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Planning commission approves easement street names, including Nelly Drive; commissioners seek notice clarifications
Summary
Beaufort County’s Planning Commission approved street-name applications for access easements — including Nelly Drive, chosen to honor Nelling Johnson White — and asked staff to confirm which parcels were included in the legal notice after a discrepancy was raised.
Beaufort County’s Planning Commission voted to approve multiple street-name applications for access easements during its meeting, including a request to name an easement “Nelly Drive” in honor of Nelling Johnson White.
Kathleen, a staff presenter, told the commission the application for the easement serving 201 Wildhorse Road, filed on behalf of owner Valerie Plasse, met the county’s Land Management Ordinance criteria and would provide direct access to three homes. “Nelly Drive was chosen as the new street name. It was chosen in honor of Nelling Johnson White,” Kathleen said, explaining staff’s recommendation for approval.
The commission then considered a related set of applications under file STDVDash000376Dash2026 brought on behalf of Chelsea McMullen Barnwell to provide access to a landlocked parcel owned by Chauncey Napoleon Barnwell. Kathleen said surrounding zoning could allow up to eight dwelling units per acre and that staff had documented recorded easements and owner agreements where available. She noted the school district parcel that abuts the easement would retain its address on Logan Road and would not be affected by the new street name.
Commissioners probed access and safety details. One commissioner asked whether emergency vehicles could reach the properties; staff said the required access for fire suppression must be 20 feet wide with an improved surface and that the easement’s turning radius and improved surface would allow apparatus access. “That will provide us plenty of access for our apparatus to get back to that location,” Kathleen said.
A separate procedural issue arose when a commissioner pointed out that some parcel numbers in the published legal notice did not exactly match the parcel list in the application materials. A staff member responded that the legal notice included a formatting discrepancy (an extra zero in one legal description) but that the affected parcel had been included in the published notice; staff said they would confirm the final list used for formal notice. The commission reopened discussion briefly for that confirmation before proceeding.
After public comment (none were offered on these items), the commission approved the individual application for the Wildhorse Road easement and later approved the omnibus group of proposed street names, including Nelly Drive and several names honoring long-time Hilton Head Island residents: Louise Wright; Janie Wright Johnson; Nellie Johnson White; Rosalie White Barnwell; Carrie Barnwell; and Janice Barnwell. The chair read a narrative recognizing these women for their historical contributions to the island.
The meeting concluded with staff introductions: Kendall Wagner, an intern in Community Development, and Kyle Brotherton, the department’s new principal planner. The commission then adjourned.
Votes at a glance: The transcript records voice approvals for the motions to adopt the street-name applications; the votes were approved by voice and recorded as unanimous in the meeting audio/transcript. Individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript.
