Fixes underway for Hilton Head post office parking lot. What we know
A new workforce housing project is forcing officials to take a fresh look at one of Hilton Head Island’s messiest intersections.
At a Wednesday meeting of the Town of Hilton Head Island Planning Commission, Senior Planner Michael Connolly presented plans to improve the parking lot and access points at the island post office at 213 William Hilton Parkway.
The $3.2 million parking lot project is one of many designed to improve the flow of traffic near Gumtree Road, prompted by the development of a new 157-unit workforce housing community next to the post office.
The island’s school complex is “less than a mile away” Ben Brown, Strategic Initiatives Director for the Town of Hilton Head Island, said at the meeting. But under current conditions, it’s not easy to navigate to the schools from Northpoint.
“This allows us to have that safe access over to Marsh Point Drive, then over to Gumtree Road, and that’ll lead to a larger improvement project on Gum Tree Road,” Brown said.
What’s changing?
The post office parking lot and driveway connections will be reconfigured to improve the flow of traffic through the property, Connolly said.
Sidewalks and a multi-use pathway will also be installed to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as upgraded lighting and signage to improve safety.
Connolly presented diagrams of what the parking lot will look like before and after the changes.
The post office will remain accessible during construction. The total number of parking spaces is expected to stay the same after improvements are completed.
Margaret Hewitt, a member of the Planning Commission, raised concerns about the idea of children walking and cycling across the entrance to the parking lot.
“There are no stop signs there,” Hewitt said. “You just kind of fly around that corner and go to the post office.”
She asked whether stop signs, stop lights or other safety measures would be put in place at the intersection.
Brown said there will be “signage” throughout to have “safe pedestrian and vehicular access,” but didn’t specify what kind of signage.
More fixes are coming
Those vexed by the chaos of Gumtree Road and Marsh Point Drive will have to wait a little longer for change.
These improvements “will not directly impact” the flow of traffic from Gumtree Road, Connolly said during the meeting.
However, a “larger improvement project” is underway for Gumtree Road, Brown said.
Brown did not immediately respond to an emailed request for more information.
What is Northpoint?
Northpoint is an upcoming 157-unit workforce housing community planned for Hilton Head Island.
The project is partnership between the Town of Hilton Head Island and OneStreet Residential, LLC, with the town providing $1 million and a 65-year ground lease for the project.
The community is set to be the first on Hilton Head that will require 100% of its residents to be employed on-island. Officials hope the project will help fill a gap in housing for Hilton Head workers who don’t qualify for affordable housing but still can’t afford to live on the island.
The units will be a mix of one, two and three-bedrooms, and are expected to cost renters between $1,600 and $3,600 per month, depending on household income and number of bedrooms, according to a press release.
Half of all units will be reserved for residents making below 80% of the median income for households of the same size in Beaufort County. The remaining units can be rented to households making between 60% and 150% of the area median income.
The first apartments are expected to be available by early 2027, according to a town website.
