Please take the opportunity to voice your comments (and hopefully your support) to those who will be deciding the future of our airport. The times for public comment are: Thursday, August 27, 1:30 - 8:00 pm Friday, August 28 9:00 am -12:pm and 1:30 pm-3:00 pm.
These hearings will take place at the HIlton Head Island Library which is located at 11 Beach City Road on Hilton Head. If you turn onto Beach City Road as you would if your were going to the hospital, the library is on your left before you turn left to go into the road to the hospital It is important for residents, visitors, and all property owners to not only be present but to make our voice heard on the following concerns particularily..
* Safety issues must be addressed immediately to ensure the safety of passengers and airline personnel.
* Commercial air traffic to Hilton Head Island is of vital importance, not just as a driver of tourism, but a quality of life issue for reesients and visitors.
* A balance must be found between the environmental and cultural concerns of potential changes in airport infastructure and the continued viability of commercial aircraft presence for the Hilton Head Island Airport. I cannot even believe that we are still talking about extending the Hilton Head Island Airport runway.
Study after study has been done, each one concluding that the airport runway needs to be extended. The trees need to be cut and/or limbed for safety sake and why we are still debating this issue is insane, in my opinion. Providing a safe runway and promoting and supporting tourism in our community is paramount. Tourism is the gas that runs the engines of our economy.
The success and growth of our community would not exist without tourism. Hilton Head Airport is vital to this growth and success. Hilton Head Airport is an important tool to strengthen the growth and success of our island. As a successful Realtor on the island, I have been priviledged to work with many tourists who become property owners on the island as well as those who buy property here and make this island their permanent residence. These people add much to our island by bringing new ideas and adding color to the fabric of this island. These people add to the businesses of this island, they give to the charities, they participate in the arts, they join and support our churches. I have been an island resident for 31 years, but like most residents, I learned to love the island as a tourist. I have watched the growth and development of this island and feel that for the most part, the growth and development has been very positive. When I came here there were no public schools and no place to shop for your children.
Yes, the island has changed, but thankfully, in many postive ways. I am very supportive of anything that will help a tourist decide to visit Hilton Head Island instead of another area on the coast. We have many natural amenities that would help someone in this decision, but I know that when I am trying to decide where I am taking my family on vacation, access to that choice is very important to me. Most of my friends who live here as well as those who do not, tell me that they always choose to fly in and out of Hilton Head Island and are willing to pay more if necessary, not to land in Savannah and drive to Hilton Head Island via I 95 and HWY 278. The convenience of flying in and out of Hilton Head Island is very important as well as saving as much as three hours on the turn. I hope that our mayor and town and county councils will put the politics on the sideline and support the safety of the residents as well as the health of our economy. Please let me know your opinion and ideas about this issue. I hope to see you at the Hilton Head Island Library on August 27 or 28!
