As residents of Bradley Circle, we live in a neighborhood deeply rooted in the history of Hilton Head Island, SC. This community borders the fragile ecosystem of the Folly Creek Marsh and was once home to native island families who did not foresee the need for protective measures such as a Homeowners' Association or an Overlay District, provided by the Town.  They trusted each other. 

Other neighborhoods across the island which do not enjoy the protection of an Overlay District or HOA are at similar risk of overcrowding and overdevelopment.  This issue should be important to all residents of HHI.

Since 2016, our peaceful neighborhood has been disrupted by overcrowding and overdevelopment, when  a developer purchased and demolished the home in the before picture and built three 5 story, 10 bedroom rental buildings (hotel-homes) on this small lot which fronts the Folly Creek Marsh. Two more 5 story 9 bedroom rentals were permitted just down the street, also fronting the marsh.  Each sits on barely an eighth of an acre and they have infinity pools which overflow chlorinated water, which along with the substantial stormwater runoff from these large buildings endangers our fragile Folly Creek Marsh.  

If proper parking regulations had been in place, relative to building size, these enormous structures could not have been built.  We have been fighting this battle to protect our Marshland, pedestrian and biker safety, island character in our community and way of life for many years - without success.  Elected officials make promises, over and over, but repeatedly fail to deliver solutions.

In June of 2020, Town Staff acknowledged their leniency with variances and other decisions in a "Lessons Learned" memo which referenced parking and many other areas which were, and remain, slanted toward the needs of developers, at the expense of the residents.  It has been well over 3 years now and the Town Staff had worked tirelessly to deliver sound recommendations to the Town Council. Unfortunately, due to political pressure which came mainly from special interests, Elected Officials have yet to codify necessary changes to protect our communities.

On October 3, 2023, our Town Council unanimously voted to codify new parking regulations that would help alleviate these issues, but a second reading and vote is required by State law. That is when the realtors and developers turned up the heat on Elected Officials.  And it worked.

The politicians caved to this pressure.  So despite the unanimous decision at the first reading of the proposed new parking ordinance, these regulations have not been enacted by a second reading.  Instead, the Mayor has lead the charge to start the process all over again, allowing the developers and realtors many more months to overdevelop and overcrowd our island, with no respect for the opinion of the vast majority of the island residents or the fragile environment at Folly Creek Marsh.

We implore Mayor and Town Council to uphold their responsibility towards their constituents and implement these unanimously approved parking regulations without further delay by scheduling a 2nd reading at the December 5th 2023 Town Council meeting and once again approve them unanimously.  To do otherwise is a breech of trust with the residents and obvious capitulation to the development industry.

This is not just about preserving the environment in the Bradley Circle area; it's about ensuring fair treatment for all neighborhoods on Hilton Head Island. It's time we put residents before investors and protect what makes our island beautiful, a safe place to live, environmentally protected and unique in character.

Please sign this petition urging the Mayor and Town Council to enact the approved parking regulations immediately by taking a second reading at the December 5 2023 Town Council meeting, and once again providing their unanimous support!