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I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Carolina Sailing and Rowing Center, a 501c(3) trying to establish itself with a place on the island that has access to the water for non-motorized watercraft for sailing and rowing.
We have attempted to work with the town to open the site at the old crab factory on Squire Pope Road. The town said we need to raise the money to do this on the land it owns here. We want to get the site open and begin a bare bones operation and build as we can. The Squire Pope POA has wanted the site open for a picnic area with water access and a fishing dock.
I have been critical of the lack of water access for sailing and rowing on this island. I believe we have one of the most incredible areas in which to sail on the East Coast, and yet it has never been a part of the island's thinking or planning. We worry about what is on the island, but we don't worry about the water surrounding it unless we are talking about beach renourishment. Native islanders have lost access to most of the island, and surely have lost access to fishing, crabbing and shrimping. Kids cannot learn to sail or row unless they live in a gated community or belong to a private yacht club.
Nothing I have seen in the "vision" planning leads me to think anyone realizes the potential for tourism. With this rowing/sailing center we could eventually bring in more and more visitors who would need places to stay, to eat, etc. The name Hilton Head will eventually become prominent in connection with water sports like rowing, sailing and kayaking. It is also likely to produce potential college athletes with hometown recognition.
This issue was on the Public Facilities Committee agenda in March. This is a plan for the future, and should be recognized and supported as such.
Claire Morda
Hilton Head Island
I read with interest last month's news/government article entitled "Eco-friendly efforts” (March 2010). With deference to the outstanding contributions that Mayor Tom Peeples, Steve Riley, town staff and the many volunteers have made toward the maturation of our community, the town is tired and her future is suspect.
These "green initiatives" the town has reportedly taken to "set an example for the island" are either counterproductive (blackle) or long overdue (incandescent to cfl) and its plans for "more initiatives ... in the coming years" are comical, albeit sad.
Once on the forefront of design innovation, this Grand Old Lady is attempting to re-establish her prominence by utilizing the talents of the same old people and same tired ideas. Apparently, the town’s vision can best be summed up by the statements: "It's not an all-out green revolution at Town Hall" and "… but only when the budget allows.”
Barbra Batshalom, a young and vibrant planner, said it best by stating: "In terms of green building, we need to reframe the question to: How much does it cost your city not to have a green building policy?" It is this out-of-the-box-type thinking, much like Charles Fraser's, that will help re-establish Hilton Heads' position among residential-resort communities.
USC and Clemson (respectively) are at the forefront of hydrogen and wind turbine technology as the town battles with manila versus vinyl file folders? Reactive?
As a 30-year island resident, I am very appreciative of the beauty and serenity here, and am thankful for the fine leadership we have had. I do believe it is time for a change, a time for new ideas and creative thoughts, a time to be proactive about our island's future.
Paul McGovern
Hilton Head Island
The letter from Linda Cope (March 2010) struck a chord with me. The concept of leaf blowing is worrysome. Who comes to Hilton Head to listen to leaf blowers? Who wants the air pollution they cause? In my opinion the negative aspects greatly outweigh the benefits, and an alternative approach should be found.
Ron Charles
Hilton Head
A recent headline on the front page of The Island Packet was very misleading. It should have said: “Mayor and council at odds with town residents and consultants on runway length.”
The expert consultants (hired by the county and town) concluded that: "On the basis of the historic and projected aircraft operations and the utilization of FAA's mandatory runway design procedures, a length of 5,400 feet will satisfy the runway requirements."
This conclusion is hardly surprising given that 10 years ago the last master plan study concluded that the 4,300-foot runway should be lengthened to 5,020 feet.
Airports are not stagnant; times and aircraft change and facilities and runways must adapt. John Adams observed in 1770 that "the only certainty in God's creation is change." The relatively few residents who purchased and live near the airport should recognize this fact. The current commercial aircraft that manage to use the airport at significantly reduced capacity are disappearing; regional jets are quieter and safer.
The mayor says that he wants a viable commercial airport and supports expanding. But, when confronted by his own experts, he says that is "implausible." The mayor and council members who voiced opposition to their own expert's conclusion cannot have it both ways. They cannot favor the few and ignore the majority and the economic health and vitality of the town as a whole. We need decisions, not delays and inaction, while repeatedly seeking different opinions from different experts in the future. Delays will only result in no commercial and corporate jet service and, ultimately, no viable airport.
The Ward 5 council member recently stated that he was tired of "bending over backwards to accommodate" concerns over the airport. Leadership does not mean accommodating everyone. It means representing your constituents and making a final decision for the benefit of the majority.
Due to the delays and inaction on ensuring a modern airport and many other current issues, I have decided to file the papers in August to run for the Ward 5 Town Council seat. Some of these other issues include our mini-bailout program of funding for the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce while it pays their executives salaries and bonuses that exceed those of a much larger city chamber; the lack of support for our dying mall; the questions involving a sales tax increase and what meaningful projects will actually be supported; and why we have not joined the county in its business audits for illegal aliens. Other than two council members, John Safay and Bill Harkins, I have not heard any member or other candidate publicly explain or take any stand on their positions on any issue.
In any event, I believe that the residents of Hilton Head deserve to know the positions of their representatives before decisions are made and are given an opportunity to express their own views on island issues.
The November election — and those that follow in subsequent election years — are very important to the well-being of our home. If you choose, please circulate this message to your neighbors and friends and encourage them to vote. Whatever you do, please vote in our local election in November.
Chuck Raley
Hilton Head Island
