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The proposal, which will be considered Wednesday by the Planning Commission, would allow "selective pruning" in the entire island's dune system "for the purposes of providing views to the beach in areas where the view has been materially impaired," according to a memo from the town's Community Development Department.
Invasive vegetation, like Chinese tallow and beach vitex, and trees less than six inches in diameter could be removed if the town's natural resources staff determines the plants are blocking ocean views, according to the proposal.
Some larger trees also could be removed with a permit. Root systems of all trees that are removed would be left intact to anchor the dunes. Live oaks could not be cut, the proposal says.
Hoteliers have complained that the town's restrictive land management ordinance makes it difficult to cut trees in the dune system. They say it hurts sales because guests pay extra for oceanfront rooms but don't have a view.
"It is a major issue," said John Russell, assistant front desk manager of the Marriott Grande Ocean. "When you check into an oceanfront room, you expect a view of the ocean. Sometimes guests get upset."
At the Marriott, guests can expect to pay an additional $100 for an oceanfront room, Russell said.
The Marriott isn't the only resort that claims to have a tree problem. The owners of hotels and condominiums like the Crowne Plaza Resort and Ocean Dunes also say tall trees are hurting their bottom line.
"When (Ocean Dunes) was first constructed in 1981, there wasn't a single pine tree in front of that building," said Terry Notartomaso, the owner of Vacation Time Hilton Head, which manages Ocean Dunes.
Now renters expecting an ocean view in the complex with one- and two-bedroom condos look out at "tons of pines" instead of beach. Many pay $200 to $300 a week more for an oceanfront room compared to one facing another direction, Notartomaso said. When vacationers arrive and see their view, they frequently request a room change, she said.
Those trees grew around resorts as a result of the town's strict protection ordinance, which requires a multi-step approval process before trees can be removed. The town has amended its guidelines in the past to open up views in wetland areas like the marshes of Broad Creek. That change was similar to what the proposed amendment would allow in the dunes, said Sarah Skigen, town natural resources associate.
"We've done such a great job of tree protection and environmental protection that in some isolated instances we've become the victims of our own success," said Town Councilman John Safay, who represents the district encompassing Forest Beach and Folly Field.
"What we're trying to do is see if there's a way within the existing land management ordinance to enable a little bit more aggressive pruning of trees to provide view corridors where business will be able to say that 'we've got oceanfront views.' That's a very important thing for the economy of the island," he said.
But that doesn't mean the town would apply blanket trimming to oceanfront properties and give all visitors a panoramic beach view, Skigen said. Instead, the town would work with individual property owners to trim and remove vegetation where it is considered necessary. The dune system, which provides storm protection and habitats for endangered beachfront species, "is our No. 1 priority," she said.
