Mount Pleasant Town Council and Committee Meetings - July 6, 2026
Mount Pleasant Town Council and Committee Meetings - July 6, 2026
On July 6, 2026, the Town of Mount Pleasant held a series of committee meetings including Bids & Purchases, Finance, Special Town Council, Public Services, Planning, Flood Resilience, and additional committees. The sessions covered contract awards for infrastructure projects, updates on stormwater and traffic improvements, discussions on affordable housing zoning, a proposal to make the Green Commission permanent, and public comments on regional transportation and land use issues.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from the June 1, 2026 Bids & Purchases meeting (3-0 voice vote).
- Approved minutes from the April 6, 2026 Finance Committee meeting (voice vote).
- Approved minutes from the June 1, 2026 Public Services Committee meeting (voice vote).
- Approved minutes from the June 1, 2026 Planning Committee meeting (voice vote).
- Approved minutes from the June 1, 2026 Flood Resilience Committee meeting (voice vote).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robert Wills (601 Coral St, representing South Carolina Coastal Conservation League) urged support for the "road to compromise" on Highway 41 improvements, arguing the Laurel Hill Parkway is necessary to relieve congestion and that losing it could risk $60 million in state funding. He stated the project results from extensive community input and environmental review.
- Hacker Burr (Head of School, Trident Academy) and JC Taylor (Board Chair) and Barrett Brewer (Board member) opposed proposed rezoning that would affect their school property, noting it would devalue their land and hinder fundraising for their school serving students with learning disabilities. They asked council to consider the impact on nonprofits and churches.
- Unnamed speaker (from the Phillips community) requested extension of the moratorium on major subdivisions in historic districts to allow volunteer-led community planning efforts (ACAs and historic districts) to proceed.
- Robert Adams (35 East Lake Rd) and Olivia Flynn (1914 Kiln Ct) and Leah Colavello (Green Commission members) urged the Flood Resilience Committee to make the Green Commission a permanent standing commission, citing the volunteer expertise of its members (environmental engineers, former Corps commander) and accomplishments in tree planting, pollinator gardens, and community outreach.
- Unknown speaker (from Hamlin Beach) gave additional public comment on the moratorium extension (transcript truncated).
Discussion Items
- Contract Award – Vening Road & Hungry Neck Boulevard Intersection Design: Staff recommended $133,720.68 contract with HDR Engineering for design including surveys, traffic signal design, drainage, and permitting (365-day timeline). Committee member Crosby noted the intersection stacks up past a gas station and the right-turn separation will help flow.
- Contract Award – Ferry Street & Pitt Street Inlet Conversion: $185,529.84 contract with IPW Construction to convert a grate inlet to a curb inlet, repave intersection, and install crosswalk (90-day timeline). Member Tinky noted the area floods waist-deep and is heavily used by pedestrians.
- Contract Award – Queen's Court Stormwater Pipe Replacement: $190,140.68 contract with IPW Construction to replace 230 linear feet of 8-inch pipe with 24-inch HDPE pipe to address root intrusion and flooding (90-day timeline).
- Change Order – Daubre & Alhambra Basins Drainage Improvements: $373,900 change order with Thomas & Hutton for full design and permitting of drainage improvements (440-day timeline). Construction expected in 2028 pending grant extension.
- Lease Renewal – Visitor Center & Sweetgrass Pavilion: Staff recommended a 5-year lease extension through 2031 with a renewal option for the Charleston Area CVB, who have operated the facilities for 17 years. Financial terms unchanged. Committee voted to recommend approval to Town Council.
- Public Services Operations Center – Completed Phases: Presentation on the new 19,818 sq ft admin building, fleet maintenance building, and transfer yard at Six Mile facility. Total cost $39,729,000. Future phases (fuel island, warehouse) under master plan.
- Quarterly Project Updates (Public Services): Detailed updates on CIP/CMP projects including pipelining ($588k in Q4), pipe replacements, structure repairs, ditch maintenance, Edwards Park pump station upgrades ($456k), bridge/dock inspections, sidewalk repairs ($134k in Q4), town facility maintenance, landscaping on Highway 17, street sign replacements, and generator project at Town Hall ($1.3M). Staff noted 29 miles of metal pipe needing lining.
- Gregory Ferry Towns PD Amendment – Area Median Income (AMI): Proposed text amendment to expand affordable housing eligibility from 0-80% AMI to 0-150% AMI at Gregory Ferry (36 units). Staff presented scenarios showing two teachers (110% AMI) priced out under current 80% cap, and a single nurse (80% AMI) struggling to qualify for mortgage. After debate, a motion to amend to 80-120% AMI failed on a 2-2 tie (Crosby and Blair opposed; Tinky and another supported). No recommendation was made; the item proceeds to full council.
- Annexation and Zoning – 1465 Stuart Engals Blvd: Request for annexation and AB-1 zoning for a 0.34-acre parcel currently used for multiple businesses. Motivated by desire to connect to water/sewer. Planning Commission recommended approval. Committee voted to approve.
- Annexation and Zoning – Parcel on Hwy 17/Old Georgetown Rd: Annexation of 0.73 acres into Office Professional-1 zoning and Sweetgrass Basket Overlay, consistent with comp plan. Planning Commission recommended approval. Committee approved.
- Extension of Moratorium on Major Subdivisions in Historic Districts: Committee discussed extending the town's moratorium (which expires July 2026) to parallel the county's extension. Public comments noted the volunteer challenges in completing ACAs and historic district overlays (e.g., Hamlin Beach ACA adopted June 2026 after 3-year process). Committee voted to extend the moratorium (voice vote, unanimous).
- Town Noise Ordinance – Construction Hours: Councilor Crosby presented a comparison with neighboring municipalities: Charleston (Mon-Fri 7-7, Sat 9-7, closed Sun/holidays), North Charleston (11pm-7am), Isle of Palms (Mon-Fri 7-7, Sat 9-4, closed Sun/holidays), Sullivan's Island (closed Sun/holidays), Charleston County (9pm-7am). Committee discussed potential weekend restrictions but decided to gather more community input before action.
- Green Commission – Permanent Status and 2025 Report: Commission members presented accomplishments (682 trees planted, 300 native plugs gifted, 6 pollinator gardens, 1,105 residents engaged). Committee voted unanimously to recommend making the Green Commission a permanent advisory body, with a requirement to meet at least quarterly (amendment accepted).
- E-Bike Enforcement Update: Police reported 3 e-bike collisions year-to-date, 15 citations (most issued to parents), 46 e-bike warnings, and education efforts at middle schools. Chief noted nine failure-to-stop incidents; one adult arrested for stolen e-bike. Discussion on parental responsibility and school district collaboration for bike registration.
- Beach Traffic Signal Timing: Staff presented June peak hour volumes exceeding 1,000 vehicles per hour on Saturdays and Sundays. Recent adjustments increased green time for traffic leaving Sullivan's Island. Emergency timing plan available but not yet used. Communication with Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island praised.
- Mount Pleasant Way and Bike/Ped Projects: Staff provided updates on ongoing projects including Park West signal improvements, 516 Coleman (rebidding), and Mt. Pleasant Way grant application ($10M BUILD grant – not yet awarded). Bike/ped projects include crosswalks, sidewalks, and safety improvements on Weldon Royal Corridor.
Key Outcomes
- Awarded contract for Vening Road/Hungry Neck design to HDR Engineering ($133,720.68) – 3-0 vote.
- Awarded contract for Ferry/Pitt Street inlet conversion to IPW Construction ($185,529.84) – 3-0 vote.
- Awarded contract for Queen's Court pipe replacement to IPW Construction ($190,140.68) – 3-0 vote.
- Approved change order for Daubre/Alhambra basins design to Thomas & Hutton ($373,900) – voice vote.
- Recommended approval of 5-year lease extension for Visitor Center/Sweetgrass Pavilion to full council – voice vote.
- Gregory Ferry PD Amendment: Motion to approve 0-120% AMI failed 2-2; no recommendation forwarded to council.
- Approved annexation and zoning for 1465 Stuart Engals Blvd – voice vote.
- Approved annexation and zoning for parcel on Hwy 17/Old Georgetown Rd – voice vote.
- Voted to extend the moratorium on major subdivisions in historic districts – voice vote.
- Recommended making Green Commission permanent, with quarterly meeting requirement – unanimous voice vote.
- Sworn in Judges Kelly Young and Jack Sinclair for municipal court (Special Town Council).
- Entered executive session to receive legal advice on Charleston County Highway 41 improvements (no action taken).
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning, everybody. Let's uh get committee day started. Hope everybody had a great 4th of July and that you woke up on Sunday with a love for America, your family and friends, and most importantly, 10 fingers still on your hands. Um this is uh bids and purchases uh 815 agenda item number one call to order, which we've just done. Number two is approval of minutes from the June 1st, 2026 meeting. So move. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. And those minutes are approved. Uh item number three is public comments. Is there anybody who would like to speak to this board? Going once, twice. All right, public comment is closed. Item number four, award of a contract for the design of intersection improvements at Vening Road and Hungry Neck Boulevard. Ms. Harness. Okay, it looks like we have a jumble of the slides in here. Sorry. No problem. Um, I think we're on the public services committee on the board. There we go. That doesn't make sense. No, it doesn't. Sorry, one second. Thank you. All right, appreciate it, Noah. All right, item number four, award of a contract for the design of intersection improvements at Vening Road and Hungry Neck Boulevard. Ms. Harness. Yes, thank you. Good morning. Uh the bids and purchases committee previously approved the establishment of agreements with consultants to perform various types of transportation, engineering and development services on an on-call basis. Design services are needed for the vending road and hungry neck boulevard intersection projects. This project includes field surveys to determine accurate elevations and locations of existing facilities, the development of preliminary plans and construction plans to illustrate the alignment, grades, cross sections, construction limits, relevant dimensions, and location of existing features and proposed improvements, traffic signal design, and plans. Additionally, it includes the development of drainage calculations, a stormwater design report, stormwater pollution prevention plan, and erosion control plan is necessary to facilitate permitting of the construction plans for this project. The time required for design and permitting is approximately 365 days. Staff have determined that this project will require the services of HDR Engineering Incorporated of the Carolinas to design the intersection improvements for this project. Therefore, staff recommend contracting with HDR Engineering Incorporated of the Carolinas and the amount of 133, 720.68 cents to provide the design services. Thank you. Let's get a motion and get this on the table and approve. All right, so we've got it on the table. Any questions from committee members? No, I just like to make one comment. As I was coming in this morning after July 4th wicked weekend, I realized how uh fortunate we are and grateful that we live in a town and this had previous leadership and uh the staff that allow us to be able to pass on programs like this. There's many times in meeting of the municipal government that uh there's plenty of places that don't have the good fortune to do that. So we're we're blessed and should be grateful that we have the opportunity. Miss Crosby, anything? Yes, I just wanted to note um I think this would be uh a significant improvement for this intersection.
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