Angry Realtors blast mayor at meeting on airport runway concerns

If you go

What: Final consideration of the town's zoning change to block expansion at the Hilton Head Airport

When: 4 p.m. today

Where: Council chambers,

Town Hall

Related Content

National aviation group urges against airport rezoning

Mayor Tom Peeples squared off against a combative crowd of real estate agents Monday morning as he continued to explain the town's effort to block extension of the runway at the Hilton Head Island airport.

On the eve of the Town Council's final vote on the airport zoning change, Peeples used the gathering of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors to respond to accusations by opponents and a pro-airport citizens group. He said he has no doubt that the proposal to give the town a say on any runway changes will receive final approval today.

Peeples said the measure is best for the community and will ensure island residents have a hand in the airport's future.

"I'm going to do what I think is right," he said. "You all elected me to do what's right, and if you don't like me, elect someone else."

In addressing the group, Peeples faced many of the primary critics of the runway measure, who again Monday said they thought the town was acting prematurely without fully understanding the consequences.

Lillie McCracken, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, told Peeples it appeared the town had "drawn a line in the sand" and wouldn't budge on the issue, even though groups like the Realtors Association and the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce oppose it.

Peeples snapped back at claims that he and other council members own property near the airport or want to close the airport to develop it into residential property.

"I've been accused of some of the most ridiculous stuff I've heard in my life," Peeples said. A review of property tax listings by the Island Packet show no council members own property in their name in the area near the airport.

He also defended the Chamber of Commerce, which has come under attack for not being more active in fighting the measure, and said a lawsuit threatened by a Charleston aviation attorney hired by a citizens group doesn't worry the town.

The speaking engagement, held at Peeples' request, again morphed into a debate on whether the runway should ever be extended. Town officials say the zoning change has nothing to do with any runway extension since the Town Council and Beaufort County Council both have resolutions on record opposing any extension. The town says it's about giving the town a legal mechanism to weigh in on the future of the county-owned airport.

Peeples backed off a statement he made last year that he would rather lose commercial service than extend the runway.

"Never say never," he said. "I'm beginning to understand different things" about the way airports work, he said. "We've got to have commercial service."

He also said he opposes an islandwide referendum to determine the airport's future.

"If we would've had a referendum on the Cross Island Parkway, we wouldn't have (built) it," he said.

By the end of the meeting, Peeples clearly was frustrated, saying he didn't care what the association members thought and that they don't speak for everyone on the island. Native islander groups and other residents have spoken in favor of the town's actions, and about an equal number of people have spoken for and against the measure at recent meetings.

"I'm not going to make you guys happy," he said after a tense back-and-forth with some members.

Many of the association members were upset at the mayor's comments. "He's clearly not listening to the public," said Larry Bell, an agent with Weichert Realtors.