Town Council discusses the road ahead

Hilton Head Island town officials gathered yesterday to kick off a three-day strategic planning retreat at the Best Western Plus Sea Island Inn in Beaufort.
The meeting opened with a broad question by moderator Lyle Sumek: "Where do you really want to take the town?"
It wasn’t a day for legislation. There were no votes cast and no definitive actions taken.
Instead, it offered an opportunity for members of the Town Council, including newly elected Councilmen Marc Grant of Ward 1 and John McCann of Ward 6, to broadly introduce their visions and goals for the future of the island and prime more pointed discussions for upcoming days of the retreat.
One heavily canvassed subject was the schism between the needs of the island’s retirement communities and the younger and less wealthy residents.
Ward 3 Councilman Lee Edwards noted that there are some residents who would prefer living in gated communities in relative isolation, while others want a more welcoming, communal feel.
“In a dream world, I would like to see all the gates come down,” said Ward 2 Councilman Bill Harkins. “From a structural standpoint, we have created impediments to the community we want to create.”
This sentiment was echoed by other council members as well as Mayor Drew Laughlin, who spoke on the fragmented nature of the island’s population: “We have more than one culture here without any real understanding and interaction between them.”
Councilman Harkins and others noted, though that change can be a tough sell among the retired; it changes the vision of Hilton Head Island that they invested their retirement in.
These discussions hint at two possibly conflicting visions for the island: a place to retire in peace, or a place to raise a family in an active community with adequate cultural and recreational opportunities.
Other topics included a continued effort towards environmentally conscious development, expanding recreation and arts opportunities, promoting economic diversity and addressing poverty on Hilton Head Island.
The first day of the retreat also allowed opportunity to reflect on successes for the island last year. Highlights included:
- The Town of Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue Division’s international reaccreditation and honorable mention as a “Heart Safe Community”
- The Shelter Cove mall renovation planned
- Major reinvestments and renovations by several resorts
- A resolution to create a economic development corporation
- Accepting a Chaplain linear park concept plan
- Progress of the Coligny area development
- Storm utility agreements
Fourteen reductions of cost to local government were noted as well as 24 expanded or new services. There were no service reductions, according to the retreat document.

Follow reporter Brian Heffernan at twitter.com/EyeOnHiltonHead.