Council accepts donated right-of-way to complete Mitchellville Road paving project

Hilton Head Island’s Town Council voted unanimously on July 23 to accept a donated right-of-way and corresponding pathway easement for property at 272 Mitchellville Road, clearing the way to proceed with a long-planned dirt-road paving segment.

Josh Gruber presented aerial plans and explained that the donation from the property owner — identified in the discussion as Dr. Dekle — supplies the last necessary strip of right-of-way so the town’s dirt-road paving program can move forward. Gruber told council the work on this segment goes back several years and in some staff memos dates back 15 years; he described the donation as the culmination of extended staff negotiation and surveying.

“Ultimately Dr. Dekle’s property was the last piece that was needed before we’ll be able to move forward and actually implement the paving,” Gruber said. A member of the public, Chester Williams, praised the program and said he was glad to have participated in the effort.

Council discussed the technical and title-related steps staff took to preserve development rights for donating owners; staff and counsel said the owner does not lose development rights as part of the donation and that the town included language in its code to allow for this outcome. Council approved the resolution accepting the donated right-of-way by a 7–0 vote.

Councilmembers noted the local safety and emergency-access benefits of paving the road; staff said the donation improves safety and EMS access to a currently less-accessible area. The council will direct staff to continue implementation steps, including any surveying, easement recording and construction planning necessary to incorporate this right-of-way into the paving program.

The resolution passed without further amendment.