings, these areas that have not been continually used or blighted. This type of work needs to be done so I.

C

Welcome that um I would love to hear the analysis of the traffic impact study that y'all did and then see where we might need to, or want to look further um on our own and that's not to say that yours isn't wonderful. We are just in a position across the island. We're taking that extra step and looking at things from our own is starting to make sense.

C

um There is something I can't get past and I'm going to try um to make it as there's one thing that I can't get past, and this won't be surprised to anyone in the room. The for the move from a 45-foot tall building to 55 foot tall and granted. The roof line does look much nicer, but if you want a nice roof line, make a smaller building and build it.

C

um I I will not encourage or vote for anything that raises the height on the island.

C

um We've seen those examples that were provided on the slides when staff made their presentation that it is not within the character of The Island, it doesn't belong here and we should stop that practice period and so I know that others will probably pick up on some of the things that I am have on my list of concerns, but that is a non-starter um if no one does pick up on those things. I'll stop shorts so that others get their opportunity, but if they don't I'm asking to be able to revisit. Thank you.

B

Thank you, Mr chair thanks to the staff, any applicant for all the information today and and I did sit on all I think it was a Planning Commission meeting where I looked at this project before and appreciate some of the additional information in some of the revisions generally I like it. I just tell you that, because of the following, a life that addresses Workforce I like that, there are Partnerships involved surge, uscb I, like that it favors mixed use, I like that.

B

It's a walkable Community when I when I look at Workforce housing, I, think I think of our nodes around the island, and that is where the commercial nodes where folks could live, and work and I'm really heartened to hear. Mr Cullen talk about District zoning concept because I'm holding up the mid Island district and and looking at the kind of uh requirements for mixed use within there. It also has height limitations and also density limitations.

B

So I, like some of the concepts in here and I, think that's what I hear staff saying is that perhaps we could make some tweaks uh to this idea in line with some sort of District idea, because well let me go through the rest of my likes. I do I joined Ms Becker in talking about Redevelopment of space, we have commercial and office space on the island that we'd like to see, reuse or redevelop.

B

Whatever the term is I like shared parking I like that, there's less impervious space and respect of the existing tree, canopy and other Landscaping on the site, so I like that Mr Simple, Arc, landscape, architect.

B

um The concerns that I have is that this is kind of a one-off. If you will, um you know it is great for this area. I do like that. As I said, I used to live in this area, I loved walking down there. It was what I considered part of my large and walkable Community, um but what I'm? What I would like for us to look at is?

B

Could this be something that would not only be used within the Sea Pines District, but could be replicated other places so uh proximity to other kind of uses like uh here? It's it's an educational use. Maybe there are other places on the island where it would fit for Education uses being nearby, because we do have a need for Workforce housing for our teachers, also Hospital area and any other kind of area. Any other kind of uses like that so expand it. Beyond education use, so it could be replicated I do like having Destiny control.

B

You've heard me say that I have a great concern about the mass and scale and height and density of buildings. So I want us to do something about that and then also I'm tying to the definition as the staff had recommended of Workforce housing and the percentage.

B

Also, as I said, I like shared parking, Mr Stanford asked about. Is there a parking easement that would be provided, but some sort of um I think anytime? We have shared parking which I as I said. I, do encourage that a tie to sort of a fallback plan.

B

What if the the shared parking agreement falls apart, then, how would that use still comply with the parking requirement, so some sort of fallback, whatever that might be um uh the height I joined, Ms Becker, I I I, do not like the height increase, I, think um and I appreciate the simple architect um describing uh that's. Why I asked about the slope, uh because what I'd heard before was a flat roof which I don't particularly like, um but I, think building designs.

B

There's a number of things on the facade that could improve the appearance and still stay within the height I. Appreciate that there's no more dwelling space within the extra 10 feet, but I've seen some massive roofs, I I'm, not an architect, so I can't talk about what the appropriate design on the island is defer that to other folks, but I think there's other ways to address the architectural feel of the building rather than increasing by 10 feet. So I would not appreciate that those I think are my list of concerns.

B

At this point, I'd like to see more worked on it.

A

Thank you good comments, respect thank you.

L

B

L

I have some comments and then we need to have a public hearing on this and then I'll have a motion that I would like to present. Mr chairman I think this is a creative idea and I salute you for being creative about it.

L

We are concerned about major priorities of the town and it's difficult to get those two things to merge together. So I would say that mixed use is something that we need more of on this island, and this is a way to promote mixed use. So I salute you for that.

L

I see this being dependent on the continued use of the adjacent building by uscb I expressed a moment ago. A concern about the nature of the parking easement. It needs to be a permanent easement. In order for this to actually work, I've had discussions with a developer here about Workforce housing. uh We need to have a commitment as to the amount of Workforce housing and how that would be defined. In order for this to move forward, we have stated that it's a priority in multi-family developments that there be some, hopefully more Workforce housing availability there.

L

So I look for that coming forward as as we're going uh forward, I'll be honest in saying: I do not understand undefined density in a land use it it. It misses something in me, so I need some education in that um I too am concerned about 55 feet.

L

um So we need to see what a building would look like in order for us to be able to move it forward and approve. It. I understand that you have left some letters with us from employers. It is going to be vital and indispensable to me to see a major commitment from employers to lease on a long-term basis, a significant portion of these units if those various conditions can be met, I'll be looking at it with an open mind, but those are things that need to be resolved. From my point of view, thank you.

L

A

A

Mr despain and I started talking about this a year ago, or so. um It's a slow process, I think that I said to Mr to Spain in our first meeting. If it's Workforce housing I'm going to bend over backwards to make it work.

A

I'm not at a point um to say that I perceive this as Workforce housing unless there's some underlying guarantees.

A

Business subsidies, whatever that bring it into sort of my concept of what Workforce housing is, however, because we have been working on this island in a public-private partnership. I have learned that some of the salaries that people are getting paid today would in fact be able to afford something higher than I would have anticipated a year ago. So I can learn about that and I. Think that's going to be something important for Council. To consider when Council looks at a zoning.

A

Is this this isn't rezoning? This is an add-on but I'm going to call a zoning issue. It is responsible for asking the question: is this Inc in alignment with the broader Community, Vision or goals?

A

Are there an unintended risks, and it really is up to us to ask the questions about that and then sort of at the political sentiments and I think all three of those are in play in this particular situation.

A

I challenge the premise of this being tied it really. The premise is that uscb is crucial to this. Moving forward because it is tied in the language of the amendment that it has to be within 500 feet or a thousand feet of an educational facility and I I go along with What Glenn is at least hypothesizing, and that is risk.

A

What, if uscb, isn't there? What happens to you other pieces of ground, uh desertness and disallow any future development, and so on so I think the the premise is challengeable, but I do agree that the location makes sense for housing.

A

There's all the variety of reasons that these two competent professionals have cited.

A

I am going to object to uscb's parking lot being used as shared parking on the basis. It's a political. It's a public facility that, if sad to say the University made the decision not to continue using that facility, it would be a facility that the town would own and I.

A

Don't think it is wise for this Council to jeopardize the ultimate use or flexibility of that campus by participating in a shared parking Arrangement on that property I'm, not against shared parking, for the reasons that Miss Bryson mentioned, but on a public facility that the town could conceivably take on I'm, saying that's bad would be a bad practice.

A

uh We've spoken about height, we've talked about Workforce component 500 feet or a thousand feet. I look at the map that was put up there and I see 500 feet and I respectfully disagree with Mr Emmett. It smells. It looks like spot zoning to me now, I'm not going to challenge it, but but it there's, there's there's something about 500 feet, and you see that Circle, who is it benefiting?

A

You make it out to a thousand feet and you've complicated it. For another reason is the unintended risk of other developers not retaining the responsibility responsible, develop professionals you have, but we have seen it in other places on this island, where we intended something to happen in our LMO and it didn't happen, and we need to anticipate that unintended risk. So the thousand feet is something that I'm leery of the 500 feet is a different matter.

A

I said chicken and egg.

A

We are talking about a text Amendment and we have seen a site plan that that um sites or or emphasizes quality design, sensitive planning and so on and so forth. There's there's no guarantee that I can accept today that the next developer, trying to take advantage of this text Amendment will do the same thing. We need time in this community to understand what our vision of a district is, and although I am conceptually in agreement, that housing could belong here.

A

I'm, not at the point that the other aspects of this project make sense.

A

I'll try to end up here, but several years ago there was Master planning done on the island in several different places, and this was an area that was master planned and it showed an incredible amount of interconnectivity between Parcels of ground in this area. I, don't see it in this plan and I know you're not at that point, but I'm sensitive to that going forward.

A

So these are things that are on my mind and I am hopeful and optimistic that by taking a little bit of time, we can get closer I do not like the feeling of trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I think we can round out the squareness to get to a place where it makes sense both for the developer and the community.

G

A

But make the motion first and then have the public comment: Please Mr.

L

Chairman I would move that the public planning committee defer action until additional information relating to the messing and scale assessment of traffic parking intensity of use, including a 3D model or elevations coordinated through staff and the applicant be brought back for consideration in a 30-day time frame.

A

Is there a second.

C

um I would just like to add to that wonderful motion. The request that I had with read guard to um the the expected cost of units and and affordability, okay to those that the intended users I'll.

L

Accept that Amendment, thank you. Okay,.

A

There's been a motion uh public comment now: Mr Babel I saw his hand first.

L

It's taller than you are gray questions.

X

Good afternoon, first of all, I am as a citizen in favor of this concept, of combining something for uscb.

J

X

For affordable housing and something for a Workforce and the second reason I'm in favor is we have two solid local, trusting organizations that are working on this Josh as folks and The Surge group, but I want to just for a moment talk about safety.

X

The parking problem is not going to be a problem, because if it's like anything on cordilla Parkway, it's going to be on bicycles and in 10 years, they're all going to be in e-bikes. These people go to work in the morning when it's dark and they come back often at night. Think about that area. When you go through it, it's very dark and I watch people going on office way and they look at traffic coming out a circle.

X

They cut in front of traffic cut across the median and they cut through people going on to Circle. That's the way they're going to get out of there. Okay, so it's an island, and so we have to take a look at the flow of traffic for these Souls getting out of there, so they can safely get to and from work and later on. In the day there's going to be alcohol involved, you know and they're going to be, that's a Winding Road through there windy road and line of sight issues.

X

Let me get past Office Park or getting in there, so I think somebody needs to sit down with these folks and take care of that. The second thing that I, but it's going to alleviate the problem of parking because I don't think you'll need as many car parking spots as that.

X

The second thing I would ask that you consider and I think it's important. We do this before we do this, because we normally approve these things. It's built. We say what I'm going to do with the bikes. Now you know, and then we have to build a pathway and it takes three years so I would like to see something done and planned as a part of this deal. The second thing is how the thing looks. What typically happens is people have bikes, so they put bike racks up and looked fast forward.

X

Another six months, eight months we had bikes strewn all over the place. I would recommend you put sheds in and make that be a part of the project or put them inside the facility. You know people will go by. There are on their way they're they're tourists. We don't want a bunch of bikes strewn all over a place. I think it'd be enhance the property to put them in sheds the things that are similar in Lighthouse Road and Sea Pines, something like that or put them inside like Amsterdam.

X

Okay, this is an Amsterdam, but something that would look more attractive. It would not send a signal to our tourists. Well, we got a lot of bikes but geez. They look like hell and I see that every morning, at cadilla, Parkway and I see it at night. These poor souls we give them vests and everything else, but the vests disappear and those souls are at risk and I'm afraid there'll be a lot of people here.

X

Their lives will be at risk and we need to take care of it before this thing gets approved as opposed to later after the fact. Thank you very much. Thank.

A

You Mr Beale Mr Smith,.

Q

Thank you. My name is Grace Smith I live at 11, Wilder's Creek Way on Hilton, Head and I I. Think I'm, sort of piggybacking on the concern that this gentleman had, and that is, security. uh Dormitories, are usually associated with college and university campuses.

Q

um I had the privilege of going to college and living for two years in a dormitory, and there was campus security and I I. Think in in this area, particularly security is going to be a factor unfortunately, and some people like to sweep this under the rug but there's crime on Hilton, Head, Island and a lot of that crime is situated in rather close proximity to this location, and so I would like to see some type of assurance of who's. Gonna who's gonna pay for security. Is it going to be the college?

Q

Is it going to be the surge group hiring the security? Okay enough said you get the point: um okay capacity. uh We just spent two days and I love that I love that uh Workshop, but we spent a a lot of uh recurring concerns about the capacity of this island I. Just uh specifically, referring to that and I know nothing about this topic. But what came into my mind was: uh what is the impact of this um uh construction on limited groundwater and sewage resources just wanted to bring that up?

Q

uh Continuity and support of rental I happen to know that the restaurant and service business has about a 75 percent turnover rate, so somebody rents one of these units and works for Surge, and then they go work in Charleston or something like that, and they do that after three months and they just say well tough we're out of here. How does that unit continue to be paid for okay and then um I also hope that Workforce housing would truly be provided, because I think we got screwed by the Gardner Road monstrosity.

Q

First of all, it's huge and- and we don't need that anymore- on the island and second of all, they had promised oh yeah we're going to have. You know very affordable work for us, and then you go there and like the minimum, is two to three grand a month and that that's they screwed us. They screwed the town. By saying they were going to do something and they did something else: okay, final one. uh So that's just another thing to think about uh the building height uh Mission creep.

Q

Again we just spent two days and even the start of this meeting, which I loved hearing the the recommitment to uh Hilton, Head Aesthetics, ecology Etc uh in instead, um you know we could have Mission creep here uh this. This edifice could happen and then down towardsley Plaza. There could be a reason to do another, 55 foot, building and another, and pretty soon you guys got it. Thank you. Yes,.

A

Please yep, my name is come on up address.

Y

A

You won't we're all friends here, your name, please,.

Y

My name is Stephanie Malott um I started a program three years ago called Hilton Head, Island, stewardship program and I poured my heart and soul into it.

Y

um Mr, Ames and I. My office was actually in the building that we're talking about foreign.

Y

We have actually experienced everything that you all are talking about and.

A

Y

Please I'm sorry I can't because I'll start crying. If I look at you again, the.

G

Only thing that has not been.

Y

Addressed is um my company to advocate for the actual Workforce to House people themselves to make sure that Mr, Riley's or whomever's business has qualified individuals that can afford the housing everybody's talking about how it will impact this and the looks and the security and whatnot um it's it's there and the people that want to live in these houses and the people that need these people to live in this. These houses.

Y

They need to be- and you put it in your um LMAO at the very beginning, when you guys created the workforce housing project that the workforce housing is entitled to the same luxuries and whatever.

A

Y

Are going to appreciate this, it will be a gift and I would like to help facilitate that I have my property management. It's just amazing. I came here to say goodbye to you. You.

A

Had enough I think I might stay. Oh okay, thank you. Are there any other public comments come on.

A

Flash from the past from.

Z

The past now Council welcome.

R

Z

Is Jay Wendell I am the general manager at the beach house also a resident Hilton Head Island Plantation um Mr Ames. As you know, we have talked about Workforce housing for since you first came up here, um and so it's been over 10 years, Mr Stanford I wanted to let you know that I can speak to my past and present looking for housing on this island. For my associates, I've got uh in a past life here on the island. I had 60 h2bs annually was able to find housing.

Z

I had 20 J1 Associates that came from overseas to learn our culture learn the hospitality industry that we found housing for those opportunities are all gone, we're building one right now for 10 bed or I'm sorry 20 beds working on the contract, as we speak for beach house I'm about to invest about 10 million dollars in the backyard of beach house. The idea is that we help make our business grow and our service levels grow there at the facility, and that is going to require me to find Future housing.

Z

Typically, in the past, I've done five-year contracts, Mr Stanford, so I can tell you that this need is there and present what I love is that this is on the other side of the circle right. This is close to my former Resort. This is close to the access to my current Resort. This is close to the parks.

Z

It's close to restaurants and Facilities I'd like to applaud this company and their Vision they're, taking private investment, which is something we heard a lot about a long time ago and they're spending an awful lot of money to come in and do what our community needs and they're getting rid of an eyesore in this community.

Z

um We talk about not wanting our people to go, buy a big, beautiful building, but yeah, it's okay for them. For the last 12 years that I've been on this island to drive by those blighted buildings, so I think we should consider that and think about that um they've really done a very nice job. Filling these units is not going to be a challenge: Miss Bryson. We had talked to uscb five years ago working on a similar project. To answer a question back, then it was 3 500, a semester for housing included their food.

Z

So we were working on this same sort of partnership back then, and just couldn't put it together, but these guys have a very solid plan and they have the financial Financial backing to support it. On the other note, you have housing over in Tidal Bluff right now drive by and see how many cars you see in July, none h2vs don't have cars, we transport them.

Z

So the parking issue- I, don't think, is an issue to be honest with you, I understand it's a it's in the LMO and such, but it's not going to be an issue for this. Thank you very much.

A

T

I did want to speak to the Safety and Security points that came up. Certainly a Hot Topic, the first time that the search Partners, the mayor of our group, Rob Jordan, and my myself were approached by our now Partners the developers about this we were offered. Would you like to rent dorms? We said we don't have any Visa workers. We have no J1 workers and we said we believe for the south. End of Hilton Head 450 to 500 beds is the wrong product of dormitory for that area.

T

Would you please this is a year and a half ago, please reconsider building one two three four bedroom units there so that it can serve a water swath of our Workforce and not have 500 heartbeats there, maybe half that which presents half the security risk. It's a far better use in terms of safety for the area and the developer has gone on for a year and a half to get to this point when that same footprint could be built out with 45 units.

T

Sean has helped us do a buy right analysis and eight or ten bets could end up behind every one of them, I'm, fearful that if we continue to demand more and more of developers across the the island, we miss the opportunity to capitalize in this case before it turns into the wrong product for the Southland development which it could be by right. We beg them not to do that a year and a half ago, and here we are today so I hope that factors in your your uh discernment thank.

A

You thank you, Alan. Are there any other public comments? Sedalia? Would you call the question please.

L

For the motion.

B

Verizon, yes, Miss Becker.

C

I'm, yes and I would just want to say that the public comments were impactful, I appreciate them when they come forward.

C

um He's left, but perhaps someone in in this group can um show me a sample contract of what a lease would look like from a business for the employees, I'd like to see that information as well and I'm. Sorry, um as well as the the the other piece that I want to throw out there, lots of different things were mentioned and I agree with them. All um the parking I do believe is going to ultimately be an issue either now or later, and so I can't Overlook.

C

That piece um and the other piece that I'm having difficulty with is um not having anything in writing. With regard to this commitment to this particular type of use and where that open-endedness leads, it leaves us for the future, and so, if y'all can work on that piece, as well as a commitment, I understand the goal, I get it and but something in writing so that it would applies to y'all as well as others. Thanks.

I

I

A

Thank you. The motion passes unanimously and I encourage staff to get with the developers ASAP try to make this happen. Okay next item on the agenda: short-term rental, ordinance, implementation, update.

B

Mr chair, perhaps we could have the cliff notes on the update.

B

B

I'm here it's your pleasure, but uh thank you.

B

AA

AA

Good afternoon.

A

AA

Go ahead, my name is Barbara Wooster I'm, the revenue customer service manager for the town of Hilton, Head, Island, I'm, thrilled and honored to be here today to talk about our updates for the short-term rental ordinance, as you may or may not know, this project took on quite a large amount of people for the town. These are the main people that helped us with this project, but I will tell you it spared no Department. We ended up having to use somebody from every department and everybody's been involved with this. They say it takes a village.

AA

Well, this particular project took a whole town and I'm honored to be working with these people, because we have some really brilliant people working for us here.

AA

Key dates, as you know, in may you all approve that short-term rental ordinance, August 15th I, was hired brought on board. Two days later, we executed our contract with us vendor gov OS. A couple of weeks later we had our initial kickoff meeting, September 1st and by December 20th. We began training our staff on the new gov OS system. We are happy to announce. We met our January. Third, go live date.

AA

We had a couple little blurbs here or there, but basically we went live and people were able to apply and pay for their permit things that we've completed in this short time period.

AA

As you may know, this all took place in a matter of about 16 weeks. So, in a matter of about 16 weeks, we developed customized and implemented the short-term rental portal. We had a design, uh all the writing and how it was going to be in the applications we developed into part mental workflows. We had to understand how every Department was going to flow and work within this process.

AA

We Came Upon a problem of needing site plans, so our I.T team, which I can't say enough about, came up and created our own GIS app so that the homeowners could create their own site plan. In addition to that, we were able to create finalize the town's Good Neighbor brochure. This was something that a lot of the Departments have wanted for a while, but we finalized it and it's published and it's on the website and ready for all our owners to download and provide.

AA

In addition, we hired two additional code enforcement officers and three full-time temporary staff members. In order to get this all completed, we held meetings weekly, sometimes more than once during a week. Some of the members were not happy about that, but it was the only way we could meet that January third deadline, so I kept them on a short leash and we were able to get it completed.

AA

um One of the major portions of this project other than it was the Communications Department I, can't say enough about their influence and how they participated and assisted getting this launched. This was a comprehensive multimedia plan. These are some of the items that we took care of. We enhanced the web page with detailed information and that's something we continue to do. We will continue to update the web page as we need to as the questions change, we're changing our facts and our information that we have on the web page.

AA

We produced six videos to share on all different social media platforms and we've had some good response. Regarding that we appeared in TV and pre print media videos. We launched a full short-term rental social media campaign that was shared across all the different social media platforms.

AA

um We send a total of six news releases which uh reached approximately 9 000 recipients. We hosted uh six in-person virtual information meetings at Town Hall and an Island rec for uh residents and property owners and so forth. We've had over 600 people attend these meetings. Some meetings were live, streamed recorded Etc so that anyone can could follow as needed. We also hosted additional stakeholder holder meetings with Shipyard Hilton Head Island, beach and tennis, and the Hilton Head vacation rental Association, among others,.

AA

So brief, history, again in November 2022, we launched the Public Communication plan, which included, like I, said public and stakeholder meetings. We developed a complaint hotline with workflows and phone scripts. As you know, this new sto program has a 24-hour seven day a week complaint hotline. We engaged in software testing and development.

AA

We trained our short-term rental implementation team and we established processes and training for the temporary new positions that we have um in October November December, uh gov OS has been busy researching and identifying the different properties um that are renting here on Hilton Head and in December of 2022 gov OS prepared the letters and sent out over 7 000 letters to potential short-term rental property owners.

AA

We began training for staff in late December right at the deadline of when we went live, got us a little nervous, but we were able to complete our training for staff. We will be training, code enforcement and some other departments as we move forward.

AA

um As I said, over 7 000 identified properties received correspondence from the town and from gov OS, and they were contacted by a letter as well as email. If we had it on file and like I said within that 16 weeks, January 3rd, we met our goal live date and the short-term rental uh permit is now open and as of this morning, at 9 45 we had over 10 over 2 000, completed applications and approved, and we've got about 900 still in the queue So.

AA

Within a matter of about 14 15 working days, we've really accomplished quite a bit I'm very proud of the uh temporary staff that we have we've accomplished a lot and with that I'll take any questions you may have Barbara.

A

I'd like to say just a couple of things: um I watched you and Miss lewick make a presentation at Shipyard and I just want everybody in the room to know how beautifully handled you handled that there were so many questions that you were able to answer, and it really was a good good representation of town capability.

A

I have also seen you do make the presentation at the rec center, where the crowd was somewhat more skeptical and and again you and your staff and the and John Troyer and others who were there were able to answer tough questions and defuse some of the angst of the of the people who were there. So thank you very much I see some of your cohorts here. Can you give us their names or have them introduce themselves.

AA

John Troyer Finance, director April Aiken's customer service manager. We have Miss Kathy Lee who's, our one of our full-time uh temporary staff members who've just got flowers for her excellent customer service from a short-term rental owner. My dad and we have our other staff here too Karen and Marie Garner also are here with us. We've.

G

AA

Good for us- and you know Missy and Sean yeah, okay, well,.

A

I, just I just wanted to thank you for the incredible Marathon that you've been on over.

AA

The last time it's been a ride.

A

Other questions or comments, I.

L

Think this is an extraordinary story that you've shared about how you've gotten this up to speed uh so quickly and I certainly salute you for your efforts in that regard.

L

um You've talked about about 7 000 units have been identified on the island, are still new uh strs being identified, or do you think.

AA

Absolutely day by day, unfortunately, this is something that is not an exact science. It changes by the day and by the minute as people are buying and selling, but gov OS is continuously scrubbing the information and updating the database. So we are continuously identifying new properties, so.

L

You've done you've identified, I think about 2 000 applicants that have been approved and you have more in the queue. Are you hopeful of getting almost all of these 7 000 units under license? Absolutely absolutely.

AA

That's our goal: that's what we're going to meet govern West gave us um a platform of about 90 within one years what they were going for, but uh quite frankly, the way we're going and the way the staff is going. I think we will absolutely beat that record excellent. Thank you. My pleasure.

A

C

Thank you, um I I have questions um so of the 2000 approved, and those 900s that are y'all are still working on um how many two things how many of those are coming through via a property management company and how many are, if you know, are coming because they are individuals who rent their homes on their own I.

AA

Can't give you exact figures, because I I wouldn't have that broken up, but I can tell you that right now we're getting it from all different angles, because we have worked with like right now: I'm working with vicasa and a couple other property management groups, because we have worked so closely with them. We're getting assistance from the property management companies. In addition, we're getting people that are just coming forward from hearing about it and then we're also getting the people that were notified by gov OS. So it's coming from all different angles.

AA

I would say: majority of them were identified by gov OS, but we are finding that people are coming forward as well. So.

C

The property management companies aren't necessarily taking responsibility for all of those contracts, effects that they have it's individuals within okay, thank you and then in terms of reviewing site plans which are used um for a variety of residents, I'm sure, but parking in particular. How is that looking? How is that we're finding.

AA

You know we weren't sure how long it would take and so forth, but we're fine once we took the time to educate the staff and what to look for and what not to look for that. It's becoming really like a fine oil machine because we find most people are using our app to create the site plan. So we know that it's coming out the way we need it to look so the process has has been pretty easy so far, so.

C

Is there any tracking being done with regard to how many parking spots are being identified and permitted versus how many rooms per.

AA

Build all that information is being kept, is yeah, so that is.

C

So that data is going to be able to be reviewed later, okay, good, that's important and then I would also just make the comment, and- and this may or may not be true in these instances. But generally speaking, the gis is not necessarily completely Dependable correct. Have we found any difficulties within reality on the ground versus what GIS is showing.

AA

um It's such a small percentage I've had a few people like maybe a handful, maybe two, you know maybe a dozen or two dozen, where maybe the GIS mapping of the longitude and latitude didn't quite match up and they were one house off. But you know, judging from the 7000 that were sent, it's a very small percentage, so I'm actually pretty pleased. So far with the results and.

C

Those parking places aren't impinging on any crosswalks or sidewalks, or anything like that. They're completely with contained.

AA

On the property they're supposed to be right and and when they affirm to that it should be okay. Is there any field, verification I'm, not we're, taking it on a case-by-case basis? In other words, if there's a complaint and so forth, then code enforce will go out and and verify the measure and so forth.

C

And keeping in mind that our estimated number in gov OS saying that 90 percent are thereabouts within the first year, would be in compliance, and you feeling optimistic about that. Are we still feeling fairly confident with on the 7, 000 number and um and I'll just leave it at there.

AA

It's fine, um I, I would say: 7000 is a conservative number, because we have to remember that Galva West pulled this information in our slope. What we would consider our slowest quarter, um you know the words the December month January month, so this would be our quietest time. So I think um the numbers remain to be seen and I do expect them to increase okay.

C

Is do you think there's any reluctancy in terms of people coming in and paying their or getting their permits, because there's only one method of payment through the credit card.

AA

Online we have had some pushback on that. um You know when we kind of expected that and again it's a handful, maybe two dozen people that that have pushed back on it, but for most people once we kind of explain that you know we're looking for another option for the future. We appreciate your patience. They go ahead and take care of it, but we have had some pushback.

C

I would suggest that that's an important piece because any barrier that they see that they can use and I, don't mean this. This way this is not coming out the way. Any barriers are not good for the for the ultimate outcome. So if we can correct that that'd be fantastic. Thank you thank you. Would.

A

You like to add a comment.

P

I miss you Barbara um I, just wanted to add to that that while we did identify through govos the 7000 short-term rentals and sent them letters to apply, they are identifying additional um advertisements and sending out notices that they also have to comply with the regulations as well. So as no more get advertised, then more get notified that they need to apply for a permit and also it was in the presentation. But I wanted to note that we are working on a dashboard with GIS and so sometime toward the tail end of the first quarter.

P

We hope to have a public dashboard that that identifies where we stand with short-term rentals and that data will be public facing.

A

I I'm very interested in the location of short-term rentals on the island of the 2000 that have stepped up and received their permit. Do we know at this point what geographic areas they come from? Is it all over I I think this is important for future policy, so I I would like to be aware of of that Distribution on the island and.

AA

That's something that dashboard will be able to provide to us I would have to say right now we're so young in our data that I, you know we have nothing to share with you yet, but I believe you know by the first quarter at the end of the first quarter, we should have more of this implemented and and you'll be able to see that information great.

A

Thank you Barbara.

A

Thank you, um Mr Babel. Would you like to add something?

A

I know it has something to do with bikes. He.

L

Already had his time.

A

If you don't talk too long, it could be dinner. Okay,.

X

I got three minutes: I. Think uh short-term rentals were a great way that Hilton Head Island get going. You know it gave homeowners an opportunity to buy a place and conceivably afford it. Although numbers definitely really worked out, but it at least gave you an opinion that you could get rentals in there and then show up and then eventually retire, like I did I had a short-term rental.

X

Unfortunately, short-term rentals are like Kudzu, and once you get a short-term rental in your neighborhood, your community begins to change and then another one comes in and then another one and before you know it, your community has become a commercial Zone and you have people out there that you just don't know who the heck they are they're wandering around and it's like Kudzu. It just keeps on growing and once it gets going, you can't stop it and it just keeps on growing and growing and growing and guess where we are.

X

We have Kudzu on this island and it's overtaking the silent and it's really something we just have to be very, very serious about. It contributes to our growth problem, in fact that maybe the root cause of what's Happening Here too many timeshares too many rentals too many of these short-term rentals are happening. All over I have a friend who is in the ocean uh community in Palm Coast and all of a sudden people started showing up on streets that were million dollar homes, and so they said who the hell. These people well people started running.

X

He said, wait a minute. What are they doing here and so the whole Community got together and they created a district and they went through hell, but they created a district where they put the short-term rentals and there's enough there to keep the people happy and the people who had short-term rentals and the districts that were changed and not allowed to have short-term rentals.

X

They could do three-month rentals, but not short term, actually we're okay, because their property values continued to increase and the community is back on track and, of course, they're getting sued all the time. But it's really working so I, don't know the toothpaste is out of the tube and we can't really stop it. You just can't declare no short-term rentals, but there are a lot of places around where you can warn the people. Kazoo it's coming, get your act together, do an ordinance, don't let short-term rentals take place because it takes 75 percent approval.

X

I think you know create a POA or whatever it is just to stop it. It's a problem, and we have to do something about it. I love your idea, David about keeping track of it, because that's that that way, we can see how it's going. I think you'd, be amazed how you see this sucker just creeping up and growing through our community contributing not contributing creating our problem. Thank you. Thank.

A

You Frank, yes, Mr Sharon,.

A

Thank you for being patient.

S

Thank you uh Carol and storm follyfield uh I. Second, everything, obviously that he says, and you obviously know my views on short-term rentals um foreign I know that it's early days but I would really encourage the town to involve the residents in this island. It's really for Missy. When the dashboard comes out, I think that would be a useful tool for the residents. The residents can tell you where the rentals are so gov, OS I'm a software engineer, an electronic engineer. So that's my space I know what it can do and what it can't do.

S

But residents can tell you that that house there is a short-term rental. So if the poas were involved- and they have access to these tools, then they can basically verify what cover gov OS is telling you um I would like to see a little bit more emphasis on the resident in all of this program. I again I commend your staff for getting everything done in the space that they did but parking.

S

What you know what house is approved for what parking I think that's key from a resident perspective. um The phone number, the hotline number.

S

Obviously, the people who are landlords and renting our properties have access to that, but from a resident perspective, it's really really hard to find, so it's not front and center on the website. So just little things but again, I commend the staff in the town for what you've done. I really appreciate it. Thank.

A

You for your comments. uh Mr Babel mentioned short-term rentals sort of we're here at the beginning, I think what has so changed the environment is that now we have short-term rentals in single family, Hazard, housing, neighborhoods and the online capability of marketing internationally to individuals and so on and I think those two things have changed and sort of fed the Kudzu so to speak.

A

But having said that, Barbara again, I want to thank you for the presentation and your work over the last several months, congratulations and and as well as to the rest of the staff that who has been working on it. Thank you very much, foreign.

C

Just stealing one second, more about short-term rentals and, following up on some of the comments that have been made correct. A lot of our difficulties now in so many regards is directly related correlated strongly to short-term rentals. And so this is a major problem that needs to be kept brought under control as we're moving forward and trying to correct other things across the island.

C

With regard to development and our capacity as an island to maintain in terms of residents and being able to contribute information know how to utilize this system, to the benefit that it was actually created for which was to maintain quality of peace and life in the neighborhood. That couldn't be more important, that that is made as public and in as many places as big bold letters as humanly possible as soon as possible. Right, because this is actually up and functioning.

C

We're not waiting for all of the data to come in before residents can take advantage of it. So that needs to be done and, and I really do believe, that in the next coming months, as this begins to really fully develop, that more resident input and opportunities to identify and help to to um to add to the 2000 and growing number that may not willingly or obviously, Step Up will be useful, so I'm keeping all of that in mind. It is coming to the Forefront very soon.

A

Thank you. Go ahead, yeah.

B

Sorry I'll try to make this four quick bullet points, one I'm looking forward to collection of the data which would be essential to us making decisions in the future. Second, we've already identified during this meeting today that growth management is of great concern to the Town Council and the staff is working on that and I think that short-term rentals will be addressed during those modifications that staff is looking at. Third, the PPC.

B

The public planning committee has now on its plan for the fourth quarter of this year to look at the second phase of short-term Rental Management. If you will, because we don't yet know what that's going to be, we've seen a forecast of that. But it's it's on our calendar as proposed, and then.

B

Lastly, it was suggested previously during the first phase that there being advisory committee appointed to assist us with this review, which would include residents as well as those who manage short-term rentals and as well as those who own and like for us to I'm. Looking at Ms Becker who's, the chair of our community services and Public Safety Committee. Perhaps we could accelerate appointing that establishing and appointing that committee.

A

We have one more: we have a review of the calendar year. 2023 proposed public planning committee pending policy matters.

A

Is there any comment to that? It was delivered to us I. Let me just see if we need a presentation. Does anybody want to review that at this time.

B

Two really quick comments. One is thank you. Thank you for sending out a plan. I asked for that um and I know it's subject to change, uh especially in light of the Strategic plan Workshop. But thank you. It's a great planning tool.

A

Is there a motion to do we don't do your motion, it's perfectly fine. Thank you. Consideration of the proposed meeting dates for the calendar year. 2023. Is there a motion to adopt.

L

Remove adoption of the schedule of events as written second.

A

Second, um I guess we can call the roll please.

G

A

P

B

P

Miss Becker, yes, Mr Ames,.

A

Yes, We Stand adjourned. Thank you very much for your patience and long support.