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Planning commission approves preliminary plan for Buckwalter Parkway freestanding emergency department
Summary
Commissioners approved a preliminary plan for a 50,250-square-foot freestanding emergency department and medical offices on about 10.9 acres in Buckwalter Commons. Staff recommended approval; traffic engineers said a signal at Parkside Drive will be warranted by build-out and the developer will coordinate with Beaufort County.
The Planning Commission on Aug. 28 approved a preliminary development plan for Buckwalter Parkway Healthcare, a proposed 50,250-square-foot freestanding emergency department and medical offices on roughly 10.9 acres in the Buckwalter Commons.
Town staff reviewed the application, said it meets the criteria in section 3.10.3(a) of the Unified Development Ordinance and recommended approval as submitted. Mr. Frazier told the commission the proposed access points are consistent with the Buckwalter Parkway access management plan and that staff reviewed the applicant's revised plans submitted July 31.
Joel Taylor, chief executive officer of Novant Health's Hilton Head market, said Novant assumed the project earlier in the year after it was filed while the hospitals were part of Tenet Healthcare, and described the project as responding to an immediate community need. "This is really a direct response to what we believe the community need is in the immediate future," Taylor said. He described the facility footprint as a freestanding ER with adjacent medical-office space intended to house primary care and select specialties.
Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about traffic and signal timing. One commissioner said adding a traffic signal will result in six signals across an 8,500-foot stretch of roadway, an average spacing of about 1,400 feet compared with typical DOT guidance of roughly 2,600 feet. Dylan Turner, the traffic consultant, said the traffic-impact analysis overlaid projected build-out conditions and showed that a signal at the Parkside Drive intersection would be warranted by the time the area is built out; he said the development team is working with Beaufort County and adjacent property owners to coordinate earlier installation if possible.
Commissioners also confirmed the building would be two stories in height and discussed an administrative approach to the project's change in applicant from Tenant to Novant; staff said the change can be handled administratively.
A commissioner moved to approve the preliminary development plan as submitted; after a second the commission voted in favor and the chair announced the motion carried. The project will proceed to permit and development-review steps, and staff and the developer will coordinate timing for the traffic signal with Beaufort County and adjacent developments.
