Mount Pleasant Town Council Meeting - August 12, 2025

The Mount Pleasant Town Council held a special meeting at 5:00 PM followed by a regular meeting at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The regular meeting was presided over by Mayor Pro Tem Whitley in the absence of Mayor Haney, who was mourning the passing of his father. The meeting included a lengthy public comment period, staff longevity awards, and several key votes, most notably a motion to deny the Mount Pleasant Town Center rezoning and development plan.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the July 8, 2025 special and regular meetings and the June 2025 financial statement were approved.
• Final readings of consent agenda items A through F were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pam Ireland (Mount Pleasant resident): Opposed the Town Center proposal, stating approval would grant entitlements that could not be taken back and could pressure Belk to leave. She urged denial.
• David Halsey (17 Tall Pond Road): Expressed agreement with prior comments, raising concerns about traffic and hurricane evacuation infrastructure limits.
• Denise Fugo (Executive Director, Housing for All Mount Pleasant): Expressed full support for Belk but called for 215–225 affordable housing units at Town Center to allow employees to live in town.
• Andy Lowe (GM, Mount Pleasant Town Center): Spoke in favor of the proposal, citing feedback from 17 local tenants who want residential, office, green space, and entertainment uses to keep the property relevant.
• John Darby (CEO, The Beach Company): Supported the project, stating a deferral would be viewed as a no vote and noting the team had worked with the town for four years.
• Alan McMahon (The Beach Company): Argued the plan embodies smart growth, saves vehicle trips, requires no new infrastructure, and guarantees attainable housing.
• Dan Doyle (The Beach Company, property owner at 1077 Mathis Ferry Road): Supported the amendment, stating current zoning does not incentivize attainable housing and urging a yes vote.
• JM Shapiro (CEO, Continental Realty): Condoled with the mayor, recognized longevity award recipients, and emphasized the project's open space, affordable housing, and incubator space.
• Brenda Dye (1503 Walk and Dall Road, 44-year resident): Objected to the proposal, citing increased apartments, hotel rooms, building heights, parking garages, and traffic without clear benefits to citizens.
• Peter Dirks, Jenny Felsinger, Ellen Moore, Ruth Daboe, Sarah Eck (various residents and Belk management): Expressed opposition, citing concerns about traffic, parking, loss of retail character, and the speculative nature of the plan.
• Belk representatives (including Janet Smith, Rob Nickel, Diane Mispegle): Argued the plan conflicts with Belk's lease (heights limited to 35 feet, no construction on certain areas), would harm their business and the center's retail mix, and urged denial.
• JC Darby (The Beach Company, closing statement): Warned that a deferral is a no vote and accused Belk of throwing a "grenade" on four years of work. Asked council to choose whether Town Center thrives or fails.
• Tony Conley (1415 Hamlin Park Circle): Spoke neutrally, noting change is needed but acknowledging a difficult decision.
• Laurie Horn (74 Pondsbury, five-year resident): Opposed high density, stating she left a high-density area and believes many citizens oppose the plan.
• Other speakers: Several residents spoke on the 10 Mile community annexation, requesting deferral to allow completion of an overlay plan with Charleston County. One resident raised a drainage/flooding issue on Royal Avenue.
• Katie Zimmerman (Executive Director, Charleston Moves): Requested an increase in the speed limit for bicycles and e-bikes on sidewalks/paths from 10 mph to 15 mph (or at least 12 mph) for safety and practicality.
• David Spedden (3429 Tumor Kiln Circle): Opposed the "Road to Compromise" option for Highway 41, arguing it is worse for the environment, safety, and community impacts, and that the town never agreed to it.

Discussion Items

• Executive Session: The council entered executive session at the special meeting (5:00 PM) for legal and contractual items, including pending litigation (James and Dialine), the Harbor Entrepreneur Center, Phase on Road property, and personnel for Green Commission appointments. No votes were taken in executive session.
• Town Center Rezoning and Development Plan: A motion to deny the ordinance was made by Mr. Rambo. Extensive discussion followed:
  • Mr. Rambo stated he was not elected to add hundreds of new apartments.
  • Mr. Chapman asked staff to clarify current entitlements and potential units under existing zoning (approximately 130 units by right without an impact assessment). He noted the conflict between Belk and the owners and suggested deferral to allow both sides to negotiate.
  • Mr. Ikofano expressed reluctance to be in the middle of a lease dispute and noted the plan was too vague.
  • Ms. Hyatt opposed voting on entitlements without a concrete plan, stating it gives away control.
  • Mr. Brownstein noted cracks in Town Center (e.g., Bed Bath & Beyond vacancy) but said the proposal goes too far and lacks community input. He stressed the need for attainable housing but called for a charrette process.
  • Mr. Tinkey rejected the either-or framing, noted the developer reduced building height from 75 feet to 55 feet only after persistence, and said the council needs more deliberation.
  • Ms. Whitley stated the Belk dispute is irrelevant; she opposed giving millions in value to a developer for only 100 affordable housing units, noting other developers build affordable housing without government funding.
• 10 Mile Community Annexation (B1): A motion to defer was made by Mr. Rambo. Discussion focused on zoning inconsistency—the applicant requested community conservation (3 units/acre) but the area is zoned rural residential (1 unit/3 acres). Council members noted ongoing overlay planning by the 10 Mile community and a county moratorium until July 2026. Mr. Brownstein suggested amending the comp plan's future land use map to automatically assign RC2 zoning to properties outside the urban growth boundary. The motion to defer passed.
• Comprehensive Plan Update (Item 9, B2): A motion to amend the five-year comp plan update was made to assign RC2 future land use (1 unit/3 acres) to all properties outside the urban growth boundary. The amendment passed unanimously. The amended ordinance was then approved.
• E-Bike/Bicycle Speed Limit Ordinance (Final Reading, B1): The original change increased the speed limit from 10 to 15 mph for e-bikes on sidewalks. An amendment was proposed to set 12 mph uniformly for e-bikes and bicycles on sidewalks and shared-use paths. After debate, the amendment passed 5-3, and the final reading passed 7-1.

Key Outcomes

• Town Center Ordinance (Item A2): Motion to deny approved 7-1. (Mr. Chapman voted no on denial, indicating he wanted a deferral or revision.)
• Related Zoning Amendment (A3): Motion to deny approved unanimously.
• Executive Session Motions:
  • $100,000 allocated from economic development budget to Harbor Entrepreneur Center (motion carried).
  • Reappointment of Rachel Hundred, Jim Westhold, Olivia Flynn, and Mary Conley to the Green Commission (motion carried).
  • Motion to direct legal counsel to take action as discussed in executive session regarding item 3.83 (motion carried).
• Isle of Palms Connector Run Proceeds (A1): Approved unanimously to donate the town’s share (historically $15,000/year) to the "Run for the Children" organization.
• CARTA FY2026 Budget Resolution (10 A1): Approved. Includes $8.5 million for construction of a new transit center at Shipwatch Square and a parking ride facility on Mount Pleasant Street.
• Mutual Aid Agreement (10 A3 and A4): Approved unanimously.
• Mount Pleasant Waterworks Bond Issuance (10 A5): Approved (not to exceed $60 million) for five major projects: fleet maintenance facility, force main replacements (midtown and Coleman), and a $20 million deep well into the Grambling Aquifer (projected 100-year lifespan).
• 10 Mile Community Annexation (B1): Deferred to allow further discussion and alignment with county overlay planning.
• Comprehensive Plan Update (B3): Approved as amended to assign RC2 future land use to properties outside the urban growth boundary.
• E-Bike/Bicycle Speed Limit Ordinance (B1): Approved as amended: 12 mph speed limit for e-bikes and bicycles on sidewalks and shared-use paths.