Managing growth while protecting the character of Hilton Head Island is one of our most important responsibilities.
Growth management does not mean stopping development. It means making thoughtful decisions about where development belongs, how much is appropriate, and where preservation should take priority. That requires using every tool available to us, including land acquisition, density acquisition, zoning, redevelopment standards, and infrastructure planning.
One of the town’s most effective tools is the strategic acquisition of land. A key funding source is our real estate transfer fee, established in 1991 at one-quarter of 1% of the value of real estate sold on Hilton Head Island. We can also leverage Beaufort County’s 1% Green Space Sales Tax and other eligible funding sources to pursue environmentally sensitive land and properties that could otherwise support significant development.
Since 2023, the town has acquired, or is in the process of acquiring, approximately 104.9 acres valued at $63.5 million. Beaufort County Green Space funding accounts for approximately $23.9 million of that investment.
Just as important as the acreage is the development potential these acquisitions remove. Completed and pending acquisitions had the potential to accommodate an estimated:
• 776,744 square feet of commercial development
• 1,915 hotel rooms
• 997 residential units
• 3,859 afternoon peak-hour vehicle trips
That means land preservation can also mean fewer cars on our roads, less pressure on infrastructure, and greater protection for our environment and neighborhoods.
We should also explore opportunities to reduce development pressure without purchasing an entire property. Where appropriate and legally available, density acquisition could allow the town to acquire development rights associated with a property, reducing future development potential while allowing the land to remain privately owned.
Sometimes protecting the island may mean buying the land; other times, it might mean buying the development potential.
At the same time, we must continue evaluating where density is appropriate. Established neighborhoods and environmentally sensitive areas might require different approaches than redevelopment areas with existing infrastructure. Our decisions should consider roads, drainage, evacuation, public safety, utilities, environmental impacts, and neighborhood compatibility.
Our goal is not to stop Hilton Head Island from changing. It is to manage that change thoughtfully so we preserve the natural environment, community character, and quality of life that make our island special.
To learn more about the town’s land acquisition and growth-management efforts please visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov or scan the QR code.