Infiniti, Nissan dealerships proposed for Bluffton

Two dealerships totaling about 43,000 square feet are under consideration for the Buckwalter area in Bluffton.

Savannah-based JJL, Inc., is proposing to construct an 18,000-square-foot Infiniti of Hilton Head dealership and a 25,000-square-foot Vaden Nissan of Hilton Head dealership in the Buckwalter Business Park on U.S. 278.

A Vaden Nissan dealership and Infiniti dealership are currently down the road at the New River Auto Mall in Hardeeville. Both are owned by Vaden Automotive Group, which also owns Vaden of Beaufort and several dealerships in Georgia.

It is unclear if the Bluffton dealerships would replace the Hardeeville facilities. Several attempts to reach Vaden Automotive Group were unsuccessful.

The proposed dealerships will occupy a parcel of about 11 acres. The site is bounded on the north by 278, on the south by residential lots, on the west by Island West golf course and by preserved wetland on the east.

The project went before the town Planning Commission on Jan. 27. Town staff recommended approval with conditions including minor landscaping changes and modifications to the sites’ architecture.

The Planning Commission signed off on the project with conditions.

A representative for project architect Roy Heitmann of Savannah said Monday a construction timeline for the dealerships would be discussed next week.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Infiniti, Nissan dealerships proposed for Bluffton."