All right, I'm gonna hit the gavel hard.

You ready?

Staff ready.

Everybody ready?

Um, good evening, everyone.

Before I hit the gavel, um, Councilman Rambo has been teasing me about my wimpy gabbling, so let me call to order the uh Wednesday, November 12th, town council for our November meeting.

Um, first of all, um yesterday, since we now as a town recognize Veterans Day as a holiday, would all of our veterans stand up and let us honor you, please.

Please stand just where you are.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much.

And let's give big honors to my friend, my colleague, former mayor pro Tim, and until proven wrong, I'm proven wrong the longest serving council member in the history of Mount Pleasant, Gary Santos.

We have plans, and you'll be hearing a lot more about those, so Gary, don't go far.

You're gonna um not tonight, but uh coming up soon.

Um so item number one on the agenda is uh prayer by Chaplain Roy and then Pledge of Allegiance to be led by Councilman Gary Santos.

So please stand you join me in prayer.

Almighty God, I pray for this council meeting tonight.

Give each council member wisdom guidance as they deliberate on items before them.

May every decision be righteous in your sight for our benefit and for your glory.

We ask it all in your holy name.

Amen.

Amen.

Pledge it's to the flag of the United States of America and to a republic for which it stands.

One nation.

Thank you very much.

Next on the agenda is approval of the agenda.

Do we have a motion?

Move for approval, Mr.

Chairman.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All right, the agenda is approved.

Item four, public hearings, awards, and presentations.

A administration of the oath uh to the mayor elected.

Is that person?

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

He's here.

So if Judge Hess will join me and First Lady Cesette hand.

You'll come on this side, agenda.

Raise your right hand.

I do solemnly swear, I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified, that I am duly qualified.

According to the constitution of this state, according to the constitution of this state, to exercise the duties of the office, to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected, to which I have been elected.

And that I will, and that I will, to the best of my ability, to the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve, protect, and defend.

Preserve, protect, and defend.

The Constitution of this state.

The Constitution of this state.

And of the United States.

And of the United States.

As mayor of the town of Mount Pleasant.

As mayor of the town of Mount Pleasant.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability and skill.

To the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

And I will use my best endeavors.

And carry into effect according to law.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Congratulations.

Thank you all so much.

I want to thank Suzette for all she does, not only for me, but for this town.

And I want to thank all of you for the privilege of serving as your mayor.

And um what a privilege it is, and I would not want to be mayor anywhere else but Mount Pleasant, Southville.

It's just been the highlight of my my leadership endeavors.

And now I get to swear in the two newly re-elected council members, Tinky and Councilmember Ikefano, and our new council members.

Ms.

Whittaker and Ms.

Crosby.

If y'all will come forward, and whoever is with y'all that's going to stand with y'all, come forward.

I'll have Gary come.

I've got to tell my family.

Come on, Gary.

I'll have some in the background and I will face them.

I'll try to get over to the side.

And I'll try to do as good a job as the judge did.

He did a great job.

Don't need to move forward and get some people behind here.

So Catherine, if you come sort of front and center and sort of just a little bit.

Okay.

All right.

So if everyone will raise their those being sworn in, not everyone.

Those being sworn in will raise your right hand and repeat after me.

That's okay.

I do solemnly swear.

That is solemnly swear.

That I am duly qualified.

That I am duly qualified.

According to the constitution of this state.

According to the constitution of this state.

To exercise the duties of the office.

To exercise the duties of this office.

To which I have been elected.

To which I have been elected.

And that I will to the best of my ability.

And I will to the best of my ability.

Discharge the duties thereof.

Discharge the duties thereof.

And preserve, protect, and defend.

And preserve, protect, and defend.

The Constitution of this state.

The Constitution of this state.

And of the United States.

As a council member.

As a council member of the town of Mount Pleasant.

Of the town of Mount Pleasant.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

I will equally fairly and impartially.

To the best of my ability and skill.

Exercise the trust reposed in me.

Exercise the trust imposed in me.

And I will use my best endeavors.

And I will use my best endeavors.

To preserve the peace.

And carry into effect according to law.

And carry into effect according to law.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

The purposes for which I have been elected.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Congratulations.

Thank y'all.

Thank y'all for coming.

Thank you for being here.

Well, they were made for the most.

Yeah.

All right.

Everybody give me a mix out.

I don't know.

Hi.

Thank you.

Good job, Lori.

Good job.

You would think that's a good idea.

Oh, you can't do it.

Five years.

Maybe I'll maybe stress it.

That's what I mean.

I'm just going with my trail.

Well, how are you there?

All right.

We are reconvened.

Thank you all very much.

And congratulations again to everyone.

This brings us to item four.

Howard Chapman be elected.

All right.

We have a motion for Howard Chapman.

The way this works is that we can take nominations.

If there's only one, we'll do a voice vote.

If there's more than one, we vote by ballot.

Are there any other nominations?

All right.

Yes.

All right.

Any discussion.

All in favor of Howard Chapman is Mayor Pro Tim, please signify by saying I.

We prepared a quick presentation to talk about the transportation sales tax program holistically and the future of the program.

Main things I want to cover is kind of why we're here, what we've learned through the last 20 plus years of the program.

You know, a call to action as well as is the public involvement that we would like to see.

So as mentioned, the the program's been in place about 20 years.

But why we're here and what we really want to talk about is we as citizens of Charleston County are at a crossroads.

The first sales tax in 2004 is set to expire in 2027.

So the question is do we, the citizens of Charleston County, want to extend that tax or not.

So in back in September, County Council formed a special committee so that this issue could be discussed in public in a very transparent way, and so that uh public input could be received.

The first thing they asked us to do is reach out to you to municipalities to really have what we like to refer to as listening sessions.

So we want to come tell you about the program, but the main reason we're here is to listen to your input.

Understand what you need.

You know your community better than than we do, and it may be different than what uh a different area of the county needs.

So we want to hear from you specifically.

Uh we've learned that um over the life of the program a little over four and a half billion dollars has been committed to infrastructure projects.

And I'll break that down a little bit for you.

Um, this just gives you an idea of the allocations in different categories from the 2004 and the 2016 sales tax.

It gives you rough percentages.

Those percentages are just for historical purposes.

It doesn't mean that a future sales tax uh extension would be set at those exact percentages.

They're you know, they're just for historical purposes, but they give you an idea of the amount of investment in each of the different categories, being greenbelt programs, infrastructure, which is more thinking of roadway, bike bed, and then public transit.

So we know that over the life of the program we've been able to leverage about 1.2 billion dollars we've been able to bring in from the state and from the federal government because we've had the local option sales tax.

So that leveraging of that funds allows for more infrastructure improvements in our community.

One of the other uh facts that we want to make sure everyone is aware of is is with a sales tax, we estimate about a half of the revenue comes in from non-residents of Charleston County.

So whether that be tourists, commuters that live outside the county that come into the county to purchase things, and also including the the money we've been able to leverage through through grants and matches.

Um here's some statistics to kind of give you overall of what we've accomplished.

I know you're familiar with Johnny Dodds Boulevard, uh, which this county funded through the sales tax, a la palms widening, numerous intersections, sidewalks.

Um, some of those things that that are in common with those projects is those are state roads.

A lot of people don't realize over half the roads in Charleston County are state-owned.

So the state in their defense has their hands full, right?

They've got the fourth largest highway system in the nation, and we're one of the smaller states.

They're really um have a lot of challenges on their hands, they're behind in maintenance, but also their focus now, if you look at their funding projections, is on interstate system and on bridges.

There was a bridge in the upstate about a couple months ago that actually collapsed.

So you might argue rightly so, right?

They're they're focusing their funding on interstates where most of the commuters are, um, and then on the safety of bridges.

And the reason I bring that up is the sales tax program is a mechanism for us locally to fill that gap, right?

The state has their hands full, they're probably not coming to address capacity issues on a local level or intersections.

We do have that ability and the mechanism with the transportation sales tax to kind of fill that void.

And it also speaks to just quality of life overall, and that's really what we're talking about.

You know, whether it be in a mobility, we're talking about sitting in traffic, we're talking about bike ped, we're talking about transit, and also quality of life in green space.

You know, do you do you want to preserve green space and preserve those things long term?

Speaking of green space, the green belt program has been extremely successful.

Uh 49% of the county's total acreage is protected, we estimate, which is second in all the counties in the state.

Transit.

Um Carta, who manages and operates the transit program, has been able to upgrade the fleet, over 125 vehicles, improved bus stops, and very importantly is the Low Country Rapid Transit Project, which is regionally significant as an alternative to I-26.

We know that that corridor is extremely congested.

The Low Country Rapid Transit provides a bus rapid transit that would be outside of the flow of traffic and run down Rivers Avenue and serve from the fairgrounds area into downtown Charleston.

But funding for the sales tax program can also be implemented in increased route frequency, increased route expanding route services.

So those are all things that are are considered or could be considered.

We know that their service miles have drastically increased along with passenger trips have uh increased significantly since 2004, with the sales tax being a very important uh funding mechanism for public transit.

So what's changing?

And I think we all know this, right?

Uh since 2004, at a 33% increase in population.

So that's about 110,000 residents just in Charleston County, not including Berkeley and Dorchester.

We also know that vehicle registrations have gone up 40, 41 and a half percent since 2008.

So we know there's more cars on the road.

What do we project in the next 10 years?

Another 42,000 people uh moving into Charleston County.

More people, more cars, more traffic.

So, call to action.

Where are we now?

As I mentioned, councils formed a special committee to consider this.

They haven't decided if they're gonna uh put this forward in November of 2026, if they're gonna put forward a referendum or not.

They want to hear from from you, they want to hear from the community.

Is this something that the community wants to do?

Um so now we're we're undertaking our listening sessions, which is what we're here doing tonight.

We'll continue to do this at other municipalities, and then we'll host some of our own public meetings as well.

With the idea of we take that information back to county council in January, uh, and then we work on um project list in the early spring and develop a plan with the goal of developing a plan that is transparent and can be trusted by the public and identifies what will be accomplished over the 25 years of this program.

So investment categories.

Um, first off, we're estimating about four and a quarter billion dollars would be raised over the life of this 25 year program.

We've kind of broken that down into investment categories kind of for your consideration with a thought process of beginning with the end in mind.

So, where would you like to see money invested so that at the end of the 25 years we accomplish what we set out to do?

And we've broken those down into greenbelt program, as I mentioned, um protecting uh purchasing land, also access to waterways, we've heard is important things.

That's something that's important to the town.

Bike and PED, you know, closing gaps, addressing safety issues, um, more sidewalks, more bike access.

Um, and we've allocated that as a specific category in this for your consideration.

Before it was just in the infrastructure portion, now we're actually breaking it out for for your consideration.

Public transit, as I mentioned, you know, um expanding services, uh, low country rapid transit, and then roadways.

So roadways could be encompassing of improving pavements.

One of the things I like to mention is you know, I know our roads aren't great.

There's there's potholes that are not in great condition.

But if you look at our percent of good roads as compared to the state at large, we're 73% better if of good roads in good condition, which I know can be surprising because we see our roads in the condition that they're in.

But can you imagine if we didn't have the half cent sales tax, which funds four million dollars annually into that program?

Now we do project that over the next 25 years we need to up that the 10 million that we're putting in combined with other funding.

It needs to be up around 30 million just to maintain the overall condition index of the life of the program.

And we have partnered with the town on that um through the years of to get a better bank for our buck.

Uh rural safety, so improving rural roads, intersection safety, so could there be allocation specific to in it to address intersection safety?

Uh, and then bottlenecks, so that could be widening of roads, that could be intersections, that could be operational changes like signal coordination, which I know the town has been very upfront with that, but could we regionally uh develop a program or a plan where all the signals in the region are are connected?

So finally the call to action, so to get involved.

So we've got our questionnaire, we'll have ongoing workshops, uh, we've got an email address, uh, people can stay stay informed through our website as well, listed there, and then a QR code here uh that's also in the leave behinds that hopefully you all have at your desk there.

Uh you can scan that QR code, and we would request um from the town that that by December 1st, uh if you so choose to submit a list of your priorities specifically in those investment categories.

What do you think those percentages or what what do you think is appropriate for the town?

Uh and then also getting into specific what projects uh would would the town like to see that would be priorities for the town.

And then we've got some questions there just to get you think, you know, we want to know what have been the successes, what have been the challenges of the program?

Are those those categories that we put forward?

Are those the right categories, or do you know of others that should be added?

So with that, I'll conclude my uh presentation.

Happy to take questions uh if you have any.

Uh Eric, just a quick question.

Um, they have had a couple of meetings.

Uh it's either two or three meetings where they've asked the mayors to come, and I I let the chairman know that December 1st is not a great date for this body to try to have something done.

Um, so but you know, uh the others they have the election in November and they're sworn in in January.

We have new council members, and um what's what's the date of committee day?

Uh what's the first Monday in December?

Is it's past the first, I think.

But um, what's that?

December first.

It is December 1st.

So um, I mean, we'll talk with council and everything, but uh I I know from what I've been told that is not a hard and fast date that if we don't get it in, it doesn't get considered, but just understand that's a difficult date for us.

Yes, sir.

My apologies.

I remember that conversation.

Sure.

We could certainly do it later in December.

All right.

Thank you.

Yes, sir, Ms.

Row.

Um why should our citizens trust the county with um more money after the main project that was supposed to happen for the town of Mount Pleasant was Highway 41, and it's been completely mismanaged and botched.

So I think um to your point, we've heard the issue of trust, and and that's what this outreach and listening session uh approach is different than what we've done in the past.

It's a new approach to be transparent, uh, to get the input from the public and develop a plan that can be trusted.

So whether uh you know, someone's you know, trust levels with specific people, we're trying to focus on a transparent plan that can be uh you know trusted and understood of what would be accomplished and what the priorities of that plan would be.

Okay, so there were some recent quotes in the paper with some um elected uh officials uh of county council um essentially laughing at the citizens of Mount Pleasant um not saying very nice things about this community.

Um this is not something that you can answer, but uh however I do think it would be wise um for them to hear the message that a new sales tax will not get passed with the issues currently out here in the town of Mount Pleasant.

If you look at the numbers of the last sales tax referendum that tried to be passed, um, particularly that Highway 41 area voted it down by an incredibly large margin.

Um so I think until those issues are addressed and they come to the table.

Uh I know it won't have my support, and I don't want to speak for anybody else, but um anyway, those are my thoughts.

Yeah, I I can't speak for our elected officials.

I will say that from a staff perspective, we have always had a great working relationship with your staff that are in uh staff before.

Yeah, I get it.

Yes, sir.

Hard to follow up that act, but yes.

The Mike, I I believe we voted the last time for what we're asking for, and we we we turned in our top three, and I believe the top one, I think totally got ignored.

I mean, is that is that is that going to is that gonna I mean I guess I'm following up with his question.

So is that gonna change?

Because we I I believe number one was the uh Houston North Cutton 17 overpass is the biggest one.

And that was and and not necessarily an overpass.

Well, right, the inner system is yeah, I'm I'm I'm down.

Yeah, yes, but that and then and and that was ignored as well.

So you're asking for our input.

We rank them one, two, three, and then they don't come back one, two, three.

So and maybe maybe there's an explanation on on what you guys see from the county side that that matters.

But if we're gonna spend the time to put it on committee and spend the time to put on council and and and use staff money and time, we would we would like that to be listened to as as well.

If we rank it number one, we're up here as elected officials.

We believe we're representing the best interests of our citizens, and and we think that's what they want.

So um I'm not we're obviously not gonna talk about tonight, but we yeah, go ahead.

Thank you.

So we could understand I think uh your staff's put together a great plan of of priorities.

The reason we ask again is maybe priorities have changed.

Don't know, but uh and then ultimately county council makes the decision on the on the list, but we're trying to develop that transparent process.

Okay, excellent.

Thank you.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Chapman.

Uh first of all, Mr.

Adams, thank you for coming and explaining this to us rather than just sending us some paper to look at, because that's what we had for the last one.

Um half cent sales tax is something that is near and dear to my heart.

I had the privilege of working with the state legislature to get the law passed that actually allows us to do this.

That was the same law that allowed CARTA to get started after three attempts.

One in 2000, one in 2002, and finally, as I said, and here 2004.

Without the passage of this half cent sales tax, the local option for Carta dries up without the local option for Carta.

There is no federal funds because without the local option, you are not entitled to federal funds.

It's significant for me to try to work with County Council to put together a plan that we as Mount Pleasant Council think is the best plan and to get it on the ballot.

Certainly Houston Northcut 17 is important, but there were some other projects that I also felt were important to Mount Pleasant.

So we as a council need to get together, and there may be more than just the three that Councilmember Icofano mentioned.

There may be some new ones.

County Council has helped us get to where we are now with some of these bike pet plans.

So I want to make sure that that continues to be part of the plan.

We need to say what we like and try to get those projects done.

And so that that's what I would pledge to do to work with other members of council to come up with the plans that we think are most important to our community and then work with county council to get those plans on.

There's one other thing that I didn't see on the list of types of projects was drainage.

Obviously, drainage is very significant to Mount Pleasant, especially since losing the over five million dollars from the federal funds to the Edwards Basin.

So let's work together, come up with a plan and then work with County Council to get that plan involved.

And please, let's try to support it because there are a lot of people in this community that if they don't have CARTA, don't have a job.

They can't get to work.

So it's significant for our restaurants, it's significant for our hotels, it's significant for our residents that use Carta.

So that's that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am, Ms.

Wood.

So we've talked about some of the infrastructure projects, but I'm wondering about the definition of green space uh and green belt.

Do you guys define that?

Do we define that?

Are there restrictions on what can be included in that category?

So I actually have uh Eric Davis here with our greenbelt program.

Um here he is.

You can much better answer that question for you.

Thanks.

Um the county does have uh a comprehensive greenbelt plan.

Ultimately, the Department of Revenue defines exactly what it can be used for.

And right now it's primarily for acquisition of land or interest in land, so conservation easements as well as fee simple purchases.

One of the aspects that has been brought up uh the leadership of this was Mayor Coxwell is um more of not to not to step on Eric's job and you do a great job and all that.

But um, if we let's say we all get behind it, and and first of all, um I have just encouraged the chairman to uh what was the green space percentage was it like 13, 14 in the initial course there is no plan yet.

This was a pie chart, it was an idea.

It was 52 percent.

And we'd like to see that 20 um because as we all know, our green infrastructure is part of our resiliency infrastructure too, and that's less money we need for pipes to put in the ground and all that.

But um we we would like to find a way that there's a checklist for green belt spending that if we meet those things and we check those boxes, we don't have to go through the green belt advisory board and then council to vote on money that we voted to give them in the first place, and it would be a quicker way, and um and it would take some of the regional politics that Mr.

Rambo was talking about out of it and and let us have more control, which is I know a bad word, but control over where if we get some can get behind this, and I I don't know how, but I'd love to find a way for this to include undergrounding of power lines because that is a this might be our only shot at a pool of four billion dollars, you know, for that kind of resiliency infrastructure.

But anyway, we will have that conversation as a town, and um I'm glad you brought that up.

Thank you, Miss Whitaker.

Yes, sir, Mr.

Tinky.

No, I echo the I echo the stormwater.

I think it's important.

We all know where the roads flood today, and those are real issues for us, and so it's important to get those taken care of.

I do think the the green belt as far as being able to take cars off the road uh is a very important part of it.

And I do think whatever ways that you can see that we can work together and play well together in the sandbox, uh, we're all open to it.

I mean, I I know we all are, and that way, because we will work together as a community to help the community.

So any ways that you think are are helpful with that, just let us know.

We stand ready.

Thank you.

Is that it?

Thank you very much.

We appreciate it.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry, just one thing.

I did talk to I talked to Councilman uh Sass and bring this up to council later, but you know, and and Mr.

Rambo, you bring up a good point.

I mean, maybe it's time to have a workshop with the county, invite them in.

Let's hug it out a little bit.

And uh, Mr.

Turner knows all those.

Well, they did, they did, but I think I think uh um, you know, if we can get with Mr.

Sass and he can he can try to rally them and let's just bring everybody together for a three three-hour workshop one day and um and lock ourselves in a room and figure this out, and it helps humanize things, right?

So all right, thank you.

Thank you.

Right, thank you.

Appreciate it there.

All right, that concludes item four D.

Item five is approval of minutes from October 6th, 2025 special town council meeting, October 14th special and regular council meetings and the September 25 financial statement.

Move to approve second motion and a second.

Any discussion?

Uh yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Um, I worked with our clerk on uh a change that's strictly a scribbler's error, but there was a change made.

So just want to let people know that.

All right.

Any other discussion?

All right, all in favor of the motion to approve, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

The minutes are approved.

Item six is public comment.

If you're here to make a public comment, please come forward when your name is called, name and address in two and a half minutes, please.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Just one speaker signed up this evening, Brian Stress.

Good evening, everybody.

Brian Stress 545 brand of you.

As I mentioned, uh just wanted to introduce myself.

I have uh entered myself as a candidate for the vacancy and the Board of Zoning Appeals Committee.

A little bit about myself.

I uh I've been in construction for 32 years in the industry, started my career as a laborer, worked myself up through the ranks from laborer to carpenter, carpenter uh foreman with the union, superintendent, uh, national construction manager and senior project director now.

Um I know my experience would be valuable for the position, not only because of my background to be able to assess and design and and details on plans, but to also offer alternatives for any projects that may arise for for uh any individuals and be able to work with community members to help those projects progress.

So want to thank you for consideration.

Was that it?

That's all I have, sir.

Is there anyone to speak that didn't get the chance to sign up?

All right, public comment is closed.

Item seven is consent agenda items.

There are no consent agenda items.

Item eight is planning new business, and I'd just like to remind everybody that items one through four, well, excuse me, one through three are all first reading.

Thank you, Mayor.

Council move to approve item eight A1.

Second.

Okay.

Have a motion to approve and a second.

This is six acres.

Uh, this is the annexation of two parcels on Chandler Road.

Um, and we're in discussion, but if you just give us an idea where Chandler Road is, please.

Yes, sir.

So let me zoom out there.

There you can see it's just past Pepper Plantation across from Bowls Bay.

It is outside of the urban growth boundary.

Now I'll zoom in a little bit.

Uh this particular parcel is actually a little over a mile off of Highway 17.

Um it is in the county, it is in the 10 mile historic district.

It does come to you with uh recommendation for approval from both the commission and planning committee.

Um while it is in the 10 mile historic district right now, um it's adjacent to properties that are zoned RC2.

They are requesting RC2, so it is an appropriate zoning, and in the county right now, it is it will have the same density, however, the county is looking at changing their density to make it in rural residential to make it one unit per one acre.

So he does the applicant does understand that he's gonna be one for three in the RC2 and that that will not change.

And again, that comes to you with a recommendation for approval.

Yes, sir, Ms.

Tinker.

I personally would move to defer uh thus I'll vote because I think it's important to I think no uh November the 20th, the counties uh will be voting on these areas as well.

Um and it has a historic overlay, so it reminds me a little bit about if somebody came to the old village and said let's take this six acres out of the old village and make it something else.

I I personally think we should wait and see what the county does before we move forward with this and work in parallel with them both on the historic designation as well as the zoning.

Yes, uh Ms.

Reed, I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

Um it's currently zoned three units per acre in the county or no.

In the county, it's rural residential, which right now is one unit per three acres.

Uh they have had first reading of their historic overlay zoning.

So it's already historic in a historic district.

It will remain in that historic district unless it's annexed into the town.

But what the the county is looking at is that overlay zoning.

And like I said, that got first reading, it will get third reading, and the first reading passed with an amendment to increase their rural residential density uh from one unit to one acre.

And this um our um RC2 zoning that's one unit per three acres as well.

So it's a a comparable um zoning as to what it currently is in the county.

That's correct.

Okay, thank you.

You just remember point of clarification.

I the motion on the table is only for the annexation.

Yes.

Just not the zone.

Yeah, I understand.

I just wanted to make sure I had the um the facts straight.

Okay.

Um if nobody else has their hand up.

My question is, okay, which which one of these is the one we're we're looking at 6.5 acres.

Which one is the is the one applying?

So it's it's portions of two parcels.

So it's this one here.

I don't know if you can see my yeah, and then there's that little sliver up there.

And so the proposal is to annex those two in, and here's what that would look like, and then add it to the adjacent RC2 parcel.

And that would be the six and a half acres, and you would get one for three, so you could get two units out of it.

Okay, everything to the left on along Chandler Road.

Is that county or town?

It is all county.

That's correct.

So we're gonna have this little isolated island that we're gonna bring into the town and provide services to for two houses.

Well, we already have this is all town here, right?

Yeah, so we already that's already in the town with a residence and zoned RC2.

So as are these two houses here.

So how many houses is that?

Uh one, two, three, I think.

So there's gonna be five houses in the town.

And we gotta go out there and pick up trash and um do all those things.

I I I'm just y'all, I I'm not for annexation for annexation's sake.

Um we I mean, I don't know that the taxes on these would be enough to you know cover the services that we provide.

So I'm I'm leaning towards being a no vote on this.

Yes, sir, Mr.

I'll just reiterate we have a letter from uh 10 mile.

We have signatories on it, the neighbors would like to have it stay um in the county and um and and the settlement areas and and really respect uh their wishes, and I think it's precipitous again as we were last time to vote something in without really listening to the will of the county and to the people.

Yes, ma'am, that's right.

You mentioned there are already two houses that we that are just past this that are in the town.

Yeah, if you can go pass.

If you can see this is in the town, this is in the town, and this is in the town.

Okay, so we're already going out there to provide services for those three.

So this would just uh add two more residences, yes, ma'am.

Okay, so we're already going out there.

All right.

Uh the motion is to approve this is on item A1 for the annexation.

Again, this is first reading.

We get another side at this next month.

Um we might have to do a roll call.

Because I think it's gonna be a split vote.

Mr.

Brownstein.

Yes.

Mr.

Brownstein votes yes, Mr.

Chapman.

Yes, Mr.

Chapman votes yes, Miss Crosby.

No.

Miss Crosby votes no.

Miss Hyatt.

Yes.

Ms.

Hyatt votes yes.

Mr.

Icofano.

Yes.

Mr.

Icafano votes yes, Mr.

Rambo.

Yes.

Mr.

Rambo votes yes.

Mr.

Tinky.

No.

Mr.

Tinky votes no.

Ms.

Whitaker.

Yes.

Miss Whitaker votes yes.

Mayor Heaney.

No.

Mayor Haney votes no.

Six to three.

Six to three.

The motion carries.

All right.

First reading.

Ordinance number two five zero four nine.

We will see that next month.

All right.

Item two is uh move to approve item two.

Second.

All right.

So tell us again this would be how many units per acre?

It'd be one unit per three acres, and they're looking at bringing in six and a half acres.

So it would be essentially two new units out there.

And it matches the county's density.

It matches the county's current zoning, that's correct.

Which the county's actually thinking about increasing.

That's correct.

And we're leaning this in and zoning it this way.

Right.

We're actually saving density, essentially.

If the new if that overlay gets approved, that's correct.

And we we had that conversation with the applicant and they wanted to come on in with RC2.

Okay.

So it'll be one one unit per three acres.

Per three acres.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

And this is simply the zoning.

All right.

We have motion and second.

Any other discussion?

All right.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

I'm opposed.

All right.

Motion carries.

First reading ordinance number two five zero five zero.

Item number three, please.

Yes, sir.

So this is an ordinance to amend three different sections of our zoning code.

Uh I'm gonna start with the height and the detached accessory structures.

Um let's see.

So this first section applies recommend approval item three.

Okay.

Second.

All right.

The motion is to approve.

We're in discussion.

If you'll just continue force, please.

Okay.

So the first section would apply as you can see here in the old village historic district.

Uh specific to the old village, it would uh lower the maximum heights for detached accessory structures back down to 20 feet or the height of the principal structure.

It would also increase the setbacks for a detached accessory structure from six feet to ten feet.

Um this particular section here applies to all uh detached accessory structures throughout the town, so outside of the old village.

Um and to the ordinance amendments here are in this table.

So what we've done is add footnotes.

Right now you can have a six-foot side and rear setback.

Um if you were to uh keep your height at 25 feet, but any portion of that over 18 feet, you have to meet a 10 foot setback.

Um we've also added in the uh the fact that you can no longer you already can go up to 850 feet there, but you can um also cannot exceed that 40 percent of your primary structure.

So it's just an added level of kind of keeping the ADU in the same mass and scale as your primary structure.

Um I can go ahead and talk about BAR as well if you'd like.

That's a question before you move on from the accessory structures.

Umside of the old village historic district.

Um the accessory structure is capped at what 25 feet or no taller than the primary structure.

That's correct.

Okay, yeah.

That's uh footnote number two down there.

So in all cases, whether you're in the old village or outside, your maximum height of your detached accessory structure cannot exceed your primary structure height.

And is this only um uh the old Mount Pleasant area or is this town wide?

It's town wide.

It's town wide.

Okay, and then BAR.

Um again, this already applies to the old village historic district.

It's been in place for many years.

The proposal and the amendment would extend it to old Mount Pleasant, and I'll show you those boundaries in a minute.

But the BAR would apply to new construction of residences and additions and accessory use buildings, any accessory use that's above over 144 square feet.

Um there are some minimums and maximums to this that are built in, and really this is about in those older neighborhood character, keep maintaining that neighborhood character of these um of these older neighborhoods and um looking at the size, mass and scale of these um rebuilds and additions that we're seeing.

So this is basically just worth saying um since we we have been um maneuvering with this for quite a while.

These are areas that do not have HOAs, and um it falls upon the town to try to protect and give these neighborhoods the protection that I would say just about every other neighborhood in town.

Of course, some of the older ones don't, other older ones um to protect the character of their neighborhood and to have you know where you don't have a 1500, 1650 square foot house, and then right next door somebody builds a you know 4,500 square foot house in the neighborhood, it just looks hot spot.

So we're also trying to protect their rights to to sell.

I had some people that live on one of these streets today say don't make it too restrictive, and I don't think we're making it too.

And this also helps with resiliency as well.

Right.

Thank you very much.

Sorry, thank you for that.

No, that's perfectly fine.

So this is these are the boundaries of our neighborhood preservation overlay district.

Um we did look, the commission and committee both looked at whether it should extend to these other neighborhoods.

Ultimately, the decision was made to have it apply to this area in highlighted, so just up to the uh Ben Sawyer Coleman.

So what this looks like then is an amendment to um the section of the ordinance dealing with the neighborhood preservation overlay district, and we literally just took the language from the old village historic district ordinance, moved it over into this section, make it apply to that specific area, old Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Um, and then the one thing we did remove was in the old village there's a requirement that 10% of your BAR has to be a front porch.

That did not make sense in this area because there are other regulations that apply in this area, which is within that neighborhood preservation overlay district.

So those didn't work together.

So we did remove that requirement, and then we also included right here.

Um if you look at the old village BAR, your minimum house size is 2500.

That's because all the lots in old villagers owned R1 or R2, mostly R2.

In this extended area, we have some R3, R4, and PD.

So we've added in that there's a minimum house size of 1800 square feet, and that's in proportion to the lot sizes of those R3R4 districts.

So those are the only changes to the to the meat of the BAR ordinance that we carried over from the old village historic district.

And uh with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Okay.

Again, this is first reading.

Yes, sir.

So um if there are any details, and I know these numbers can make you hit spin.

You know, you look at the things about cathedral ceilings and all that kind of stuff building area, but if there's some numbers, we can hammer them out at second reading between now and then.

This is simply first reading, yes or Ms.

Tinky.

It's a great start.

Um there was question um or observation that if um the building height of the high relative was not um was could not as hot, but couldn't be any higher than the existing structure that the houses could be torn down with exacerbate demolitions, but I think one of the discussions that I wanted to know where it uh where it is, was to say that uh anything 50 years and older would have an extra layer of protection, so it wouldn't automatically be destroyed.

And um, so where did where did that go in the discussions at the commission and the committee level that 50 years because it's easy to show it, but you you can just show your title and see that give an extra layer of protection.

Yeah, that's a great question, and we talked a lot about that with the commission.

And you're right, it's easy to see.

We know how many houses in that area are at least 50 years and older, it's about half of them.

The challenge was what are those review criteria?

Because this area in old Mount Pleasant, they don't go to the HDPC.

Um so if we were to come up with some sort of criteria to to look at to give it you know a little extra scrutiny, um, who would do that?

Um, what would the criteria be?

So we kind of these were some easy, easier fixes.

Um we never really got beyond that discussion of yeah, we can identify these older structures, but but then what do we do?

Do we send all of those to the commission?

Um I think it'd be a good one to look at because so many of these have been torn down because they don't have a layer of protection.

So if we could figure out some simplified way of doing it, um perhaps other areas have done it with the mid-century modern homes, etc.

It'll be helpful because they're just going down right after one after another.

So we need we need that protection, I think.

Mayor.

Yes, sir.

Um I I agree with with some of the the changes um in this zoning code.

I would say my overarching concern is that this these changes were prompted um by a relatively small group of of citizens months ago, and we haven't really heard much public comment since then.

Uh so I'd really encourage uh the people who live in in old Mount Pleasant specifically to pay close attention to what's being proposed here and to hopefully give us some some feedback um on it now that we're kind of at a stage where it's relatively finalized.

Um the one thing I I definitely agree with is the the building area ratio, it's been a concern of mine.

Um, seeing that the scale of some of the homes that are being built uh in old Mount Pleasant.

Uh I do have concerns about the height of the accessory structure um not exceeding the height of the home.

Um I think in in some instances that that likely will encourage somebody to demolish the home in order to get that height on the accessory structure.

Um I also think that you know there's a lot of folks in old Mount Pleasant um who have lived here for a long time, their kids are growing up.

Um if their kids are going to be able to afford to live in Mount Pleasant, it might be an accessory structure on the person's property.

And so I I'm a little weary about about that aspect um uh of this plan and uh I'd like to to really hear from the public before our final reading uh next month on this, because I think it's you know, we it's something we've all been discussing, but we haven't really received much public input about it um to date.

And I'm also a little weary about the idea, you know.

Although I don't want to see homes demolished, I'm not sure creating a de facto um historic district in this area is going to be be very popular um with the residents.

Um I just think that that people really need to pay attention uh to some of these changes um as they contemplate what their their future plans are with the property, whether it's remaining there and adding on or building an accessory structure or whether it's eventually selling, um, these could have a dramatic impact on the value of the property.

Uh so I'd really encourage residents to take a close look at these and and please let us know what you think.

Yes, one lesson.

Uh uh I agree there shouldn't be a historic district, and I also agree with your point.

How many homes are we talking about in old Mount Pleasant?

How many structures?

I want to say there were about 2400, 2500.

So 2400.

I I think it's important enough to when in doubt ask the customer.

And so I think between the first and the second reading, 2400 is not a lot.

And so I think if we had a simple flyer or something that went to them, we communicate them in the best possible way.

I know Mount Pleasant Waterworks does a series of things.

They put a sign up, they put um communication out in the form of a flyer, they send an email if they have it, and with some schematics.

Y'all did a great presentation to the planning commission, did an ex excellent one to the committee where you showed how these things could actually work out and you showed how they would have freedom to build larger houses.

It wouldn't be restricted, they still could add on to their houses, et cetera.

But I think if we have some type of good communication put together to them, then at least we've done everything we can to let people know so we don't have something happen after the fact and people said we didn't know about it, you know.

We've we've really overcommunicated it.

And I I think simple things like happened with uh um engineering did with the um Edwards um drainage plan was excellent.

They put a tent out, they answered questions on the weekend, they put flyers out, they talked to people, and then you had really buy-in because really people felt like they had been heard.

So anything like that I think would be great.

All right, the motion is to approve.

Yes, sir.

Sorry.

So could you go back?

There's part of this is the entire town as well.

Uh did you state that the height the the increase in setbacks for the height of detached accessory structures, that would apply to all of town.

BAR would not apply.

Right, and that change again on the entire town again.

Yeah.

So all of town, this would apply.

So right now you can have a detached accessory structure at 25 feet height, six feet off your property line.

What this says is if you any portion of that over 18 feet, you have to meet that 10 foot side and rear setback.

So it's a step back the higher you go.

And then also the maximum height shall not exceed the height of the principal structure.

The citizens of Mount Pleasant.

And I I just I think the citizens need some more time to see this, and and the outreach needs to be real.

I mean it's first reading.

Yeah, I know it's first reading, but uh I don't I'm gonna be a no vote because I I don't I don't feel our citizens have been given enough time.

This is a very large impact on a person's home value that people rely on.

And um and I know our first reading works, we can't make changes, and that second reading comes up quick, and it just goes uh I just I mean I think with the the tree ordinance and we've done a lot of things to people's properties lately and and I'm starting to hear it, and um I think we're taking a lot of rights away from people.

I could agree with I I hear the setbacks.

There's there's some things I agree with on this, and there's some things that I think uh the citizens need to be able to come out and and and talk about it.

And I don't know that I'm comfortable having them both on the same on the same uh uh agenda item anyway.

One is one is town sweeping and one is one section of uh of the town.

I don't I don't know why they didn't actually come separately.

So for the lack of uh information that our citizens are gonna get on their home, their single largest investment um to be given 30 days.

Uh I don't think it's gonna be very good time.

So for that I'm I'm a no vote, although I agree with some of the things on here.

Yes, sir, Ms.

Chum.

Yes, sir.

Um Mr.

Icofano, the committee in reviewing this has gotten a lot of comments where these large accessory drilling units are right next to the property line, and you can see in your neighbors windows.

That's the whole reason for making this be this specific smaller aspect be town wide to keep people from building these large accessory dwelling units next to the property line, and then being able, whoever's in that accessory dwelling unit, being able to look in their neighbor's window.

So that's the whole reason for it.

We need some kind of restriction.

I agree with the setback stuff, and I've seen it, and I think we should also be including some things we could talk about.

Obviously, we can't do it, but you know how windows are placed and things like that.

If you're gonna be looking over somebody's property, maybe you can't put they do uh what do they call that when the window's higher?

Um they have a name for it.

I don't I don't know what it is.

I'm not in planning.

What is it?

I don't what is it?

There you go.

Something like that if you're looking down on somebody's property.

So I think there's some things we could do with that as well.

And and I agree with the 10 feet.

I just think I I think the public needs a little bit more time than 30 days is is my largest, largest concern.

This is their most people single most um their largest investment is their property, and that that's what I fear.

Ms.

Hyatt.

Um I would just say this has been a topic of conversation for years for decades.

People in these neighborhoods begging us to protect the character of their neighborhoods, and so I think we're finally taking action, and so I have no hesitation for for these um suggested items for us to approve.

Okay.

All right, the motion is to approve, and this is first reading.

This is item um a three.

All in favor of the motion to approve, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

No.

All right.

Motion carries.

First reading ordinance number two five zero five one.

Okay.

Item four, this is another one of these um uh vested rights.

We have we have a motion to approve.

Did I hear a second?

Second.

Um, just for a point of board, and let's ask our attorney to uh describe this.

This is sort of a uh we're one of the only ones that votes on, I believe this, right?

Others are granted by staff, yeah.

Some are, some are it the originating body wherever it comes from would be the one to extend it.

So for example, if it came from one of our other boards or commissions, uh such as DRB, they would vote on it in this case.

Um this is a uh this is a planned development, and uh impact it came from an impact assessment, so um that's why it's before council.

Okay, as you are aware, sir.

The state it comes up.

We say talk about this all the time.

The state can't tell uh the legislature cannot tell you how to vote, but they can tell you what the result will be if you vote no.

So that's the way it works.

Okay.

Mr.

Yes, sir.

Um I think I asked a version of this at committee, but I'm asking differently.

Um we so can we not write a in our town ordinance uh that by our town ordinance that these are approved at a staff level if they meet the requirements in state law?

Sir, we yes, sir.

This was brought up a few years ago, and I believe I I don't think there's anything in the state code in the planning act that would prevent that from happening.

Um, but we'll be happy to look at the okay.

I would like to if you'd like I don't know if that a proper committee is oh committee, yeah.

Yeah, I mean no, I'm right if the proper committee is PJ L or planning either or both, yes, sir.

Um I would we'll we'll say PJL.

If PJL could please take a look at that because uh I think it's silly that it's voted on, and then also when you have commission of citizens, and they might get public pressure or input on something like this that could get the town sued when it's a slam dunk lawsuit.

I don't know why if there's really not a choice to be made.

Why do we vote?

Yes, right.

So anyway, okay, thank you.

I agree.

All right.

So um I did not write down that we didn't have a motion, do we?

We did two approved.

That's right.

Thank you.

I just didn't write it down.

All right, so the motion is to approve, and y'all understand the situation.

So all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed motion carries okay.

Uh B, there are no planning old business items.

Section nine is committee action items.

There are none.

Section 10, council business, new business.

Uh A one adoption of a resolution by the town of Mount Pleasant authorizing a lease purchase agreement with T D equipment finance in the amount of five million seventy-five thousand dollars.

Move to approve.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor, please say I all right.

Motion carries.

Item two, it's first reading.

Again, first reading of an ordinance to amend chapter one ten of business license code of Mount Pleasant Ordinance with the update, updated sketch class schedule and other changes.

I would like to make a motion to approve.

Second, um, and this was discussed in finance committee.

It's reviewed every two years.

There's several um codes that actually are downgraded, so they will pay less taxes, but it will be revenue neutral because new businesses are coming into the town as well.

So it's revenue neutral and actually a decrease for several people.

Okay.

And there might be an increase for like one person.

Anyway, yes.

Any comment?

Yes, yes.

Um during our our um committee meeting, there was some discussion about um the requirement that nonprofits um get a business license, and there were some, I guess, questions about whether or how that would affect churches that run daycare um operations.

So I just wanted to ask uh Ms.

Harness um if she's been able to research that and if so, um, what the town has found.

Yes.

Um we did research that particular instance, and we do not have any churches that would be affected in the town.

So that one comes off the board at December Finance Committee.

We will come back to you with some specific examples of what that could look like for other businesses though, but churches and daycares was not a good example to use.

So very good.

Thank you.

Yeah, all right.

Any other discussion?

All in favor of the motion to approve, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed motion carries.

First reading, ordinance number two five zero five two.

Section B, old business.

There are no uh council old business items.

Section 11, executive session for a legal and contractual legal advice and possible action pertaining to town owned property on phase and road, b is personnel consideration of applications to serve on the planning commission.

There's one vacancy, and consideration of applications to serve on the board of zoning appeals for which there is one vacancy.

Just says a note, everybody knows we'll rearrange the seating next next month.

Now that we've got a new mayor pro tem.

Yeah, newly elected council member.

All right.

Please note that we have reconvened from executive session.

No votes were cast, no action was taken.

Do we have some motions resulting from the information and deliberation?

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

I'd like to make a motion to deny contract extension for camera property.

Second.

All right.

Motion is to deny the extension.

It has been seconded.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Motion carries.

Next, please.

Yes.

Um, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I'd like to uh make a motion to appoint Corey Barber to the planning commission.

Second.

All right.

We have a motion and a second.

Is there any discussion?

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Motion carries.

Mr.

Barber is appointed to the planning commission.

Mr.

Chapman.

Yes, sir.

Um on the board of zoning appeals, or BOSA, uh, I would like to recommend that we appoint Brian Stress for Board of Zoning Appeals.

We have second any discussion.

All right.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

All right.

Motion carries.

Congratulations, Mr.

Stress is pointed to Bozo.

There being no other uh agenda items, no other actions, we stand adjourned.

Better.

All right.