Apartments opposed
The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission unanimously has recommended that the town reject a proposal by a Hilton Head Island developer to build a 280-unit apartment complex on about 23 acres between the Grassy Creek neighborhood and Long Point Road.
The commissioners' vote on July 21 is only a recommendation, and developers plan to pursue the request, which goes to Mount Pleasant Town Council for consideration next week.
Woodfield Investments had asked to amend the Belle Hall planned development to allow homes to be built on the 45-acre parcel currently marked as economic development, increase the number of home sites allowed in the development and waive the 40-foot building-height requirement.
Mount Pleasant originally approved the tract for 737 homes. The apartment complex would add 280 units in 14 buildings, each 48 feet high, and a 7,300-square-foot amenity center. The other half of the land would be left for senior living. Seacoast Church currently owns the land, and the sale to Woodfield Investments is contingent on the plan's approval.
Belle Hall and Grassy Creek neighborhood residents, including Mike Falotico, president of the Grassy Creek HOA, said the plan would burden already heavily traveled roads, increase noise pollution and destroy backyard views in the Grassy Creek neighborhood. It also goes against a promise that no apartments would be built on the land, Falotico said.
If the complex were built, developers likely would remove the quarter-mile swath of pine trees separating Grassy Creek from Long Point Road, Falotico said, which would increase road noise. Woodfield had planned to leave a 30-foot barrier between the neighborhood and the complex.
Betsy Ellingson, the landscape architect with Seamon Whiteside & Associates Inc., which represents Woodfield, said the developer chose the location near Long Point Road rather than areas such as Coleman Boulevard because it wanted to be close to Interstate 526 and shops and in a visible location.
Ellingson said Coleman Boulevard, which the town has designated as an area for denser development, is suitable for apartment types of homes, but the space necessary for the Woodfield development isn't available.
Planning staff, Woodfield developers and residents discussed the plan for more than two hours during the commission's regular meeting.
Prior to the meeting, Mount Pleasant planning staff said it recognized the need for denser development in town, but didn't recommend that the commission approve Woodfield's request. The staff opinion stated that the request runs contrary to the comprehensive plan and doesn't meet various requirements. Planning Commission Vice Chairman David Haller included the staff opinion and other reasons in his motion to reject the plan.
Christiane Farrell, Mount Pleasant planning department director, said the plans will go before Town Council's Planning Committee and then to the full council. If council also rejects the plan, the developers would have to wait a full year before asking to make the same change.
Reach Jessica Johnson at 937-5921 or jjohnson@postandcourier.com.
