Beaufort County committee delays waterways ordinance action after island operators push for carve-outs and permit talks

Chairman Cunningham on Feb. 17 moved a proposed Beaufort County ordinance amending Chapter 102 (waterways) from an action item to a discussion item and invited additional stakeholder work before any vote. County staff and multiple local operators told the committee the draft ordinance, as written, risked restricting essential commercial barge and charter activity at several public landings.

Dylan Kidd, a county staff member who presented the draft, said the revisions reflect months of work and added definitions and clarifications, including language addressing different charter types. Kidd told the committee the draft targets commercial passenger operations and does not prohibit private vessel owners from transporting their own noncommercial passengers, but he acknowledged the parking and landing language needs clearer wording to avoid confusion.

Several public commenters urged narrow exemptions and a permit-based approach. Mark Panzich, owner of Cross Island Cruises, said the county’s earlier effort to ban commercial activity was rejected and warned that limiting access on Hilton Head would “redirect residents and visitors through private marina gates” and harm small independent operators. “If the idea is to eliminate small independent operators and make them go solely through these larger marinas, it’s gonna hurt a lot of people,” he said.

Jeff Gale, who runs a small barge business, said barges move the islands’ economy and listed services his company provides — same-day deliveries to restaurants, tools for contractors and feed for island residents. He urged that any exemption for barges serving Daufuskie also be extended to Buck Island and other island areas not reachable by road.

Corey Cunningham, a U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captain who operates from Cross Island Boat Landing, offered to provide dashcam footage to demonstrate that daily operations are orderly and disputed claims that landings are routinely congested. He said licensed, insured local operators help keep public landings safe and suggested a county permit to verify credentials and help fund maintenance.

Kidd said staff already included a Daufuskie exemption in the draft and agreed committee direction could broaden that carve-out to include other areas not accessible by land. He also described a permit approach as viable but more administratively intensive, requiring coordination with business licensing and enforcement. A council member noted a kiosk/peer-fee model used in other jurisdictions might offer a low-cost alternative.

Heather Rath and Patrick Coughlin, representing the Lowcountry Waterways Alliance, proposed working with island operators and town staff to develop a permit-style proposal. Rath asked the committee to allow the alliance to meet with operators (Corey and Mark), coordinate with Hilton Head town staff and present joint amendment language to county staff.

The committee directed staff to reopen the public portal for comment, encouraged an inclusive stakeholder process (inviting groups with opposing views), and asked staff to coordinate a workshop roughly 30–45 days out so stakeholders have time to meet and present common ground. No final ordinance vote was taken; the item was left as a discussion item to return to the committee after stakeholder meetings and staff revisions.

What happens next: staff will add direction to consider carve-outs for areas not accessible by road, reopen the public comment portal, and coordinate dates for a workshop with the chairman and council leadership so stakeholder groups and staff can present a revised proposal before the committee considers action.