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Residents urge prioritizing infrastructure, stormwater and land‑management policies during CIP workshop
Summary
In public comment, residents urged the council to center the CIP on essential infrastructure — stormwater, drainage, public safety and accountability — and one speaker pressed the mayor to bring a floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) change to the full council for debate.
Three residents who signed up to speak at the end of the workshop urged the council to prioritize infrastructure, to be transparent about project administration, and to act on land‑use items.
"Capital projects ... shape how we live here on Hilton Head. Roads, drainage, parks, public facilities — these aren't just projects; they're investments in the quality of life for every resident on this island," said Dave Ferguson, identifying himself and urging the council to keep residents at the center of capital planning.
Richard Busy urged the mayor to put a proposed reduction in floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) across more neighborhoods on the agenda for full council debate. Busy said the mayor's refusal to place the issue on the agenda hampers open deliberation and asked the mayor to allow the issue to be considered by the full council.
Palmer Simmons raised stormwater concerns and asked for clearer public information about land acquisitions and the town's acquisition strategy, saying neighborhoods like Los Angeles Road are suffering from recent heavy rains and noting that drainage planning needs more attention.
Council members acknowledged public comments and reiterated the town will address stormwater in a September workshop; staff said they will return with funding and prioritization recommendations and timelines.
