Plan for taller Shelter Cove Towne Centre apartments progresses
A plan to build a taller apartment building at Shelter Cove Towne Centre that once drew fire from Hilton Head Island residents was passed Wednesday with little opposition.
Town Council gave initial approval to developer Blanchard & Calhoun Commercial's request to build a five-story, 210-apartment building along Broad Creek. The plan also allows the company to add as many as 30 apartments and shift units from the west side of the center, near Belk, to the east side, near Kroger. The vote was 6-1, with Councilman John McCann dissenting.
Some residents were initially concerned with the 75-foot-tall building. That is the maximum height allowed under town law, but 15 feet taller than the apartments originally approved by the town.
Blanchard & Calhoun president Mark Senn said he wished he had asked for five stories in the original agreement.
"We imposed our own restriction and at the time we didn't think we needed more than that," he said. "In hindsight it probably wasn't smart to do. Now we'd like (75 feet) like everyone else."
Senn wants taller, larger units to sell as luxury rentals, he said.
Councilwoman Kim Likins said the units would bring more revenue and fill a need for high-end apartments on the island.
"I believe this is a project 50 years from now we'll say this was a great thing to do," she said.
McCann, who opposed the project, said he worried more apartments would cause traffic and parking issues.
Mayor Drew Laughlin said those problems were "solvable consequences of success." He credited the developers for replacing the failing Mall at Shelter Cove.
Council will take a final vote on the changes Nov. 19.
The changes allow for as many as 50 two-story apartments on the Belk side. Each two-bedroom unit would have about 1,840 square feet and a two-car garage.
On the Kroger side, the five-story complex would house as many as 210 units at an average size of 1,640 square feet each.
A five-story parking deck with about 350 spaces would be inside the building.
Senn said rental prices have not been finalized.
Construction should start in early 2015 and be completed in 2016, he said.
Follow reporter Dan Burley on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Dan.
Related content:
- Veterans, birders satisfied with Shelter Cove apartments on Hilton Head, Oct. 21, 2014
- Town panel OKs taller apartments at Shelter Cove, Oct. 1, 2014
This story was originally published November 5, 2014 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Plan for taller Shelter Cove Towne Centre apartments progresses."