Hilton Head to focus on remaking island's economy, future

If one thing emerged from the Town of Hilton Head Island's annual three-day goal setting workshop this year, it was this: Developing an economy that's not primarily based on tourism and residential construction is a major priority.

The still sluggish economy has affected both tourism and the building industry here and town officials are looking to find other ways to make the area economically viable in the future.

"We've reached build-out" said town council member Bill Harkins. "Now we have to figure out what to do with what we have."

Town council members drew up a list of 12 overall priorities for the next year.

The first six are what members called the "top" priorities. They include:

• Revamping the Coligny area into a pedestrian-friendly shopping and events destination.

• Making the Heritage golf tournament a more prominent draw for visitors using a wide range of sponsors. Verizon, its longtime sponsor, has said it will leave the event after 2010.

• Prioritizing improvements to Marshland Road.

• Addressing erosion at Port Royal Beach. Both of these items require funding, and council members weren't sure where those funds would come from.

• Developing an image of what the town wants to be.

• Creating an economic development strategy.

Among the "high" priorities are:

• Rewriting parts of the land management ordinance.

• Focusing on areas that could benefit from redevelopment.

• Implementing an island-wide recycling system.

• Dredging at Harbour Town Marina.

• Assisting with improvements at the Island Recreation Center.

• Developing support for new major event on the island, most likely a public art festival.

The workshop also set management priorities.

Ongoing issues with the island's airport and an amendment to the airport tree-trimming clause of the land management ordinance will take center stage in the coming year.

Another management priority involves finalizing an agreement between the mainland and island to use revenue from the hospitality tax to improve off-island roads.

Island officials also want to lobby for widening I-95 and I-26, the two main arteries leading to Hilton Head.