Mount Pleasant Town Council Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Mount Pleasant Town Council convened in a two-part session on January 13, 2026. The evening began with a special meeting dedicated to executive session and personnel reappointments, followed by the regular monthly meeting featuring public hearings, the presentation of the Crespo Historical Stewardship Award, and extensive debate regarding annexation, rezoning, and the preliminary selection of projects for a potential Charleston County sales tax referendum.

Consent Calendar

• Removal of Item 7C: Council moved to remove ordinance item 7C (perpetual easement and water contract to Mount Pleasant Waterworks) from the consent agenda to address specific language amendments, subsequently approving the consent agenda items 7A and 7B.
• General Approval: Final reading of ordinances 260001, 260002, 260003, 260004, 260005, 260006, 260007, 250505, and 250506 was conducted with motion and second.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Spedden: Expressed frustration regarding the lack of a clear update on the Highway 41 project, noting the missed January 15th deadline for a detailed update. He urged the council to prioritize a coordinated meeting with Charleston County leadership regarding Oil Hill Park alternatives to ensure community confidence in the 2026 sales tax referendum.
• Richard Habersham: Opposed the process of annexation into the town for settling communities, stating it occurred without adequate notice. He advocated for existing zoning to be respected to prevent circumvention of county zoning and requested the same historic district protection for the old village as is currently granted by the county.
• Fred Smalls: Formally opposed the annexation of property at 1651 Highway 41 (Phillips community). He argued that annexation followed by development has historically led to the destruction and disappearance of African American communities in the area.
• Mike Manhorn: Requested the installation of traffic calming devices or crossing lights along the Highway 17 corridor, citing recent safety issues and fatalities in the area to protect residents crossing to local amenities.
• Mars Snipe Richardson (President of Hamlin Beach Community): Opposed forced annexation via the town's water/sewer ordinances and called for an end to annexing properties in historic Gullah Geechee communities without their consent. She requested the town provide the same historic district protections for these communities as they receive from the county and invited staff to attend a county public hearing on January 20, 2026.

Discussion Items

• Reappointments: The council discussed and voted on reappointing Gary Davis to the Planning Commission, and Megan Gravat and Warren Player to the Historic District Preservation Commission. Council Member Tinky recused himself from the vote on Gary Davis. Subsequently, Giles Branch was reappointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
• Annexation and Rezoning (Hamlin Beach): Staff recommended approval for the annexation and zoning (CC - Community Conservation) of a 0.93-acre parcel in the Hamlin Beach Historic District. Council Members Tinky and Heaney expressed positions opposing the action, stating it erodes community protections by allowing annexation into areas currently lacking historic overlay status, despite county history. Council Member Rambo argued that denying annexation is detrimental as it allows developers to avoid town taxes and fees, though she conceded the historic overlay is still pending. The motion carried with a vote of 6-3.
• Annexation and Rezoning (White Sides Elementary Area): Staff recommended approval for the annexation and zoning (R3) of a parcel adjacent to Lural Lakes, though the Planning Commission recommended denial based on the Comprehensive Plan calling for R1/R2. Council Member Tinky opposed the rezoning to R3, citing safety concerns for White Sides Elementary and the need to prevent additional curb cuts. The motion to deny the R3 rezoning carried, which leaves the property with an automatic R1 zoning upon annexation. The annexation itself carried.
• Rezoning Exception (Earthman Drive): Discussion regarding rezoning a lot from AB1 to R2 to allow for a non-conforming residence to age in place with an addition. The motion to approve carried unanimously.
• Charleston County Sales Tax Referendum: Council debated the need to submit a preliminary list of transportation and resiliency priorities to Charleston County immediately. Staff and some council members argued for submitting the 2024 list as a starting point to maintain good faith, despite not being a final vote. Council Member Rambo and others expressed concern that voting on a preliminary list without full discussion on items like overpasses versus intersection capacity could set unfavorable precedents. It was agreed that staff would share the working draft with county staff to allow consultants to begin their work, with the final prioritization vote scheduled for the retreat on January 27, 2026.
• Vesting Periods and Limitations: A significant debate occurred regarding whether to forward requests for extensions of vesting periods to the Planning Commission for initial review or keep them on the Council agenda. Council Members Rambo, Tinky, Whitaker, Crosby, Chapman, and Mayor Heaney opposed the referral, arguing that elected officials must maintain the public's trust by not abdicating their voting responsibility on forced votes to an appointed body where no outcome is legally possible anyway. The motion to deny the referral (keeping the items on Council agenda) passed 6-3.
• Gary Santos Recreation Park Road Name: The Transportation Committee unanimously recommended naming an access road in honor of former Mayor Linda Page, despite a brief concern about naming a facility after a currently elected official.

Key Outcomes

• Reappointments Carried: Gary Davis, Megan Gravat, Warren Player, and Giles Branch were all reappointed to their respective commissions and boards.
• Annexation Approved (Hamlin Beach): The annexation and CC zoning for the Hamlin Beach parcel was approved by a vote of 6-3 (Members Crosby, Hyatt, Ikafana, Rambo, Whitaker, Chapman, and Brownstein voted; Tinky, Heaney, and others voted against or recused).
• Rezoning Denied (White Sides): The request to rezone from R4 to R3 near White Sides Elementary was denied (Motions carried to deny rezoning), while the annexation itself was approved.
• Ordinances Adopted: Multiple ordinances regarding rezoning (R1 to AB1, R3 denial), vesting periods, and right-of-way grants (DOT, MPW) were approved or adopted with specific language amendments.
• Legacy Recognition: Lynette White received the Crespo Historical Stewardship Award for her work preserving Gullah Geechee culture through the Plantation Singers and radio programming.
• Road Dedication: The motion to name the Gary Santos Recreation Park internal road after former Mayor Linda Page carried.
• Future Actions: The transportation committee draft regarding sales tax referendum priorities will be shared with staff for submission to the County, with a final definitive vote to occur at the January 27 retreat.