2026 project highlight

Client: Town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (Beaufort County)
Year: 2026
Status: Proposed Amendments, Pending Town Council Approval
Consultant: Horizon Community Planning- David Jirousek, MCP, AICP

Project Overview

Horizon Community Planning worked with the Town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, throughout 2026 to develop comprehensive amendments to its Land Management Ordinance (LMO). The project focused on modernizing development review procedures, improving residential development standards, strengthening environmental protections, and preserving the Island's distinctive community character. The proposed amendments included substantial revisions to subdivision and development approval procedures, residential zoning districts, neighborhood design requirements, environmental site analysis, wetland protection, and tree preservation regulations.

The project emphasized integrating environmental preservation and neighborhood design considerations earlier in the development review process while improving regulatory clarity, consistency, and predictability. The work included extensive ordinance drafting, regulatory analysis, and development of new standards intended to balance development opportunities with the Town's long-term planning and environmental stewardship objectives.

Key Project Accomplishments

Strengthened Environmental Protection and Site Planning

• Developed environmental site analysis requirements to identify natural resources, environmental constraints, and priority preservation areas before major residential development plans are finalized.
• Revised wetland buffer regulations to establish more consistent minimum buffer widths and improve resource protection.
• Established phased clearing and grading requirements to minimize unnecessary land disturbance, reduce erosion, and preserve natural site features during development.
• Improved tree preservation and mitigation requirements
• Updated tree mitigation fee calculations to establish a more objective methodology based on applicable replacement requirements.
• Expanded authorized uses of the tree replacement fund to support canopy restoration, community planting initiatives, and other public tree preservation projects.
• Developed incentives for installing larger replacement trees through adjusted replacement credit calculations.
• Established performance guarantees and follow-up inspection requirements to ensure replacement trees and required landscaping survive and establish successfully.

Updated Residential Zoning and Development Standards

• Developed two new residential zoning districts with corresponding density, building height, open space, and development standards.
• Revised zero lot line subdivision regulations to accommodate fee-simple ownership of attached residential dwelling units.
• Incorporated architectural anti-monotony standards to promote building variety, neighborhood compatibility, and improved residential design.

Comprehensive Development Review and Administrative Improvements

• Reorganized subdivision and development review procedures to establish distinct processes for residential and non-residential projects, as well as minor and major developments.
• Established preliminary and final review procedures for major residential developments to address site planning, environmental preservation, neighborhood design, and circulation before detailed engineering.
• Expanded pre-application coordination requirements, strengthened public hearing provisions, and established standards addressing cumulative development impacts.

Project Outcomes

Completed a comprehensive package of proposed Land Management Ordinance amendments designed to improve development review procedures, strengthen environmental and tree preservation standards, promote compatible residential development, and provide a clearer regulatory framework for future growth. The amendments were developed in 2026 and remain subject to Town Council review and approval.