Island, Port Royal Plantation sign stormwater accord

Hilton Head Island took another step forward in its effort to take over all the private stormwater systems this week when it signed an agreement with Port Royal Plantation.

The Town Council approved an agreement Tuesday to oversee the drainage infrastructure and maintenance in the 1,000-home community. The move comes a month after the town and Hilton Head Plantation formalized a similar relationship.

The goal is to eventually put all the drainage systems on the island under one umbrella. The town already controls the system in Shipyard Plantation and parts of the systems in Sea Pines and Wexford.

The Port Royal Plantation agreement is nearly identical to the Hilton Head Plantation one, town manager Steve Riley said. The community will present a list of its stormwater needs for the town to add to its annual stormwater construction schedule.

Like most private communities, Port Royal Plantation currently pays for and constructs its own drainage infrastructure. Residents pay for the projects through annual assessments, general manager Dan Davis said.

Private communities have been agreeable to working with the townbecause they believe they get charged twice for stormwater costs. All county residents pay a stormwater utility fee to Beaufort County, the revenues of which filter down to the town for public improvements, mostly outside the gates. Communities can apply for a refund for a portion of their tax dollars if they can show they handle their own stormwater needs, but the process can be lengthy and expensive.

Hilton Head Plantation received a $50,000 credit last year after spending $25,000 preparing the application.

Port Royal couldn't afford the application process, Davis said.

"With only 1,000 homes in here, it would take several years to recoup the investment," he said.

Davis said putting the town in charge makes sense because the Port Royal system handles stormwater from Port Royal Plaza, Mathews Drive, Folly Field and other areas outside the gates.

"We've always felt that the town ... had a stake in it, too," he said. "We're happy to have them as a partner in this project."