[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6598797,"mediaKeyId","3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3","parentId",3025785,"title","Planning commission backs tighter transportation-impact rules, lowers study trigger to 50 peak-hour trips","audioSeconds",16,"startMs",2438000,"endMs",2454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3&start=2438&end=2454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3/thumbnail_2438000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598797/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Planning-commission-backs-tighter-transportation-impact-rules-lowers-study-trigger-to-50-peak-hour-trips","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598797-6acf6d2566c73c6894ef3084aef158d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169565&Signature=jRFd0K2wJb3eK6GWPWR9Svk0z2uLqjxTp~deWvuJry6Um6SFaw--noDDLTxCtEoQ9dmWjSNLhOlztdFWqGVmvWQ-OK356MEwFPU71aQSvahXg4qJAgr-A1oA8x7i~kLb6o2CODadFTTHgmsyK5WLJDu5oKj0VALC8u1Xg9OnRsJTHQxq4A525v7NOOwrZM7dsG10nGyqju7QQrBYJjId3FdoyQXqjAJtjicH1n-Arp4o-hNHWoaChCHoV4QKinu7c7a9RgY6QNHun2xjK3nzd3HyiQnBnZMN4jP4wcGEtaXRz6FaWMKSRaETGGJaeAdr3wIDJz3zMySnS6Cn6Urzfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hilton Head Island","date","2025-04-16T20:10:11.397Z","article","The Hilton Head Island Planning Commission on an unanimous vote recommended that town council approve a text amendment to the town Land Management Ordinance that renames \"traffic impact analysis\" plans as \"transportation impact analysis\" plans, expands the required study scope to include multimodal facilities, and lowers the threshold for when an analysis is required from 100 peak-hour trips to 50.

The amendment, presented by Missy Lueck, director of planning, would add evaluation of sidewalks, bicycle facilities and transit connections, expand mitigation options, add level-of-service standards for unsignalized intersections, shift approval authority from an LMO official to the town engineer and remove a current exemption that discounted impacts attributed to previously existing development. \"It is the intent that these updates will make our process more responsive to the community's needs and promote a more balanced multimodal forward-thinking approach to transportation planning,\" Lueck said.

Planning commission members heard examples and questions from staff and the public. Staff pointed to two recent projects that met the existing thresholds — a 147-unit subdivision on Jonesville Road and a 132-unit project on Office Way — and to two developments that were not required to prepare a traffic impact analysis under current rules because trips were attributed to prior uses: a timeshare on Folly Field and a waterfront restaurant on Squire Pope Road. Under the proposed standards those projects would have been required to submit analyses.

During commission questions, Commissioner Hans asked whether required mitigation costs would be borne by developers. \"If it was a required improvement ... those costs would be borne strictly by the developer,\" Darren Shoemaker of engineering confirmed, citing as an example a required right-turn lane installed for a Jonesville subdivision. Commissioner Whaley asked whether the town engineer could require mitigation options not listed in the draft; Shoemaker said the amendment provides flexibility and the town engineer could identify other improvements where appropriate.

Public commenters raised equity and implementation timing. Jean Zephthal, a Hilton Head Plantation resident, asked why affordable housing projects had a different threshold and whether exemptions were intended to keep costs down: \"Why are they getting exemption? Is it to keep costs down?\" Lueck said the separate 200 peak-hour-trip threshold for affordable housing will not change as part of this priority amendment and will be reviewed as part of a full code overhaul scheduled later in the summer. Lueck also told the commission that, if moved forward, the amendment would go to town council for committee review and two readings and she expected it could be effective in the latter part of the summer.

Citizen and advocacy comments urged the commission to embed a \"complete streets\" philosophy in the code. Frank Bable, who identified himself as \"the bike guy,\" noted state, county and town complete-streets policies and urged stronger, explicit incorporation of that approach into the LMO.

The commission voted to recommend approval to town council. The motion to \"recommend approval to council for the text amendment and move it forward\" was made from the floor and seconded; the vote was 7-0.

Next steps: the amendment will go to town council committee review and then two readings; staff estimated final adoption and effectiveness in the latter part of the summer pending council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 2:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Hilton Head Island Planning Commission on an unanimous vote recommended that town council approve an amendment renaming \"traffic impact analysis\" plans to \"transportation impact analysis\" plans while expanding multimodal review and lowering the study trigger from 100 to 50 peak-hour trips.","taxTitle","Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina","taxId",5068,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598787,"Votes at a glance: planning commission actions — transportation amendment, street name, report approval and postponement",368,2780000,3148000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3&start=2780&end=3148","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3/thumbnail_2780000.jpg","/articles/6598787/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-planning-commission-actions-transportation-amendment-street-name-report-approval-and-postponement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598787-727d879c2851085d3098bc367c02a446/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169565&Signature=Arz5KcwcTC1Q5dRdjbcwEtTeZlHvcXgGGjDOa-aUAVacmgwCUPgx9qKV-u0cmmXd2eAGUz6Z5mZp7Snkrj7WtHVsfRPcVpNILltZIgF1hEXZQmaBG~Je45xlL9nV73GSlWECBeCSVJdCnzB0qmsD6DRC3YYUNS~P2KYkje2WABlYcpz-mymUy2ojwvBLcr4RMm7G5hw2OVsBk~3WQS50D8l9Nw3IQ8816UNcHJqzooTp9vqbHp0Jlvgqc6Lkk5cYSrpBt9CI--1rwE5QltIqP~CtzvJZ2ksxqtREPdW7QeB1acQJ9kersw4fAyXbdHU3P8ubxepJdIqRfFlVIj2ofw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hilton Head Island Planning Commission recorded four formal actions during the meeting:

1) Transportation-impact amendment — Recommend approval to town council (7-0). Motion: \"Recommend approval to council for the text amendment\" (mover: Commissioner Lobaugh; second: Commissioner Hess). The amendment renames traffic impact analysis plans to transportation impact analysis plans, expands multimodal review, lowers the study trigger from 100 to 50 peak-hour trips, shifts subject-matter approval to the town engineer, adds unsignalized-intersection standards and removes prior-use trip exemptions. The commission forwarded the recommendation to town council for committee review and two readings.

2) Street name — Approve \"Red Fox Manor\" (7-0). Motion: approve the proposed access-easement name Red Fox Manor for the property associated with 7 Outlaw Road (mover: Commissioner Lobaugh; second: Vice Chair Campbell). Staff reported the easement will serve three homes initially and may be plated to serve up to three additional dwelling units consistent with zoning.

3) Annual traffic monitoring report — Approve report (7-0). Motion: approve the Annual Traffic Monitoring and Evaluation Report (mover: Commissioner Hans; second: Commissioner Lobaugh). The report documented July 2024 counts, five-year trends, a post-toll split shift between William Hilton Parkway and Cross Island Parkway, and capacity concerns at William Hilton Parkway and Squire Pope Road. The commission voted to approve the report for transmittal to town council.

4) Postpone mass-and-scale amendment hearing — Postponed to next month (7-0). Motion: postpone consideration of the LMO amendment addressing mass/scale and measurement of height and setback encroachments until the next planning commission meeting to allow proper notice including character overlay districts (mover: Commissioner Lobaugh; second: Vice Chair Campbell).

Each action was recorded during the meeting's public record; all four motions passed unanimously.","At its meeting the Planning Commission recommended the transportation-impact amendment to town council (7-0), approved a new access-easement name 'Red Fox Manor' (7-0), approved the annual traffic report (7-0), and postponed consideration of a separate mass-and-scale amendment until next month (7-0).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6598792,"Annual traffic report: modest overall growth, Squire Pope intersection near capacity and Sea Pine Circle within standards",638,3723000,4361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3&start=3723&end=4361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025785-31c2a75d2547aed9e004e007406e7fa3/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","/articles/6598792/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Annual-traffic-report-modest-overall-growth-Squire-Pope-intersection-near-capacity-and-Sea-Pine-Circle-within-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598792-d37b15d3a43b12105d47e19868cd743d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169565&Signature=Nl2YtJB3VVpuOt5dYYf~TKPTLfHA0X5WGXeCSxjmB6IfbD1e6LreqOSwp2vR3xPztH3278t8oBYY-BLNnkbYqlZBOMAe31lpqEe~WVGeXwKGFpQOfKq23WglobMaJ5v-H544UmaTzd1hozXYFEn-irvaYTotg58Pp12K32LU2o7Ko9G3y3W-KOmjTpEE~T3EQNPCYb~nPHIMU9bV18TJBSwPWvMLcu~aSH~8tu3ktsmfDmvZ6C9uCGltQsPQd7dtlOLgP~1d57TObl9~-uFiCe~ZUIpbmw-MJ0Bq-bTLMF4Xgh-a0ijOiySiYMaLZnqZ9dHZ-92f-TasUThriEfF~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Darren Shoemaker presented the Town of Hilton Head Island's annual Traffic Monitoring and Evaluation Report to the planning commission, summarizing counts, peak-hour analyses and trends. The report compared July 2024 counts to prior years and applied the Land Management Ordinance methodology for delay and capacity.

The study found that 24-hour average counts for select locations in July 2024 were the highest ever recorded in the town's visitor-season snapshots, and that five-year trends show an average annual increase of about 1.1% over the last five years. Shoemaker highlighted a modal split shift after cessation of tolls on the Cross Island Parkway: William Hilton Parkway now carries about 61.5% of traffic versus 38.5% on the Cross Island Parkway, a 7-percentage-point shift that equates to a roughly 26% increase in demand on the Cross Island Parkway compared with prior patterns.

On intersection performance, Shoemaker said no signalized intersections were out of compliance with the LMO's morning-peak goals. During the afternoon peak, the intersection of William Hilton Parkway at Squire Pope Road exhibited a capacity ratio of 99% of theoretical capacity, rendering it noncompliant with the LMO capacity goal even though delay figures were close to the goal. Shoemaker described potential mitigations: adding a third off-island lane would fully mitigate the intersection but would require roadway widening with impacts to adjacent properties; other options like two right-turn lanes or free-flowing right-turn ramps were discussed but have feasibility or neighborhood impact concerns. Shoemaker noted long-standing safety concerns for left turns at that intersection.

Pedestrian and bicycle crossing counts were roughly 9% lower than the prior year but remain substantially higher than five years earlier: bike/ped crossings were about 46% higher than in February 2019. Sea Pine Circle was counted in July 2024 and showed delay figures down 4–5% from the 2022 count and within the town's standards. Shoemaker recommended that the planning commission receive the report and forward any comments to town council; the commission voted 7-0 to approve the report.

Commissioners asked staff whether the planning commission should highlight the Squire Pope intersection and whether Sea Pine Circle should be monitored more frequently; Shoemaker suggested the commission could forward written supplemental remarks to town council. The commission made a motion to approve the report and voted 7-0 to accept it for transmittal.","The town's annual traffic monitoring presentation found small year-over-year increases in peak-hour and 24-hour traffic, a substantial post-toll split shift toward the Cross Island Parkway, no intersections out of compliance during the morning peak, and a high-capacity concern at William Hilton Parkway and Squire Pope Road.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning commission backs tighter transportation-impact rules, lowers study trigger to 50 peak-hour trips

Votes at a glance: planning commission actions — transportation amendment, street name, report approval and postponement

Annual traffic report: modest overall growth, Squire Pope intersection near capacity and Sea Pine Circle within standards