HILTON HEAD, S.C. (WSAV) – Palmetto Hall Plantation on Hilton Head Island will keep its name, after the idea of dropping “plantation” from its name did not receive enough support.

After an online petition asking that the word “plantation” be dropped from the names of all housing developments received more than 5,000 signatures, Palmetto Hall sent a letter to its residents and held a confidential ballot vote.

Some homeowners did vote to change the name, but the number of votes did not meet the two-thirds required to make the switch.

Officials say the word “plantation” will be removed from signs at the front entrance of the property, but the logo and the legal name will remain the same.

Read the full letter sent to residents ahead of the vote, below.

“PLANTATION” UPDATE
 Dear Palmetto Hall Property Owners

The Palmetto Hall POA office and the Board of Directors have received feedback recently about the use of the word “Plantation” in the name of our community. Our legal name is Palmetto Hall Plantation Owners Association and it was established by Greenwood Development and was approved by the Town of Hilton Head Island in the early nineties.

The use of the word “Plantation” has caused concern for some of the property owners in Palmetto Hall due to the perception of a lack of sensitivity towards the history associated with southern plantation culture. This matter is now at the forefront for many communities who have the word “Plantation” incorporated in their legal documents, signage, and logos. The Palmetto Hall Board of Directors discussed this matter at their last BOD meeting held via teleconference on June 16, 2020, and listened during the public comments portion of the meeting to property owners expressing their opinions about the name.

The BOD is elected to represent the property owners of Palmetto Hall. Consequently, the BOD voted unanimously to put this matter before the property owners as a ballot measure.
Under our bylaws, a change to the name of the community would require two-thirds of the votes cast [for which a quorum is present]. There will not be a meeting, just a vote. Once the documents can be put in order, all property owners will receive a confidential ballot.

In the interim, the Board has instructed the POA Administration to determine what the legal requirements are, and the associated costs. Please look for a letter and ballot soon and respond promptly.

In the meantime, we welcome any questions or comments you may have.