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• 2009/12/03: Changes Inside and Outside the Gates
• 2008/08/23: Nature Trail Has Re-Opened
• 2008/07/22: Incorporation: Some Residents Speak
• 2008/07/14: Jon Cherry on Incorporation
#60

As the developer of Sun City Hilton Head, Pulte Homes, Inc. is concerned about some representations being made by proponents of incorporating Sun City and nearby areas.

First, despite the use of Sun City’s logo in some materials being distributed by proponents of incorporation, the "committee" is not associated with or endorsed by either the Sun City Hilton Head Community Association, Sun City’s homeowners association, or by Pulte Homes, Inc.  The group includes some Sun City residents, but they are acting solely on their own behalf.

As an experienced developer of large communities throughout the United States, Pulte knows that addressing such complicated issues is far from simple.  Services, including government services, cost money.  There is no "free lunch" whether in operating our own homes or in operating a municipality.  As a result, we take statements about lower taxes with a sizeable grain of salt.

More importantly, incorporation of a new municipality is neither inexpensive nor easy.  A petition must be signed by 15% of all voters in the proposed municipality. Additionally, multiple notices, certifications, and service feasibility studies are required. The feasibility studies must address critical service issues, such as fire protection, emergency medical response, law enforcement, waste collection, water supply, wastewater treatment, storm water collection, building codes, planning and zoning, recreational facilities and street lighting.  Proposed operating and capital budgets must also be submitted.

Finally, Sun City and its residents have been dealing with Beaufort County and Hardeeville, which includes a small part of Sun City, for many years.  Sun City’s master plan is well-established and being in a new municipality is unlikely to change it.  Although we might prefer that some things had been done differently in the past, Sun City and Pulte have a good overall relationship with both the County and the town.

We encourage Sun City property owners who may be considering supporting this effort  to demand an exhaustive study and analysis of the true costs associated with incorporation.  We will certainly study the proposals produced by the proponents of incorporation very closely.