2019 ANNUAL - Hilton Head Plantation
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HILTON HEAD PLANTATION
2019 ANNUAL REPORT
2019 ANNUAL
REPORT
HILTON HEAD PLANTATION
PROPERTY OWNERS'
ASSOCIATION
PO Box 21940, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
Telephone: (843) 681-8800 | Fax: (843) 681-8801
www.hiltonheadplantation.com
Hilton Head Plantation
Property Owners’ Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 21940, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925
Tel. 843/681-8800 • Fax: 843/681-8801
www.hiltonheadplantation.com
Hilton Head Plantation Property Owners’ Association, Inc.
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Toney Mathews, President Members:
Lois Wilkinson, Vice President Jordan Berliner
Jim Lucas, Treasurer Robert Clemens Lorraine Schmidt
Audrey King, Secretary Jonathan Heron Ann Schwab
STAFF:
General Manager
T. Peter Kristian ARB Administrator/ Tennis Pro Officers
CMCA®, LSM™, PCAM® Community Relations Keith Ferda OFF. Michael Bartholomew
Michele Chisolm CPL. William Bruce
Executive Secretary/ Tennis Clerks OFF. Robert Busch
Front Desk Supervisor ARB Inspector Geraldine Fink-P/T OFF. Juan Bugarin
Sharon P. White Jim Nasuti - P/T Janet Holland - P/T OFF. Shekeem Eady
Scott Simmons - P/T Thomas Larkin-P/T OFF. Robert Ferrara
Front Desk/Receptionist Dennis Malick-P/T OFF. George Hall III
Tracey Starr Community Relations Robert Wallace-P/T OFF. Daniel Marshall
Specialist CPL. Donald Martin
Assistant General Williette Lee Director of Security PFC. Juaneka McClay
Manager Chief Art Benoit CPL. Carl Olson
Todd Lindstrom Director of Activities OFF. Lashay Parker
Deputy Director
PCAM® Chrissy Kristian, CMCA® CPL. Adrian Pinckney
of Security
Capt. Warren Gaither OFF. Michael Ruflin
Staff Accountant/HR Recreation and OFF. Mi-Chanda Simmons
Natalie Keene, CMCA® Scheduling Coordinator Lieutenants PFC. Tiffany Smith-Lee
Jen Westerfeld - P/T Joseph Farmer OFF. Shawanda Stokes
Records Clerk Vanessa Green CPL. Patrick Story
Angela Graves Special Events Theoron Weeks OFF. Rachel Weems
Coordinator PFC. Angela Williamson
Director of Maintenance Margie Lechowicz - P/T Sergeants
David Mills David Brangagan P/T Officers
Communications Tomika Busby CPL. Raymond Gibbo
Maintenance Staff Coordinator Michael Harrell PFC. Arvel Graham
Patty Adkins - P/T Leah Davis OFF. David Henderson
Franklin Callison - P/T Dispatchers OFF. Sarah Norton
James Mills - P/T CPL. Vera Ford
GOVERNANCE:
Under By-Laws adopted in 1977, the HHPPOA is governed by an elected nine-member policy-making Board of
Directors serving overlapping three-year terms, and an appointed General Manager.
PROPERTY STATUS (12/31/19):
HILTON HEAD PLANTATION: 3,711 ACRES 72 MILES OF ROAD 88 LAGOONS
FAMILY DWELLING UNITS: 4,163 UNDEVELOPED LOTS: 115 TOTAL: 4,278
SERVICES:
Covenants Enforcements: POA Staff Electric: Palmetto Electric
Road Maintenance: POA Staff Fire: Town of Hilton Head Island Fire Dept.
Recreation: POA Staff Police: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Dept.
Security: POA Staff Postal: US Postal Service Rural Delivery
Landscape Debris: Self-Service Debris Pile Telephone: Hargray Telephone Company
Building Permits & Inspections: Water & Sewer: PSD
HHP Architectural Review Board and Household Trash Collection: N/A
Town of Hilton Head Island
President’s Letter to Property Owners
In 2019 your Property Owners’ Association Board and is in the assessments that were due in January 2020.
Professional Staff achieved many important milestones Your Association is now prepared financially should
that focused on continuing to make Hilton Head another major weather event directly impact Hilton Head
Plantation a desirable residential community within an Island. Thank you.
Island Paradise. This Annual Report highlights some
of those milestones and provides details of HHPPOA The last milestone to highlight is a major capital project
operations and financial stewardship on your behalf. focused on the Dolphin Head Recreation Area. Your input
It has been an honor to serve as President of the through the triennial resident survey let the Board know
Association this year, and I am truly grateful for the wide by a large margin that this was the preferred location for
range of volunteer talent the community possesses to such a project. An additional survey and other resident
make where we live special. The nine-member volunteer input helped the Recreation Committee, Staff, and the
Board will continue to focus on providing strategic Board determine what the project objectives should be.
direction that stays ahead of changes which usher in a A Land Planner is now busy taking these objectives and
need to adapt and be innovative. creating a conceptual plan. This will be refined through
budget estimates and community meetings in the
Technology change has always been an important same way that the change to the Spring Lake Pool was
input and led to one major milestone. A few years ago accomplished. The Association’s Capital Improvement
improvements related to the digital age expanded how Fund might allow this project to proceed without any
residents could communicate and receive information, external borrowing. Please continue to stay informed
whether for business, pleasure, or daily activities. A about this multi-year project.
majority of voters in the POA annual elections vote
electronically. Important communications related to Hilton Head Plantation operates in partnership with
resident safety or emerging conditions are sent out as many other important government agencies and
an email blast to all who have signed up (a majority established utility service providers. The Board and
of our households). Residents let us know of concerns Professional Staff work with these entities to integrate
about short-term rentals and the potential exponential Hilton Head Plantation in a synergistic way that
growth digital technology enables such activity through enhances the regional quality of life cost-effectively.
sites like Airbnb and VRBO. Resident survey inputs and We have an integrated Storm Water Management
community meetings provided valuable insights for the infrastructure through a formal agreement with the
Board of Directors to recommend a change to the Class Town of Hilton Head Island. The Pine Island Beach
“A” Covenants on the subject of short-term rentals. A renourishment is partially funded by the Town and actual
majority of residents fall under the Class “A” Covenants. work is sometimes accomplished during part of turtle
The vote of those residents made it clear that rentals nesting season through mitigating actions of trained
of less than six months were incompatible with the environmentalists approved by the SC Department of
family-friendly, residential character of where we call Natural Resources. Critical infrastructure is provided by
home. Implementation of change to achieve a fair and Palmetto Electric, Hargray Communications, Spectrum,
just transition occupied a lot of work by the Covenants and Public Service District – 1. The Town of Hilton Head
Committee, Staff, and thoughtful consideration by Island Fire and Rescue maintain response facilities just
the Board. The will of the people is now reflected outside our two entry gates and the Beaufort County
in governing documents and related changes to the Sheriff’s Department provides back-up services to our
associated Rules and Regulations, effective January 1, internal Security and Safety Department. All of this
2020. support is invaluable and reflects the benefits of your
community involvement and tax dollars. Thanks to all of
The other milestone that I want to highlight relates to these partners.
the Weather Casualty Fund. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew
depleted that fund and resulted in an addition to the Respectfully submitted,
annual assessment beginning in 2017. POA finances
were impacted, but so were many residents (financially Toney Mathews,
and emotionally). To be fair, a phased approach was President
adopted to restore the Weather Casualty Fund rather
than a one-time addition in a single year. The Finance
Committee recommended and the Board adopted a goal
of $2.5 million for the Weather Casualty Fund. That has
been achieved by three annual assessments of $250
(2017, 2018, and 2019) plus a final amount of $125 that
2019 POA Operations - Administration
The General Manager’s office is responsible for Dolphin Head Drive and Seabrook Drive. Director
providing staff support to the Plantation’s Board of of Maintenance, David Mills, coordinated these
Directors and its committees. The Service Center projects with the Town of Hilton Head Island’s staff.
maintains the records of the Board, its committees,
and all the Association’s legal documents. The The summer 2019 Dolphin Head Recreation
General Manager’s office also provides oversight Survey of Property Owners gave the Board and
for all the POA’s departments and affords guidance the Recreation Committee excellent direction. This
as needed. Overall, coordination for your monthly input was collated and provided to a land planner
newsletter (Plantation Living), the POA Website and architect to work on a preliminary plan for
(www.hiltonheadplantation.com), and the the renovation of the Dolphin Head Recreation
Newcomer’s Welcome Packets come under the Area. This will be a major renovation for this
jurisdiction of the General Manager’s office. cherished recreational amenity. We hope to have a
presentation for community input on this project in
During 2019, dodging hurricanes was once again the spring of 2020.
a focus as Hurricane Dorian made its presence
known. We were spared any significant damage Communications Coordinator, Leah Davis, came
as Dorian stayed far enough offshore to mitigate on the scene in February 2018 and has been busy
wind speeds and rainfall. The POA Service Center placing her mark on Plantation Living. Leah’s fresh
was once again backed up with new resident perspective made design changes to Plantation
orientations as Hilton Head Plantation continued Living and for 2020 all issues of Plantation Living
its leadership in Real Estate sales on HHI. The will be in color. Leah is continuing enhancements
Capital Transfer Fees associated with Real Estate to advertising revenue as 2019 surpassed all years
transactions filled the coffers of the POA’s Capital thus far for advertising revenue. Advertisers
Improvement Fund. These funds have been continue to realize the value of using Plantation
earmarked for the renovation of the Dolphin Head Living to promote their services and products to our
Recreation Area. over 4,200 households.
The year 2019 was our time of “fiscal recovery” The community tackled the issue of Short-
from Hurricane Matthew and our brushes with Term Rentals and voted to approve a Covenant
Hurricane Irma in 2018 and Dorian in 2019. By the Amendment that limits short-term rentals to
end of 2019, the coffers of our Weather Casualty six months or more. This was a monumental
Fund were brought to approximately $2,000,000. undertaking that necessitated 67% of those subject
With an infusion of funds in 2020 from an elevated to the Class “A” Covenants to vote in favor of the
assessment of $125, which is half of the amount Amendment. Many other communities have tried
needed in 2017, 2018, and 2019, that balance to take on adopting amendments with such a
should hit the $2,500,000 mark at the beginning of high voting bar unsuccessfully. However, HHP’s
2020. Our year-end 2019 performance to budget organization and grassroots efforts brought this
added to this positive position. Keep in mind that Amendment to a positive resolution with 69% of
our Weather Casualty Fund in September 2017 was the votes coming in favor of the Amendment. We
a negative number due to all the needed repairs to would like to thank all the property owners who
our common elements. assisted in this effort.
Sound fiscal management, maintaining HHP’s Once the Amendment passed the Covenants
market position, and the enhancement of property Committee worked to revise our Rules and
values continue to be the Board’s focus and Regulations, this brought them into an agreement
are facilitated by several initiatives. Four major and to implement the new Short-Term Rental
Stormwater Management projects were completed Amendment.
during 2019 by the Town of Hilton Head Island
within HHP. These include Main Street, Old Fort, The Department also continued to work with
Jingle Shell, and the outfall at the intersection of the Trustees of the Hilton Head Plantation
2019 POA Operations - Administration (cont’d.)
Conservancy Foundation to raise funds to benefit very positive mark on their respective Departments.
the Whooping Crane and Cypress conservancies.
Over $16,905 was raised in 2019 with the present Online voting for POA activities was introduced in
HHPPOA personnel continuing to absorb the cost 2017 and once again available in 2019. In 2017,
of administering the work of the Conservancy just under 50% of eligible property owners voted
Foundation. online. In 2018, that percentage rose to almost
60%. In 2019, participation via online voting
The POA’s Road Toll program, which was adopted surpassed the 70% mark.
by the Board in 2013, continued to prove to be
an excellent tool as it aggressively pursues the In November 2019, we learned we were voted the
collection of past due assessments from property ‘Best Residential Community’ in the Island Packet’s
owners that are more than two years behind voting and ‘Best Gated Community’ in Hilton Head
in paying the dues owed to the POA. Each Monthly’s standings. Thank you all for making us
property owner bears the expense of carrying number one on the Island.
these delinquent accounts. To forgo the time and
expense of foreclosing on these properties, the Our bimonthly Coffees continue to be well-attended
Board chose to charge a toll for the vehicles used and serve as an opportunity for the greater
by these severely delinquent owners to motivate community, the Board, and residents to exchange
them to arrange for payment plans or deal with information in an informal atmosphere. This format
the inconvenience of paying a daily toll for their continues to be widely praised.
vehicles to use the Plantation’s roads and other
services. In 2019, we once again experienced the Providing you with quality and efficient services will
lowest delinquency rate since the year 2006. continue to be the goal of the entire Hilton Head
Plantation POA staff.
Our strong Accounting Department, bolstered
by the oversight of the Board and the Finance Thank you for choosing Hilton Head Plantation
Committee, continued to maintain HHPPOA’s as your home we look forward to serving you for
excellent financial position both in substance, as many years to come.
evidenced by the excess in revenue over expenses,
and the care in the management of the POA’s
financial and other tangible assets.
A program requiring guests to provide identification
in the form of a driver’s license or another
acceptable form of photo ID was continued. This
procedure was designed to ensure that the person
requesting a guest pass is the person whose name
is on the pass. Keeping you safe is a primary goal
and, although we can never guarantee that the
Plantation will be crime-free, we do strive to take
reasonable precautions to identify who is picking up
a pass to enter the property.
In 2019, long time ARB Administrator Betsy
Weppner retired, we want to once again recognize
Betsy for her contributions throughout her career
to the residents of HHP. Michele Chisolm took over
as ARB Administrator in the spring of 2019 and
Williette Lee filled the post of Community Relations
Specialist. Both of these individuals are making a
Peter Kristian, General Manager
2019 POA Operations - Security
The Hilton Head Plantation Security Department Once again, the Town of Hilton Head’s Emergency
cannot operate at its maximum potential without Management Center notified our department
the support of the homeowners that we serve. that because of Hurricane Dorian we would be
Promoting and maintaining a safe community evacuating our residents from the Plantation and
environment takes more than your Security out of Beaufort County. The Security Department
Officers. No amount of law enforcement training implemented our evacuation plan and safely
can match the value of the eyes and ears of evacuated all the residents that chose to evacuate
concerned community members who report without incident. The General Manager, along with
suspicious behavior, safety hazards, and violations the Director of Security, Deputy Director, Director
of law. This allows HHP’s Security Department to of Maintenance, and 21 Security Officers, remained
take a proactive, instead of reactive, approach to in place on Hilton Head Plantation and set up a
the safety and well-being of the community we command center at the POA Service Center. Keeping
serve. It is our department’s goal to be community- the gates manned and the patrols moving about on
based problem-solvers. We have challenged our the Plantation played a large role in suppressing any
Officers to adhere to and maintain the highest looting that might have otherwise happened.
ethical standards in administering services with
your safety as their prime mission. We will continue The main take away from this hurricane event -
to meet this commitment daily with courtesy, we had a plan and we followed the plan, the plan
sensitivity, and constant vigilance. worked. This event again has highlighted the fact
that our Officers are well-trained and are here to
The Security Department is responsible for make a difference.
providing many services to residents of the
Plantation. The most visible is access control to Security personnel patrol 72 miles of roads and
the Plantation at three gates where approximately amenity areas; additionally, they respond to and
12,000 vehicles are processed daily by our Officers. complete reports on lost, missing, and stolen
That totals over four million vehicles annually! property; respond to medical emergencies; inspect
homes of residents who are away; provide animal
Protecting life and property, traffic control, keeping control; respond to fire and burglar alarms; jump-
the peace, and the enforcement of State Laws, and start vehicles; assist residents who are locked out of
the Plantation’s Rules and Regulations, are some of homes or autos; provide gas for stranded vehicles;
the department’s other basic missions. provide security checks of commercial areas after
closing, and conduct health and comfort checks for
the elderly.
Once again, during 2019, crime on Hilton Head
Plantation was very low. This was due in part to
the homeowners’ vigilance, the gates, and patrol
officer’s protocols seem to be working very well.
In 2019, our Officers logged a total of 101,440 miles
patrolling the Plantation’s residential areas. Security
Officers responded to 238 alarms from residential
homes and businesses and, additionally, Officers
responded to 3,818 calls for service from our
residences and businesses. Included in these calls
for service were, 605 medical assists, 825 resident
(above) Corporal Raymond Gibbo checks assists, 29 traffic collisions (seven were deer-
vehicles as they enter Hilton Head Plantation. related), 70 incidents of trespassing, 12 domestic
disturbances, 3 cases of disturbing the peace, 9
2019 POA Operations - Security (cont’d.) cases of vandalism, and thousands of calls regarding animal complaints, improper parking, lost and found items, prowlers, and Covenant/Rules and Regulations violations. There were three ‘Breaking into Motor Vehicles’ cases reported to the Security Department. Just before Christmas 2019, these vehicles that were unlocked had their contents dischevled. Two presents were the only items noted as missing, but they were recovered and returned to the property owner. Please always lock your vehicles and doors to your home. Do not leave items of value in plain sight. Additionally, Security Officers completed over 36,512 security checks for our away-from-home residents and commercial properties. Over the last 12 months, 159 State tickets were written for speeding to drivers on Hilton Head Plantation roadways for a total of over 400 traffic stops. Security Officers issued 1,317 non-moving violations for such things as pets running at-large, RV’s/boats in driveways overnight, and illegal parking. The Security Department reduced the deer herd by 25 this year and continued its very successful participation in the Deer Management Program, thus helping in the preservation of the natural habitat on the Plantation. Keeping crime on Hilton Head Plantation low and educating our residents about locking their doors when away from their homes and autos continue to be the priorities of the department.
2019 POA Operations - Maintenance
We began 2019 with our road repair contractors janitorial services at all our facilities.
removing root damaged areas on our roadways
in preparation for the spring asphalt overlay. This Our maintenance personnel build, assemble,
process is known as “cut and patch” and is usually and install new mailboxes and repair damaged
performed throughout the year totaling close to components of older ones when possible. Stop by
4,000 square yards of road repair. Our leisure the POA Service Center with an empty jar with a
paths are repaired using this process as well. The lid and we will give you some touch-up paint for
road resurfacing process is known as “mill and your mailbox or post and paper slot. See the front
overlay” and is the task of grinding or milling away desk for all your mailbox needs.
the deteriorated cracked surface of the road and
reapplying a layer of new asphalt. This provides a The 2019 hurricane season brought Hurricane
sealed smooth surface and protects the roadbed Dorian dangerously close to our coast and with it
below. Approximately three miles of our roadways came the preparation and recovery work involved
were milled and overlayed this year and the milling with such storm systems. Minor repairs were
spoils were used to improve the Whooping Crane needed at our beach access boardwalks, bluff
Conservancy parking area. Road striping included steps, and perimeter fences. Downed or damaged
Pineland Road and Myrtle Bank Road and our gated tree removals cost over $50,000 with most of
entrances, as well as numerous crosswalks and the debris hauled to our temporary “Woodhog”
stop bars. grinding site located next to the ballfield on
Surrey Lane to be ground into viable mulch. The
We completed two major beach renourishments mulch was distributed throughout the Plantation.
at Pine Island with the Town of Hilton Head Island Along with Security Staff, maintenance personnel
funding a large portion of the upland source remained in place and available throughout our
material needed for this project. We worked with bout with Hurricane Dorian.
the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Stormwater
Department to complete several major drainage HHP residents have access to walking or bicycling
improvement projects including the Main Street on the 600 linear feet of new asphalt leisure path
Outfall, the Outfall located at the intersection of added along Whooping Crane Way joining Teal
Dolphin Head Drive, and Seabrook Drive. Major Lane to Windflower Court. Thank you, Spring Lake
pipe replacement along a section of Jingle Shell Cluster Homes, for allowing the easement to make
Road and the completion of the outfall on Old Fort this possible.
Drive were also accomplished. Our in-house staff
made several point repairs to damaged drainage Thank you Palmetto Coastal Landscaping and
pipes and basins and reestablished positive flow by the leadership of Ricky Smith, Keith Miller, and
cleaning and regrading several ditches and swales. John Mitchnuk. Other than their routine tasks
that keep HHP looking great, this management
Other completed projects included exterior painting team designs and installs all of our annual flower
of the POA Service Center and Security Buildings, beds. This year Hilton Head Plantation was the
interior painting of Spring Lake Pavilion walls, first place winner of the coveted Annual Entrance
painting steps and handrails at the Spring Lake Pool Competition presented by the Island Beautification
bridge, installation of outdoor ceiling fans at Spring Association. This is the second time HHP has won
Lake Tennis, curb repairs and the new task of this award with Palmetto Coastal Landscaping.
changing out pool equipment pumps, motors, and Congratulations on a job well done!
furniture slings.
Our daily tasks included the grooming and minor
resurfacing of the Spring Lake Tennis Facility
Tennis and Bocce Courts, event set-ups, mulch
deliveries, light outages, minor electrical repairs,
minor plumbing repairs, and upgrades, cleaning,
paint touch-ups, and repairs of all street signs. We
clean or change HVAC system filters and provide
2019 POA Operations - Tennis/Bocce
consisted of two leagues: spring and fall. The courts
were busy with over 1,200 hours used. The Bocce
Ball Club had a record of 122 memberships. The
court was resurfaced four times throughout the year,
and a new drainage system was successfully installed
by our very competent maintenance staff.
During 2019, tennis court maintenance included
resurfacing and re-taping six courts and adding two
tons of material to each of the remaining six courts.
The fences on courts 9 through 12 were painted
Spring Lake Tennis had a few tropical systems come
electrostatically. A new ball machine was purchased
through in 2019 but left minimal damage. About nine
by the POA/Tennis Committee. The bathrooms were
tons of new material had to be added to the courts,
renovated. New pine straw was also added to the
a few windscreens, and some expected debris clean
grounds around Spring Lake and the Tennis Facility.
up occurred.
One of the top certified tennis court contractors from
Hagerstown, Maryland provided their yearly facility
The Spring Lake Tennis Facility had 125 Annual
inspection and offered suggestions on the daily and
Memberships (230 people) during 2019. Although the
yearly court maintenance.
courts were down a week or so due to the storms,
they were still busy with over 1,900 hours of court
time used. A combined 1,500 residents and guests
used the tennis facility throughout 2019.
Due to the increase in USTA and Interclub League
Tennis, the sponsored/past Hilton Head Plantation
Property Owners membership program added nine
new annual memberships.
A big contribution to the overall revenue for the
club has been Spring Lake’s increased participation
in the USTA and Interclub program. Every year
several team records are broken and 2019 did not
disappoint. Seventy-five teams consisting of men,
women, mixed, combo, 18’s, 40’s, 55’s, 65’s, 70’s,
and 75’s divisions. Twenty-three teams qualified and
participated in the state championships, with two
teams winning the state champion title.
On the “lighter side” of competition, Spring Lake
Tennis held its Friday/Saturday socials, which are
hosted by the tennis committee. They were well
attended, included themes such as Fiesta Fling,
Octoberfest, Summer Slam, Pizza Social, and Chili/
Chili.
The traditional Wimbledon Team Tennis (35 years
in existence) had over 50 participants followed by
the “Champagne, Strawberries, and Cream” award
celebration.
The Bocce program (in its 14th year of operation)
2019 POA Operations - Community Relations
Covenants a specific non-commercial purpose of visiting a Resident.
The Community Relations Department continues its Our commercial vendors are periodically reminded that
overall emphasis on education to reach out to new all service providers must purchase the required day
owners and longtime residents in our community. passes, monthly, or yearly decal, even if it is just for an
Potential Covenant violations come to the POA’s estimate. Compliance with this requirement will eliminate
attention through distinct endeavors: by the Security the number of guest passes being used for commercial
Department, the members of the Covenants Committee, vendors, and alert residents of how the misuse of the
and Property Owners and support from the POA’s guest pass policy can cause yearly assessments to
Architectural Review Board. The Covenants staff works increase.
cooperatively with our homeowners to encourage
personal responsibility in the maintenance of their Harry also mentions the convenient amenities that are
property, which enhances and influences the Plantation provided by the Plantation such as the landscape drop-
community as a whole. Monitoring of our protective off area. This outstanding benefit provides a pleasant
Covenants involves many different facets, which fall and easy way for residents to dispose of their landscape
into four basics categories: people, pets, parking, and debris in an environmentally sound manner. This helps
property. to eliminate the illegal dumping on common property
and open space areas.
During 2019, the Community Relations Department
investigated and processed 1,317 non-moving Covenant The Holiday Lighting Contest/Driving Tour featured a
violations. Of the violations reported, over fifty percent wonderful display of homes decorated for the Christmas
were fine letters forwarded to Residents and Contractors and Hanukkah seasons. The holiday spirit was alive
who were non-compliant. An influx of abuse of guest and well in 2019. It was a popular experience for our
passes and pet violations caused the vast majority of residents to share with their families and guests.
violations to be issued by Security. The Covenant staff
communicated with residents by forwarding letters and/ Our discounted yearly Realtor Decal ($25) continues to
or emails, phone calls, and in some cases personal be a success. Realtors are provided with an information
site visits were made to address our concerns. A fresh packet that highlights the many different amenities
start and an opportunity to follow through lead to to assist them when showing property within the
positive momentum for the betterment of the greater Plantation. Also included is a welcome packet for
community. the realtor’s prospective homebuyers, with loads of
Plantation information that is consistently updated.
During 2019, the POA Board of Directors adopted the The Covenants staff assists the Security Department
Short-Term Rentals guidelines for Rules and Regulations with daily entries made into the Incident Report Log,
and Covenants Restriction Policy for the POA staff. The gathers data for monthly reports, graphs, tracking
adopted Rules and Regulations were forwarded to the trends, juvenile activity, researches, and gathers reports
POA Attorney to be filed with the Beaufort County Land for pending cases, posts information of Covenant
Records. As with all things, change is inevitable, and the violations to monitor, manages the Emergency Card
Covenants staff looks forward to the contributions of its Information database, and posts weekly Realtor Open
volunteers. Houses for compliance.
A lighter approach to Covenants’ compliance is featured The Community Relations Department continues to
in a monthly article in Plantation Living starring “Harry communicate, educate, and work with homeowners.
Heron” who is the Master Covenants Bird and the voice The task of demonstrating the value of sustaining our
of reason and compliance. He often focuses on current community, both aesthetically and functionally, is our
trends and problems we have in our neighborhoods. ongoing mission. These practices and programs are
Harry comments on day-to-day compliance issues and focused on sustaining a harmonious living and protecting
may offer solutions to our homeowners’ concerns. and enhancing every member’s property values. The
Harry will continue to comment on harmonious living reasonable enforcement of our governing documents,
by focusing on compliance with the leash laws, and and arming and advising residents with equitable
residents and their guests being more responsible pet solutions to issues, is designed to assure residents that
owners, vehicle parking resolutions, abuse of guest their investment will continue to grow and be protected
passes, rules of conduct and behavior. throughout the years. The objective continues to be
keeping our community an attractive and pleasant place
Harry did see an increase in abuse of guest passes, in to call home.
which Covenants and HHP Security has become more
consistent with levying fines and other penalties against
violators. Guest passes will only be issued to visitors for2019 POA Operations - Community Relations (cont’d.)
Architectural Review Board (ARB)
From the very beginning, the natural environment was
the main attraction for homebuyers to purchase and
call Hilton Head Plantation their home. The developer
determined the overall land plan and infrastructure
and then documented the regulations and covenants
needed to guide development to meet this goal. One
of the tools used to protect this primary asset is the
Architectural Review Board’s Guidelines, which were
established to ensure that development would proceed
in an orderly, well-planned manner and harmony with
the natural environment. Every two years the guidelines
are reviewed and updated. The Guidelines protect plans will be available for rebuilding. The program cuts
the community from unattractive and irresponsible down on paper usage, is cost-efficient, and makes it
construction, thus enhancing the overall beauty easier for the homeowner to access their house plans.
and cohesiveness of the development, maintaining
property values, and protecting the environment. The The Department provides copies of plans, ARB
responsibility of the ARB is to review, approve and/or Guidelines, and documents, and every improvement
disapprove all plans for improvements, accept property a homeowner has made to their property, to realtors,
owners’ compliance deposits, establish and collect fees, architects, contractors, and surveyors. Providing this
and assess fines for non-compliance. The ARB meets on information helps ensure that all plans, documents, and
the fourth Thursday of each month. During the Holiday submittals are prepared following the ARB Guidelines
Season, the meeting dates are moved up one week. and satisfy the Town of Hilton Head Island building code
Submissions to the ARB are due by noon on the fourth and all other governing codes, rules, and regulations.
Monday of each month. This year the ARB Office closed
during the monthly ARB meetings. Tree Mitigation: the ARB adopted this policy to
prevent the decline of the existing arboreal assets of the
During 2019, 253 homes were purchased by new Plantation and provide guidelines for tree removal and
property owners in our Plantation. As with any existing mitigation requirements. Trees are an important part
home purchase, the new owners were anxious to make of the HHP community. Our common property, open
their newly acquired property their own by remodeling space, and backyards are lined with trees that create
the interior, exterior, and outdoor living spaces. Many a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. Trees
new Property Owners visited the ARB office inquiring increase our quality of life by providing oxygen and
about the Plantation’s building and remodeling process, improving air quality.
review fees, and submission dates. The office noticed
an increase in home improvement permit requests for The ARB will provide permission to remove trees
painting, window and door installments, garages, paver meeting the established criteria. Information can be
driveways/repairs, new landscape designs, and tree found on the POA’s website:
removal. This surge in new ownership has created a www.hiltonheadplantation.com under the Documents
building boom in our Plantation. The increase involved tab/Tree Mitigation. The ARB plays a vital role in
16 new homes being reviewed and approved for keeping HHP in harmony with nature while considering
building, of which 14 have been approved, one has been the diverse architectural and design desires of our
completed, and eight are under construction. property owners. In this manner, the ARB and its staff
seek to maintain and enhance property values.
The ARB works with Property Owners who are interested
in enhancing their living space by adding bonus
rooms, carolina rooms, screened-in porches, and room
additions. Smaller home enhancements would include
deck upgrades, driveway/walkways improvements and
paver enhancements, window replacement, outdoor
kitchens, and redesigning their landscape to add the
elements of hardscape.
The Department continues to convert new house plans
and renovation plans to CD-ROM. This is an effort to
ensure that in the event of a disaster, original house2019 POA Operations - Activities
In 2019, the Activities Department introduced promoted an “HHP
an abundance of new and exciting classes and Week” at Hilton Head’s
programs including the Chinese New Year Bingo CycleBar, and in October,
Night, the Oyster Wreath Workshop, the “Let’s we partnered with the
Make a Scene” Drama Camp with Beth Green and Island Rec Center for
the Paper-Lantern Workshop. The lineup of new the “HHP Open House”
seminar topics for the year included Pat Conroy’s and started advertising
“Reverence for Teaching” Tough Talks, Beauty for HHP-discounted
& the Beast, CBD, Bird-Friendly Back Yards, the memberships beginning
HHI Airport Update, Appy Hour, Bike Safety, Debt November 1.
Elimination, and Wealth Transfer & Estate Planning.
Numerous HHP families
Other programs that continue to grow in popularity continued to support our
include the Cooking Live Series, the Caribbean “Kids Kamp” summer
Pool Party, Kids’ Night Out, the fall Trash & program, and we
Treasure Sale, as well as the spring and summer experienced a slight increase of 1% in total
Concert Series with Rob Ingman, Deas-Guyz, the enrollment from 2018 to 2019. With the total
Headliners, and the HHP Big Band. Also back by enrollment increasing from 302 in 2018 to 306 in
popular demand were two AARP Driver Safety 2019, the weekly average enrollment also increased
Courses, Flu Shots, two community Blood Drives, from 137 in 2018 to 156 in 2019. The daily average
weekly Painting Classes and Workshops with LeAnn enrollment likewise increased from 104 in 2018 to
Kalita, as well as the AARP Cyber Fraud Awareness 122 in 2019. We still offered Kids Kamp for eight
Class, the Reverse Mortgage Seminar, the Fuel for weeks, and some of the new weekly themes for
Your Investment Journey Lunch & Learn, the Leave 2019 included: “The Outdoors is Calling Week,”
a Legacy Workshop, and the Medicare Made Clear “Rockin’ Renaissance Week,” “Things with Wings
Seminar. Week,” “Aqua Adventure Week,” “Solar System
Spectacular Week,” and “Mardi Gras Masquerade
During the year, we continued the tradition of Week.” Some of the special events this year
our various holiday programs such as the Harry included a pool party, a visit from the Kona Ice
O’Heron’s Pub Night celebrating St. Patrick’s Truck, a Renaissance Fair Carnival, a visit from a
Day, the Easter Sunrise Service, the Easter Egg Rocket Scientist, and the End-of-Kamp Show.
Hunt & Brunch partnering with The Country
Club of Hilton Head, the 4th of July – HHP Day Residents continued to enjoy the beautiful Spring
Celebration, the Halloween Pet Parade, the Fall Lake Pool as attendance increased from 2018 to
Harvest Party, and the 14th Annual Veterans Day 2019 by 8% with 54,618 individuals enjoying the
Observance Ceremony once again hosted by the Spring Lake Pool throughout the season which
Hilton Head Island High School NJROTC Unit. The lasted from the beginning of April through the end
year concluded with the HHP Big Band Christmas of October.
Concert, the Holiday Hayride, and the Children’s
Holiday Party. A few of the major projects that took place in
2019 included the renovation of the Spring Lake
We continue to offer a diverse schedule of fitness Playground with all new playground equipment,
classes such as Low-Impact Aerobics, Total Body the replacement of slings for all the chaise lounge
Conditioning, Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Total chairs at the Spring Lake Pool, the interior painting
Fitness, Intermediate, and Beginner Pilates, Body at the Spring Lake Pavilion, and the addition of
Sculpt, Morning Water Aerobics, and Deep-end sand at both playgrounds.
Water Aerobics. We also continued to offer sessions
of Qigong throughout the year. New to the fitness Additionally, the POA continued to provide the
class lineup included sessions of Yoga Nidra, opportunity for donations through the Memorial
Men’s Pilates, Golf Fitness and Tai Chi. In May, we & Honorarium Program. Several new benches2019 POA Operations - Activities (cont’d.) were added throughout the Plantation under this program. The POA also continues to implement a Veterans Memorial Brick Program whereby residents can purchase a brick in memory or honor of a loved one who served in the military and has it placed in a special area in front of the flagpole. Overall the Activities Department had another banner year of popular activities, memorable events, and rewarding accomplishments. Our volunteers and the POA-sponsored clubs continue to offer valuable contributions to this wonderful community with their donations and support of the POA, facilities, activities, special events, and landscape. We are continually grateful for the extraordinary generosity of these special people, and the Department thanks the community for its continued support and assistance.
2019 POA Operations - Communications
In the POA’s continuing effort to provide residents materials. In 2019, the Audit was printed
with accurate, timely, and useful information, the separately from the Annual Report materials due
Communications Department utilizes a variety of to the Short-Term Rental Amendment election. The
informational tools, including the following. Board has granted the POA permission to print the
Audit separately again for 2019 due to the early
PUBLICATIONS Annual Meeting date. This also saves the POA
a large amount of money by being able to print
Plantation Living fewer copies and save on postage. Hard copies
will be available at the Annual Meeting once it is
Current news and historical information are completed, but they will also be available in the
provided to residents, the general public, and POA Service Center, and on our website.
off-site property owners via the monthly newsletter.
In addition to news, paid The History of HHP Booklets
advertising is accepted.
Advertising revenue for These historical booklets were finalized in
2019 greatly exceeded December 2016 for sale.
the annual target, The HHP Conservancy
finishing the year with Foundation sponsored the
the highest amount printing of the booklets and
in Plantation Living proceeds will be returned
history. We continue to to benefit the foundation.
receive positive feedback In hopes to sell more
from advertisers and books in 2019, the Communications Committee
residents. decided to ‘rebrand’ them by naming them ‘The
History of HHP’ rather than ‘General Howard A.
Multiple printing bids are periodically obtained in Davis’ booklets. This was a huge success, selling
order to maintain the best cost for value to the 121 copies in 2019. You can purchase this book at
POA. Since 2013, the Department has produced the POA Service Center.
three color issues each year which increased in
2017 to four color issues (March, June, September,
and December). In 2019 there were six color issues WEBSITE: www.hiltonheadplantation.com
of Plantation Living, rotating every other month
after negotiating printing costs. For 2020, we are •
proud to annouce that Plantation Living will be
printed in color all 12 months of the year.
Plantation Living underwent a design change in
2019, giving the newsletter an updated and fresh
look. A substantial savings in postage costs has
been achieved due to signing up new, out-of-
town Property Owners to receive Plantation Living
via email, rather than automatically mailing the
newsletter to them. The Department continues to Online Classified Ads – This popular feature on
promote the viewing of the color versions of the HHP’s website enables residents to rent or sell
newsletter online. items or services, and to acquire bargains from
their neighbors.
Annual Report
• Email Services – Since 2006, the POA has offered
The Communications Department designs and email notifications to residents for any or all of
coordinates the printing and distribution of the the four different services: Urgent Information
Annual Report and the Annual Meeting election (hurricane information, weather alerts, and other2019 POA Operations - Communications (cont’d.)
emergency situations); Safety Alerts (criminal added in March 2013 at the Cypress Gate. The
activity and safety tips); and Plantation Activities Department is responsible for uploading daily
(Coffee with Peter, Trash and Treasure Sale, Pet messages to the community.
Parade, Holiday Lighting Contest, etc.). Also,
part-time or non-resident property owners may opt Communications Projects
to receive Plantation Living electronically. When
residents sign up for one or all of these email The Department is involved in presenting
services, they receive periodic information about information to the residents for various projects
the topic selected. To date, nearly 5,000 residents such as:
have signed up (either via HHP’s website or by
visiting the POA Service Center) to receive these • Note Cards - Scenes from around HHP were
email notices. taken by resident photographers, and note cards
were produced and are sold to benefit the HHP
After HHP’s challenging days during Hurricane Conservancy Foundation.
Matthew in October 2016, and every hurricane
scare since, the Communications Department • Hurricane Guide – HHP’s Hurricane Evacuation
stayed alert through Hurricane and Tropical Guide was inserted into the June 2019 Plantation
Storm scares. Nevertheless, the Department was Living and posted on the website.
extremely busy sending multiple daily emails to
keep residents informed and encouraged. • Resident Opinion Survey –The 2018 Resident
Opinion Survey appeared in the April 2018 issue
In 2019, we had some web glitches where of Plantation Living and was posted on the HHP
residents were being dropped from email services website. We had the highest participation in
unexpectedly. The Department generated a formula any survey to date, with about 1,778 people
to figure out whose emails were dropped daily and participating. The survey results can be found
then the Communications Coordinator would reach online under the Documents/Forms/Minutes tab.
out to those individuals to check on their status. The next survey will be conducted in 2021.
This has helped many residents avoid missing out
on crucial POA information. • Dolphin Head Recreation Survey
The Communications Department surveyed the
• Online Resident Directory – After the POA’s residents on the Dolphin Head Recreation Area
last hardcopy Resident Directory was produced in as it is our next renovation project. The Board
2005, it was determined that the costs and time approved the survey for community input on what
involved were prohibitive. Also, as soon as the the residents would like to see included in the new
Directory was printed, it became inaccurate since Dolphin Head Recreation Area renovation. The
member information changes continually. To survey was conducted in the summer of 2019, and
counteract these challenges, and to serve more this feedback served as the basis for the Board’s
Internet users, a decision was made to implement instruction to the Land Planners and Architect
an online, member-generated Resident Directory in designing the project.
September 2008. Approximately 2,572 residents
have joined thus far, with additional participants Communications Committee
signing up weekly.
The Department values the hard work and
Electronic Community Announcement Boards expertise of a dedicated volunteer committee that
tirelessly contributes to various projects.
Working in conjunction with the Administration and
Maintenance Departments at the end of 2010, the
Communications Department was involved in the
introduction of the first electronic announcement
board at HHP’s Main Gate. A second board wasHILTON HEAD
PLANTATION
PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
www.hiltonheadplantation.comYou can also read
