Planning commission recommends Foundation Drive, Harmony Lane for May River Road project

On Aug. 26 the planning commission voted to recommend approval of two street names for a 12-unit townhome project at 1095 May River Road, selecting Foundation Drive and Harmony Lane and omitting a proposed "Friendship" name after duplication concerns were raised.

Town staff presented the application and recommended all three proposed names — Foundation Drive, Harmony Lane and Friendship Drive — saying the submissions met the Unified Development Ordinance review criteria. Town staff member Mr. Frasier told the commission that the application had been vetted and that "Town staff finds that the 3 proposed new street names are acceptable and meet the requirements of Article 3 of the UDO." He also noted the project had previously been approved on March 20, 2024, and that Hamilton Way and Smalls Court had been approved earlier for the primary entrance.

A commissioner raised a proximity and duplication concern during discussion, saying, "There is 2 Friendship Lanes, 1 in Bluffton...and there's 1 in Beaufort County," and asked how the duplication had passed the vetting checks. In response Mr. Frasier described the vetting workflow: the GIS analyst circulates proposed names to both Hilton Head Island and Beaufort County and the sheriff's office reviews proximity; staff acknowledged the inclusion of a conflicting name was a mistake and said extras had been prepared for just such a scenario.

After discussion a commissioner moved to recommend approval of Foundation Drive and Harmony Lane for the May development; the motion was seconded and the commission passed it unanimously. The commission also adopted the July 22 minutes earlier in the meeting and then adjourned.