The Town Council of Hilton Head Island voted May 20 to adopt a housing displacement mitigation support plan, but only after a divisive public debate and two council votes. The council first rejected the original plan recommended by the Housing Action Committee and later adopted a revised version provided by staff with specific edits to include the town as a visible partner.

The plan aims to coordinate local nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and town staff so that, when a displacement event occurs (for example a large rental redevelopment or mass lease nonrenewal), a community response team can be activated quickly to offer legal, housing and financial support.

Assistant Town Manager Sean Lanninger, who led the staff presentation, described the plan27s development and testing: "This plan has gone through multiple layers of refinement. It was drafted by our chief housing official..." He told council the plan had been field-tested during a real displacement event, which prompted additional edits and the addition of United Way as the fiduciary lead for funds.

The Council27s first vote followed lengthy public comment from residents, nonprofit leaders and past Housing Action Committee members urging the adoption of the committee's original March 17 plan. Councilmember Mary Bryson moved to adopt the original Housing Action Committee plan (mover: Bryson; second: Alfred). After discussion and public testimony, that motion failed 52D2.

Public commenters and representatives of partners urged adoption of the committee27s original product. Sandy Gillis of the Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project, a designated lead partner in the plan, told the council: "If we can require stormwater plans for development to protect neighboring properties in our waterways... then we should have no problem requiring development that will displace our neighbors to step up and be part of the solution." Several speakers said removing town branding and the town27s visible role from the document during committee review had undermined partnership.

After the failed motion, Councilmember Brown moved to adopt the Housing Action Committee recommendation as it stood on May 14 but with three specific changes requested by several council members: (1) explicitly reference "Town of Hilton Head Island" in the executive summary; (2) show the town as a partner in the organizational chart; and (3) host the final plan on the town website. That amended motion was seconded (Bryson) and passed 42D3.

What the vote means: the adopted document is the Housing Action Committee plan as of May 14, 2025, with the three edits above. Town staff and the community partners named in the plan (Deep Well Project, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and United Way of the Lowcountry) will be expected to coordinate rapid response when displacement events are identified. The adopted plan emphasizes that the town27s role is primarily to notify and coordinate with partners, and that day-to-day implementation will be led by nonprofits and the fiduciary lead.

Process and context: the plan has been under development since council directed staff in the town27s 2023-25 strategic plan to produce a displacement mitigation approach. The Housing Action Committee originally recommended the document in December; it was revised after a test case and again after Community Services and Public Safety Committee review. Councilmembers and some housing committee members said committee leadership turnover and staff resignations have slowed momentum and made the process contentious.

Ending: Council asked staff to place the adopted document on the town website and to continue coordination with community partners. Lanninger said staff would continue work on other housing initiatives already underway, including the Northpointe and Bryant Road projects and existing repair and sewer-connection programs.