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2024 Year In Review: Countdown of Town Milestones

Posted by MPM Leave a Comment

Illustration: The road leading down 2024's memory lane, as the new year begins.
If you had a time machine that could take you back to the Town of Mount Pleasant in 1970, you might be tempted to think you had landed elsewhere by mistake.

The landscape would be home to less than 6,200 people. There would be no Memorial Waterfront Park, no Ravenel Bridge, no long-term economic development strategy for the future, no worries over greenspace and resources and no reason to think that Mount Pleasant would ever be anything more than simply another Lowcountry area attractive for its mild weather, fishing, water sports, summer beaches, history and food.

Since that time 54 years ago, Mount Pleasant has been constantly growing: steadily through the 1980s, doubling in size in the 1990s and now more than triple its population from 1990 to around 95,000 and counting — with annual 2022 overnight visitors topping 1.42 million.

With this growth has come concerns regarding affordable housing, traffic management, freshwater supply and resources, social crises and whether to limit future growth and development in drastic fashion, or to let the market continue to decide.

In 2024, area leaders and officials addressed many of these concerns with more roadway improvements, first responder upgrades, preservation projects and other proactive measures intended to lead to major turning points in the area’s long-term direction.

“All of these things are to enhance the quality of life in Mount Pleasant,” said Mayor Will Haynie.

To this end, here is a countdown of the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Top 10 achievements in 2024:

NO. 10: INSTALLATION OF EV CHARGING STATIONS

2 EVs at an EV Charging Station.This past summer, Town of Mount Pleasant (TOMP) completed the installation of 23 electric vehicle charging stations, enhancing accessibility for EV users and promoting sustainability. Eleven of the charging stations are located at town hall and 12 are at Memorial Waterfront Park.

The charging rate is set at 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, ensuring the long-term viability of this essential infrastructure. These new stations will not only provide accessible and convenient options for residents and visitors but encourage the use of electric vehicles and contribute to a greener, more sustainable community.

NO. 9: LAUNCH OF OPAL PERMITTING SYSTEM

Also this past summer, TOMP introduced a new online permitting and application licensing system (OPAL), a one-stop digital platform designed to streamline the permitting process for planning, building and construction projects.

OPAL is designed not only to enhance efficiency and provide a user-friendly experience for residents and businesses, but is also expected to ease the process of planning, building and other construction-related permit applications.

Once registered, all users – such as architects, engineers, private providers, homeowners and administrative staff for contractors/qualifiers—can submit permit applications, track requests through the review process and pay for multiple permits in one transaction.

NO. 8: LAUNCH OF GIS HUB

This most recent innovation, launched last November, will make the town’s map-based resources more accessible and interactive. This online platform offers a range of tools for exploring Mount Pleasant’s infrastructure, zoning, trash pickup and development projects.

“The new GIS Hub is a dynamic tool that provides residents and businesses with easy access to critical GIS data and applications,” said Amanda Brooks, town GIS manager. “As the site grows, we look forward to expanding its content and involving additional town departments to better serve our community.”

Residents can now easily navigate local data through an intuitive, user-friendly interface at gis-tomp.hub.arcgis.com/.

NO. 7: GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS

The town successfully secured appropriations to fund the Shem Creek Sustainability project, as well as grants for Capital Projects and Transportation totaling nearly $24 million. These funds support key initiatives such as roadway improvements, intersection upgrades and dedicated bike, pedestrian and transit infrastructure.

The money for Shem Creek, for example, made possible through the efforts of state Sen. Chip Campsen and the South Carolina Legislature, will specifically allow for dredging in the area near the town-owned public docks and the working shrimp docks, ensuring public access and economic support of the shrimping and fishing fleet.

NO. 6: TREE PLANTING AND PRESERVATION INITIATIVES

Tree Planting initiatives result in new trees being planted in Mount Pleasant, SCAs part of its Canopy Restoration Program and through the use of tree bank funds, TOMP took a big step forward in advancing tree planting and preservation efforts.

This year, with the support of a grant from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the town introduced the Community Forest Master Plan (CFMP), a comprehensive, long-term roadmap to create a healthy, thriving, proactively-managed community forest.

Complementing this effort is an expanded Take Root program, which began in 2021 as a tree-planting initiative and has since grown to include tree giveaways, educational events and beautification projects.

With nearly 5,000 trees distributed since spring 2021, Take Root empowers residents to preserve and expand the town’s tree canopy – especially since this canopy is now under constant threat from various factors including increased air pressure, the Asian long-horned beetle, hurricanes, flooding and sea level rise.

Some of the town’s public planting projects so far include:

  • Pitt Street Bridge
  • Memorial Waterfront Park
  • Town hall
  • Highway 17 streetscape
  • Coleman Boulevard streetscape
  • Future capital projects

“The overall intent is to not only keep a balance between nature and progress, but to foster a greener, more beautiful community for generations to come,” said Haynie of the initiatives.

NO. 5: NEW FIRE TRUCKS FOR MOUNT PLEASANT FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Fire Department enhanced its emergency response capabilities with the addition of two new fire trucks this past summer. Approved by the town council as far back as the 2020-21 budget, the vehicles comprise an Engine 503 and a Ladder 505, with a total cost value of $2.5 million.

Together, the two new trucks have a total water capacity of 1,250 gallons and come equipped with state-of-the-art technology and safety features, such as:

  • Ability to pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
  • Command zone TM electrical systems, currently considered among fire departments as the most reliable and configurable.
  • TAK-4® independent front suspensions, which allow for up to 10 inches of suspension travel, a light spring rate, robust design and independent wheel movement, and a system that keeps tires on track for improved overall handling and performance.
  • 500 HP Cummins X12 engines, which have been powering the fire service since 1937 and are designed with power-to-weight ratio as the lightest heavy-duty engine on the market.

Deputy Fire Chief William Barnes added that both new additions not only sport a shorter wheelbase for better maneuverability in making sharp turns and navigating tight spaces, but also a standard cab height of 12 feet, 3 inches for “better clearance in areas.”

NO. 4: AWARDS AND RE-ACCREDITATIONS

TOMP was honored with the 2024 Municipal Association of South Carolina Achievement Award for its partnership with WakeUp Carolina, which addresses the opioid crisis through peer-based recovery support.

Opioid use in the Palmetto State has been classified as an epidemic, with the South Carolina Department of Public Health reporting 2,296 drug overdose deaths in 2022 alone.

“But in the past year, we have been able to reduce overdoses in Mount Pleasant by 40% for 2023,” said WakeUp Carolina Executive Director Nanci Steadman-Shipman, who founded the community organization in 2016. “And our partnership with the Town of Mount Pleasant has really been a huge factor in making this happen.”

Since 2020, WakeUp Carolina has provided numerous events and outreach gatherings including: 657 family recovery group sessions, 825 recovery group sessions and 1,232 community events to name a few. It has also referred 2,735 individuals so far to other recovery support services, 909 individuals to recovery housing and 1,024 individuals to treatment services.

“What we are building now didn’t exist before – and we were thinking it would just benefit Mount Pleasant,” Steadman-Shipman said. “But now it is a national concern, and we are trying to be part of the solution with all the partners we can get.”

In addition to local partnerships, TOMP was also recognized for its commitment to excellence, as six departments and divisions have maintained their accreditations.

NO. 3: SIX MILE TRANSFER FACILITY EXPANSION

Rending of the Six Mile Transfer Facility replacementThis $35 million operations center has completed its first phase and begun the next stage of development to replace the current 30+-year-old facility. The center’s main purpose is to enable the Public Services Department to provide an environmentally-compliant yard debris transfer area, expand fleet maintenance capabilities and offer additional office space for town staff in a still-growing community.

With a projected population increase of nearly 30,000 residents and 6,000 new single-family residences over the next 20 years, updating this facility was critical to maintaining Mount Pleasant’s current level of service to citizens.

“This facility serves 100,000 people and provides more environmental protection with reduced noise and dust for the nearby homes,” Haynie said. “And while it still has some noise and dust, it is much better and far more efficient than our previous facility.”

NO. 2: RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS

While the Lowcountry has long been a haven for fishing, boating, kayaking and outdoor water sports, residents and visitors wishing to enjoy more competitive sports can find an array of options at the Carolina Park Recreation Complex, a $7.84 million facility situated on 77-dual acres, which has now reached its final phase.

Its wide-ranging amenities include baseball and softball fields, batting cages, pickleball and basketball courts, a dog park and a picturesque pond and nature trails, providing the community with another premier recreation destination.

The Memorial Waterfront Park Phase III project is also nearing completion. Located on 14 acres under the Ravenel Bridge, the park offers a nautical-themed playground, basketball and pickleball courts, beautiful areas for picnics and views of Charleston Harbor and a 1,250-foot-long pier.

But it is also intended to serve what its name implies: as a memorial to veterans such as Capt. Richard Cliff, Jr., who were killed in action; fallen police officers killed in the line of duty, such as Vaughn Kee; and a host of first responders.

NO. 1: TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

As the Town of Mount Pleasant continues to progress in many ways, one item that has become increasingly significant is how to handle, limit or control future growth.

“Mount Pleasant growth is part of a three-pronged issue – traffic, attainable housing and growth management,” said Town Councilman Howard Chapman in 2023 after being decisively re-elected to a second term. “And in the coming year, all the members of council are going to play a major role in solving this issue.”

Solutions in the past 12 months have included:

• Patriots Point Gateway — The scope of this just-completed $9.67 million project utilizes intersection improvements by adding turn lanes on Coleman Boulevard, Magrath Darby Boulevard and Patriots Point Road.

• All American Boulevard — This 3,200-foot-long addition is expected to not only relieve Mount Pleasant’s growing traffic issues on Highway 17, but also to better connect area neighborhoods, businesses and services.

• Maritime Port District Intersection — Long serving as a cornerstone of the area’s economic development, this project is expected to improve the mobility and safety of Long Point Road at its intersection with Wando Park Boulevard and Hobcaw Bluff Drive.

• Hungryneck Boulevard Corridor Safety — This 10-foot-wide concrete multiuse path is part of a larger corridor safety improvement project from the IOP Connector to Carolina Towne Court.

Other recently completed projects include the Hamlin Trail shared-use path; the first bridge along Mount Pleasant Way; improvements to Alhambra Hall; renovation and rebuilding of the Shem Creek Shrimp Docks; Sharrow bike facilities on Park Avenue Boulevard in partnership with Charleston County; and the Sweetgrass Basket Parkway portion of the Mount Pleasant Way with a CARTA bus shelter.

Altogether, these accomplishments are a lot to reflect upon – especially as they provide a much clearer roadmap for what lies ahead.

“I think we are in a phase now where each year is better than the last year,” Haynie said. “We are doing things strategically, putting an emphasis on resiliency and growth management practices to keep the right balance between our conservation efforts and our desire to retain Mount Pleasant as a place for attracting and keeping business.”

By L. C. Leach III

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