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Planning commission backs tighter Holiday Homes overlay; forwards amendment to council
Summary
The Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission voted to recommend a text amendment to the Holiday Homes neighborhood character overlay that would tighten setbacks, reduce allowable floor area and impervious coverage, lower allowable driveway widths in buffers and cap building height; the recommendation will go to Town Council for first reading.
The Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of an amendment to the Holiday Homes neighborhood character overlay, forwarding the LMO text change to Town Council for first reading on April 7.
Trey Low of planning staff reviewed the proposed text amendment and said the change would add the neighborhood’s private protective covenants and restrictions into the overlay, close several exclusions and impose several new limits on development in the overlay. Key regulatory changes staff highlighted include reducing the maximum floor area from 4,000 to 3,200 square feet, lowering the maximum impervious coverage from 50% to 45%, limiting driveway widths within required buffers from 24 feet to 22 feet, capping garages at two cars, and setting maximum building height at 30 feet and no more than two-and-a-half stories. Low told commissioners there had been no substantive changes to the proposal since a January hearing and that the overlay’s purpose is “to protect and preserve the single-family residential character of the neighborhood.”
Holiday Homes residents spoke in support. Rick Lawson, who identified himself as a resident of 6 Aelia Street, said, “We have 83% of the residents of Holiday Homes [who] have signed a petition approving these ordinance changes,” and thanked staff and council members who assisted the neighborhood. Longtime resident Ed Ernst described how sewer service increased buildable area on lots and said earlier overlay language had not adequately prevented larger homes in the neighborhood; he urged commissioners to recommend the tightened standards to protect neighborhood character.
A commissioner moved and seconded a motion to approve the amendment and forward a recommendation for approval to Town Council; the commission approved the motion by voice/raised-hand vote. Staff noted the item will appear on the Town Council agenda for first reading on April 7.
What happens next: the Planning Commission’s recommendation will be considered by Town Council. The amendment, if adopted by council, would amend Title 16 (section 16-3-106J) of the municipal code to incorporate the overlay changes described above.
