Second neighborhood asking for stormwater money from Hilton Head

Following a Hilton Head Town Council decision to spend public dollars on a private beach, another community wants its stormwater project funded, too.

Ian Gudgeon, a resident of Bermuda Pointe, a neighborhood off Squire Pope Road, said residents in his community have been asking the town to maintain its privately owned stormwater system since 2014.

The town has yet to agree to do so. But last week, Town Council gave preliminary approval to spending $300,000 to help renourish Pine Island beach, which is behind the gates of another neighborhood, Hilton Head Plantation.

“When I read this in the paper, I went absolutely red,” Gudgeon said of the town’s Pine Island decision. “Are we painting the entire island with the same brush?”

Money to pay for Bermuda Pointe’s request would come from the town’s Storm Utility Fund — the same fund that will be tapped to pay for the work in Hilton Head Plantation, said Steve Riley, Hilton Head’s town manager. The money comes from a fee charged to Hilton Head residents on their annual property tax bills that is based on the amount of impervious surface on their property.

Hilton Head Plantation leaders argued that restoring the beach — which is only accessible to those who live in the neighborhood and members of the public who have boats — would also protect that town’s stormwater system.

The renourishment project, which is part of the town’s new budget, is expected to get final approval at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting.

Gudgeon said he feels that Bermuda Pointe’s project is just as important as Hilton Head Plantation’s project.

“The (Pine Island) renourishment project has nothing to do with the original stormwater system for the island,” Gudgeon said.

At least a couple members of Town Council say they remain opposed to spending public dollars on the Pine Island project — and worry about setting a precedent.

“The investment of public dollars behind the gates of private communities on the island has to be carefully looked at in order to not create precedents that we can’t afford later on without significant new fees and higher taxes,” said council member David Ames.

Added Mayor David Bennett: “It is a change in policy. I am unclear at this point as to what has changed to necessitate this modification in policy.”

Hilton Head Plantation officials said they need the funds to stop erosion. Peter Kristian, Hilton Head Plantation’s general manager, said ocean surges from Friday’s storm breached sand barriers at Pine Island for the second time in recent months.

Kristian said on Monday that high tide since the storms continues to flood a marsh area that sits behind the beach. About an acre of the marsh was destroyed in October and more of the area is being destroyed with the recent flooding.

The flooding could eventually destroy the town’s stormwater system, Kristian said. He said flooding could change the elevation of an extensive lagoon system. If the elevation is damaged, the system will not flow and could cause flooding for other parts of the island as well as Hilton Head Plantation, he said.

“Right now we are at a critical point,” Kristian said. “The town owns this stormwater management system. This is a small insurance policy for them.”

Yet, Bennett, Ames and other town officials have said they don’t necessarily agree with Hilton Head Plantation officials.

A proper analysis has not been conducted, Ames said.

“As the planner of Hilton Head Plantation during the ‘70s and ‘80s, I haven’t seen the evidence that convinces me either,” Ames said.

Scott Liggett, the town’s director of facilities, previously said he doesn’t believe the town’s stormwater system is facing an immediate threat. However, he said the town has yet to investigate the concerns.

Ames and Bennett have both said further discussion on the issue will be had.

“Just because you approve the budget, it doesn’t mean that a check (for Pine Island) will go out the door,” Bennett said. “It means those funds are set aside in the budget for that purpose. There will still need to be an actual agreement between the town and (the Hilton Head Plantation property owners association.)”

This story was originally published June 20, 2016 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Second neighborhood asking for stormwater money from Hilton Head."