Legislative eNews

Government Affairs Update from the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- Jan. 16-Jan. 20. 2006

www.hiltonheadisland.org
www.highway278.org

Officials provide update about Jasper County/municipality population growth -- Consultants, working with county and municipal officials in Jasper County, provided the following 20-year population projection for the county:

  • Hardeeville will grow from 8,063 to 126,813
  • Ridgeland: 3,191 to 14,591
  • Unincorporated Jasper County: 17,556 to 36,556

Jasper County, Hardeeville and Ridgeland have formed a joint planning commission to address the huge growth. County Administrator Andy Fulghum and Hardeeville City Administrator Shane Haynes listed the accomplishments of the commission:

  • Economic study
  • Traffic model
  • Joint fee ordinance
  • Establishment of the commission
  • Common format of planned development districts and developer agreements
  • Common submittal requirements for developers
  • Complimentary zoning and development ordinances
  • GIS and new aerial photography initiatives

The population growth is expected to generate sufficient revenue to cover capital and operational expenses.

Meanwhile, Georgetown and Berkeley counties, facing similar growth issues, have expressed interest in Hardeeville's development-agreement models involving recently-annexed Argent East and Argent West, as well as another tract of land.

The transportation model being developed is a computer-simulated tool to plan the infrastructure needed to support the population growth. Travel volumes, travel speeds, types of vehicles, and turning movements are being imported into the model. Data will be based upon peak-hour usage of the roadways instead of the current method of average daily count. Consultants and county/municipal officials said this peak-hour approach is a first for the state, and that SCDOT is very interested in the outcome.

The transportation model will provide Jasper County and municipal officials with data to encourage SCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to fund the widening of I-95 and also to provide additional access to I-95. "Tools are being put into place for a meaningful discussion with state and federal officials."

Officials are planning parallel frontage roads north and south of U.S. 278. Also, Jasper County consultants have met with Beaufort County counterparts to discuss the Rt. 170 Corridor Access Management Study. Both counties border the roadway.