Plans for 5-story senior center near Hilton Head Plantation taking shape
Jet Ski tours, a water park, a Margaritaville-themed hotel.
Residents said those proposals were too loud, too commercial and would have generated too much traffic at Salty Fare Landing on Hilton Head Island.
Now a company wants to build a senior living center at the former Daufuskie Island ferry launch. Nearby homeowners say that would be a good way to use the 10 acres along Skull Creek.
"I think our residents believe that would be extremely compatible," said Peter Kristian, general manager of Hilton Head Plantation, which borders the landing. "For many of those other projects, we thought it would be excessive and not keep with the atmosphere."
Bayshore Retirement Partners plans to build a five-story, 150,000-square-foot retirement home near the Skull Creek dock, on the west side of Squire Pope Road.
The building would have 126 one- and two-bedroom units, each with a kitchen and bathroom. There would also be a library, dining facilities, a cafe, a pool, a fitness room and a theater, among other amenities. It would replace a parking lot and an unused building.
Also on the property would be a walking path, an outdoor kitchen and a waterfront gazebo, according to plans submitted to the town. The company would maintain the dock and use it to keep residents' boats.
On the east side of Squire Pope Road, the company would build either 26 more units or an assisted-living center to replace a parking lot near Hilton Head Plantation's back gate.
Bayshore owns two luxury retirement communities in Tampa, Fla., according to its website.
A company representative said Monday the planned community would ease fears about redevelopment creating traffic problems near Salty Fare.
"A concern is that you're adding density," said Walter Nester, a Hilton Head attorney representing Bayshore. "But the density is for senior living; ... only about a third of them will have a car."
Residents at The Cypress, a Hilton Head Plantation community adjacent to the landing, have been the most vocal opponents of proposed projects at Salty Fare.
Last year, they fought to shut down personal-watercraft tours operating from the dock.
Jim Coleman, president of The Cypress, said Monday the community had no problem with "the concept" of a senior living center.
"We think they'll be a good neighbor," he said, adding that he wanted to see more specific plans.
Nester said Bayshore has only drafted preliminary plans.
The company awaits a Town Council vote Tuesday to get the proper zoning. After that, architectural plans must pass the Design Review Board.
Once it receives town approval, the company will buy Salty Fare from owner Kit Collins, Nester said. Both sides declined to disclose financial details. Nester hopes construction can start this year.
Collins bought the property in 2008. The ferry launch closed a year later, and since then, the property has mostly been unused.
He has seen multiple projects fail and is ready to sell, he said.
"I'm sure the community would be happy," said Collins, who lives in San Francisco. "The threat of Salty Fare being a vibrant part of the community would be gone."
Follow reporter Dan Burley at twitter.com/IPBG_Dan.
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This story was originally published January 5, 2015 at 6:48 PM with the headline "Plans for 5-story senior center near Hilton Head Plantation taking shape."