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Neighbors press for noise mitigation as planners hear update on South Island RO plant
Summary
Planning staff presented an informational report on a proposed reverse-osmosis plant for South Island PSD at 131 Dunigan's Alley; residents raised sustained concerns about noise, vibration, generator fumes, and asked for sound walls and stricter permit conditions. No action was taken.
Planning staff provided an informational briefing on DPR0010292024, a proposed reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment facility at 131 Dunigan's Alley to serve the South Island Public Service District. Trey Lau described the site plan and system components — RO facility, flush tank, sand separators, heat exchangers, cooling facilities and a high-service pump station — and told the commission the item was for information only and no recommendation would be made.
Six nearby residents and property owners spoke during public comment and urged stronger mitigation measures. Benjamin Shelton, an attorney representing Hilton Head Island Motor Coach Resort and speaking as a property owner in the Village of Wexford, said as-built studies and Phase 1 construction produced noise and fumes that have harmed quality of life and urged the commission to require closer acoustic protections, including 'close proximity' sound barriers around acoustic equipment and generators. Owen Bryant and others said the South Island PSD’s wave-engineering study underestimates noise; residents submitted an independent acoustic analysis and asked the town to require sound-absorbing walls and to scrutinize SPSID's modeling. Jeannie Kangas said residents spent $35,000 on an independent study that, she said, showed town and SPSID studies were inaccurate and recommended sound mitigation be required in Phase 2 permit conditions. Bud Grindle and Sean Dixon described long construction timelines, 24/7 noise and vibration, and health effects they attributed to low-frequency vibration from engines and generators.
Walter Nestor, attorney for South Island Public Service District, said litigation between the Motor Coach Resort interests and the district is active and that SPSID has submitted expert studies; he asked that remaining technical disagreements be addressed in the ongoing litigation and permitting process. The commission closed the hearing and took no action; staff reiterated that it would not vote or send a recommendation based on this informational briefing.
Neighbors asked the town to require stronger acoustic design and lighting spill controls as permit conditions should the project proceed to formal review.
