Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Street Naming topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves 'Nelly Drive' to serve landlocked parcel; commissioners probe public-notice details
Summary
The planning commission approved STDV-0000376-2026 to name an access easement 'Nelly Drive' in honor of Nelly Johnson White and five other Hilton Head Island women; commissioners questioned parcel listings in the public notice, which staff said were included though presentation numbering did not match the packet.
The Buford County Planning Commission voted to approve street-name application STDV-0000376-2026, authorizing the naming of a recorded access easement as "Nelly Drive" to provide access and addressing for a landlocked parcel held by Chanty Napoleon Barnwell.
County 911 communications manager Kathleen Litzfield told the commission that the proposed name honors Nelly Johnson White, an ancestor of the applicant who was "born [and] raised here on Hilton Head Island," and that owners of adjoining parcels had documented agreement to the name. She said the easement could serve additional dwellings if surrounding parcels are developed under existing zoning (staff noted the potential for up to eight dwelling units per acre in the area).
Several commissioners raised a technical concern: numbers in the presentation maps did not match some parcel numbers in the application packet and agenda, and one commissioner asked whether all affected parcels had been included in the published legal notice. Staff said they would confirm and later stated the parcels in question were included in the legal notice, although the slide presentation omitted or misnumbered some items.
During the hearing a resident who identified themself as the owner of the first property on Gumry Road asked whether their address would change; staff confirmed that properties facing Gumry Road would not have their addresses changed if they continued to face that road.
After discussion a commissioner made a motion to approve the application; the motion was seconded and the commission approved STDV-0000376-2026. Following the vote, a commissioner read an applicant narrative noting that the proposed street names are "the first names of six of the greatest women to ever reside on Hilton Head Island," listing Louise Wright, Janie Wright Johnson, Nelly Johnson White, Rosalie White Barnwwell, Carrie Barnwwell and Janice Barnwwell.
The commission then heard brief staff announcements about new community development personnel and adjourned the meeting.
