Personal Injury Attorney in Mt. Pleasant, SC

During a public meeting that elicited voluminous feedback on a proposal to add attainable housing in Carolina Park, the Mount Pleasant City Council voted 8-1 on March 12 in favor of amending Development and Usage Standards to make way for 100 new townhomes.

The first reading's controversial decision was rendered after two public hearing sessions that saw one faction of homeowners decry the traffic impacts that the new homes would produce in an already congested area along Park Avenue Boulevard.

Other local stakeholders, conversely, spoke in favor of the development by citing the opportunities it would present for working-class residents and first responders to afford real estate in a largely cost-prohibitive community.

The proposal involves a 12.6 acre tract that was sold by Seacoast Church to Tony Berry, a locally-based developer and owner of Prosperity Builders.

In providing background on the project, Town Planning Director Michele Reed explained that the property in question is zoned PD (Planned Development), as the parcels involved are designated for industrial and commercial uses.

In displaying a graphic of the area, Reed highlighted green wetland sections that would remain untouched, as development would exclusively transpire on approximately 4 acres of high ground.

Many of the homeowners in attendance weren't as much interested in the zoning specs as they were in the type of increased gridlock new homes would bring, as well as related safety concerns.

Kevin Reilley lamented the waiver of zoning requirements being requested by local government with little or no notice to Mount Pleasant residents.

"This is only the first public meeting, yet planners are already seen in the press [stating] that they believe they can break ground on this in early summer. This concerns me and raises my suspicions," shared Reilley.

He went on to state the case for an impact study to properly inform constituents of the ramifications of ushering in 100 new homes and anywhere between 150-300 new residents, along with a slew of vehicles that could surpass the century mark.

Later in the meeting, Reed addressed the request for an impact statement by asserting that the development at hand isn't by law required to undergo an assessment as it's covered under a grandfathered impact regulation.

The Town staffer further noted that the developer did file for a traffic study that examined the types of traffic conditions 100 townhomes could generate. In referencing a couple of scenarios, Reed stated that a daycare facility and restaurant could result in 213 peak-hour a.m. trips, while residential units would register just under 50 peak-hour a.m. trips.

Reilley, however, wasn't alone in voicing his displeasure with the potential rise in vehicular traffic, with retired first responder Kevin Cunnane mentioning the lack of a roundabout structure at Stockdale Street and Park West Boulevard that would serve to quell the calamitous nature of local traffic.

A visiting Larry Gates sounded off on the prospect of 100-plus automobiles endangering his 6-year-old grandson who bikes his way to school.

Ellen Moore, on the other hand, called the new proposed venture "excessive" in light of previous attainable housing that was signed off on along Faison Road.

Steve Morris made no apologies for living in a $1 million residence and asked the Town to reconsider the hassle the undertaking would create for the existing inhabitants of Carolina Park.

Craig Logan took issue with the points of view held by some longtime homeowners. He offered: "I'd like to ask the question, right, and that's: If you were to purchase your home today ... would you be able to purchase it now?"

Adrian Cain, a local homeowners' association president, was of a similar mind when he remarked that Mount Pleasant is in a housing crisis. He expressed concern about his 16-year-old daughter, a Wando High School student, not being able to afford to live in her hometown by pursuing her desired career path.

Cain asked for a balanced, reasonable and intentional strategy to address keeping essential law enforcement workers in town, many of whom are earning average salaries of about $53,000 annually.

As the would be developer of the development, Berry also approached the Town Hall lectern to advise listeners that he sent a site plan request to Charleston County to gain perspective on rampant congestion. The County, he reported, maintained that there would be virtually no impact from his construction to employees and students of nearby Wando High School.

"Data shows we generate less traffic and less intensity of traffic on the property," he added.

Following Berry was Vision Development Partners Broker-In-Charge Jared Wilkerson, as he spoke in representation of former land proprietor, Seacoast Church. The house of worship, he claimed, had several suitors for the 12 acres of land, but contended that they balked at selling it to a heavy industrial group or charter school that would exacerbate traffic in a more profound way.

The multifarious avenues of land usage were revisited before Town Council voting, when Reed informed the governing body that in lieu of housing, the tract could legally serve as a heavy truck repair site, storage facility, hotel, bar, amusement park or even be utilized as a sewage disposal venue.

Despite Councilmember Jake Rambo's motion to defer the vote and send it back to the planning and education committees for further research, fellow Councilmember G.M. Whitley was one of many elected officials who issued a no on the suggestion.

Said Whitley: "I think this is the highest and best possible use for this land. I don't want this to get tanked, and then y'all in Carolina Park are stuck with sewage disposal ... I think this is a great opportunity for our community."

Other Town Council members who commented on the agenda item included Carl Ritchie, who affirmed his support of attainable housing, but further acknowledged the vast street improvements that would need to be implemented for the project to come to fruition.

Councilmember Howard Chapman made a plea to keep more teachers in town who are often forced to endure commutes of an hour or better from their current homes in North Charleston and parts of Berkeley County.

In backing the proposed development and saying no to a deferral, Councilmember John Iacofano recounted being inspired by observing a little girl looking in at recent Town ribbon-cutting. The child and others like her, he speculated, may never have an opportunity to live or go to school in Mount Pleasant without projects like the one currently being discussed.

When relating a few other details about the 100 attainable units, Reed specified that each property's affordable status would be protected by a 75-year stipulation in individual deeds. She also revealed that folks looking to invest in the townhomes would need to show annual incomes between $77,750 to $145,000.

"I am so grateful that there is a developer who is not greedy trying to tax their dollars and trying to put in million-dollar homes, and putting [in] something in the $300,000, $400,000 range." said Whitley. "This is not Section 8 housing; these are $300,000-$400,000 homes for workforce people who are the backbone of our community."

Before moving forward with votes on Rambo's proposed amendment and the proposal to create a new attainable housing district, Mayor Will Haynie assured his colleagues that a full examination of traffic and planning concerns would take place between the first and final readings.

In response to Rambo's suggested delay in particular, Haynie observed: "The reason I would be a no vote on this is that what you're actually doing if you defer this is you're postponing the first reading by 30 days, which postpones the second reading by 60 days. We can accomplish the same thing by passing the first reading tonight [with] both committees taking it up at the next committee day and the second reading would be a month from tonight, so we still get to study the impacts for 30 more days."

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Three area hospitals have been sold in a $2.4 billion deal to North Carolina-based Novant Health by the previous owner, Tenet Healthcare of Dallas, Texas.

The sale of East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville includes the associated physician clinics and other operations, according to a news release from Novant Health.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome our new team members and grow our presence in South Carolina,” said Carl S. Armato, president and CEO, Novant Health, which is headquartered in Winston-Salem. “Novant Health’s long-term vision is to transform the health and wellness of these communities through expanded specialty services and clinical expertise. We are energized and united behind our cause to create a healthier future together by building connections with patients and clinicians in coastal South Carolina.”

The East Cooper Medical Center includes 15 physician clinics. Hilton Head Hospital includes the Bluffton Okatie Outpatient Center and 12 physician clinics. Coastal Carolina Hospital in Jasper County includes the Tidewatch Free-Standing Emergency Department in Bluffton, according to the news release.

Novant Health said continuity of care is a priority and appointments and procedures will continue as scheduled during the transition period. “We are working closely with our new Novant Health team members to ensure a seamless transition for patients and team members,” Joel Taylor, market CEO of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, said in the release. “We are eager to move forward together in support of our teams and know decisions will be made with our community’s needs at the forefront.”

“There’s a lot to be excited about when planning for our future,” Tyler Sherrill, CEO of East Cooper Medical Center, said in the release. “Novant Health is known for elevating clinician leadership to provide patients with a trusted health care experience through world-class technology, personal connections and convenient access to care.”

Tenet Health also owns a cluster of imaging centers and urgent care clinics in York, Rock Hill and Fort Mill, but those South Carolina properties were not part of the deal for the coastal hospitals.

“We understand that taking care of our patients starts with taking care of our people, so I’m delighted to join a leadership team that strives to not only be a healthc are provider of choice but also an employer of choice,” Ryan Lee, CEO of Coastal Carolina Hospital, said in the release. “I look forward to expanding the resources available to our team.”

Novant Health supports health and wellness programs in the community, including health education/screenings, community health workers and mobile cruisers. Each year, Novant Health provides hundreds of programs that serve patients, neighbors and some of their communities’ most vulnerable citizens, the company said in the release.

The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,900 physicians and more than 38,000 team members who provide care at more than 800 locations, the release said.

MOUNT PLEASANT — In an ongoing backlash to years of soaring population growth and traffic complaints, this affluent suburb plans to extend strict limits on building permits for another five years.

Just 600 new residences would be permitted yearly in the town of more than 94,000 people, and the actual number would likely be lower.

The yearslong effort to slow residential development by capping building permits is a step no other municipality in South Carolina has taken, but few have experienced growth like Mount Pleasant. The town's population has roughly doubled since 2000 and tripled since 1990.

“There was concern in the community about our infrastructure being able to keep up with the growth rate, and I don’t think that concern has gone away," said Councilwoman G.M. Whitley, who put the permit limit extension before Town Council in November.

The measure is scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing Dec. 13, with a final Town Council vote expected in January. The "building permit allocation system" has been in place nearly five years, and instead of expiring in early 2024, it would be extended to 2029.

Mount Pleasant News

It's among many steps the town has taken to thwart rapid growth. There's also a moratorium on new apartment construction that's been in place for seven years, zoning rules have been changed to limit building height and density, and development impact fees were increased dramatically.

In 2018, the year before the permit caps began, the town saw 1,407 new dwelling units — houses, apartments, townhouses and other types of residences. Last year, there were 759.

The permit limits were aimed at slowing the town's annual growth rate for residences from more than 3 percent to a target of 2.1 percent. The result was a growth rate even lower, marked by a low of 1.29 percent in 2020 when just 520 new residences were built.

Real Estate

Mount Pleasant's ordinance in 2019 laid out justifications for limiting building permits, and nearly five years later those have not changed.

The ordinance to extend the permit limits uses the same language, which says "the effects of significant growth are apparent and have resulted not only in increased traffic, congestion and noise, but have also burdened the services.." and "...the town’s road system is barely capable of adequately handling current traffic..."

The permit rules are particularly strict when it comes to higher density multi-family construction, such as apartments and condos. Just 500 new multi-family residences would be allowed over five years, while 2,400 single-family homes could be permitted.

Perhaps surprisingly, despite the limits in place since 2019, hundreds of single-family-home permits went unclaimed.

“Right now we have in excess of 800-900 single-family permits," said Michele Reed, the town's planning director.

Real estate professionals said a lack of developable land in Mount Pleasant and the high cost of any land available help explain why hundreds of permits to build houses were not used.

“Mount Pleasant, in a lot of ways, is near build-out," said Josh Dix, government affairs director for the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. "There’s not a lot of opportunity for single-family."

Real Estate

If the town were to annex more properties, that could change. The town is currently in a lawsuit over rules that require property owners to become part of the town in order to get the water and sewer service needed for development.

The suit was filed by owners of a 185-acre tract on the Wando River, known as the Republic tract.

If it were to be developed in the town, Mount Pleasant's impact fees would apply and permit limits would allow just 25 new homes per developer every six months. If it could be developed as an unincorporated part of Charleston County, town officials have said the county's zoning would allow about 1,600 homes.

So, Mount Pleasant is mostly built-out, but that could change.

In the current permit-limiting plan that started in 2019, all but 10 of the 500 multi-family permits were claimed, as were all 100 of the permits allowed for accessory dwellings — generally small second homes on the same property as a primary home.

Mount Pleasant News

Unclaimed permits will not roll over into the next proposed 5-year program. And as with the current program, there would be limits on how many single-family permits could be obtained every six months.

Drew Grossklauss, a Mount Pleasant realtor who became president of the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors in November, said he understands the town needs to address growth but the length of the permit limit extension seems unnecessary.

“I would say five years seems like an extreme to do something," he said.

There are exceptions to the permit caps. The two developments that have ongoing agreements with the town, Carolina Park and Liberty Hill Farm, are exempt, as are developments of affordable housing.

Real Estate

During the last five years, there was one townhouse development, Gregorie Ferry Towns, that qualified for the affordable housing exception — townhomes started at $279,000 — but real estate professionals doubt private developers could create more.

"The cost of land, the cost of construction — all these things add up," said Dix. He said allowing more permits for multi-family housing could help create more affordable housing.

“There is a lot of talk from realtors that if we build a lot of multi-family housing, Mount Pleasant would be more affordable, but I think that’s not true," said Whitley. "They will charge what the market will bear."

Reach David Slade at 843-937-5552. Follow him on Twitter @DSladeNews.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Get carried away at Mount Pleasant’s new southern market and eatery!

Located in the heart of town, Get Carried Away offers everything you need whether it’s a delicious grab-and-go meal or stylish glassware for your next dinner party.

Happening Saturday, Feb. 3rd, the store will celebrate its grand opening of ‘The Perch,’ their outdoor patio and your new favorite hangout spot for an afternoon spritz and sandwich.

We caught up with the owners, Sassy and Brian Henry, to learn more about their business ahead of this weekend’s celebration.

“A lot of what we do is entertaining and hosting,” said owner, Brian. The idea for the shop has been derived from their love for food, hosting, and entertaining family and friends.

Get Carried Away’s first location was founded in Pawleys Island, but the Henrys decided to expand services to reach a larger audience. “We felt like Mount Pleasant was a comfortable jump,” Sassy said.

The Henrys want to accommodate Charleston’s vacationers and local folks.

Sassy went on to say, “When people are on vacation and going to the beach, they don’t want to have to cook entertaining-type foods for large groups of people.”

The market offers a variety of items for the typical vacationer to pick up on their way to the beach house or for the everyday locals to sip and shop.

Not only does Get Carried Away offer takeaway meals and a wide selection of beer and wine, but you can also find everyday groceries there such as meat, seafood, fruits, dips, milk, eggs, and so on. And of course, you can’t miss out on their famous chicken salad or pimento cheese!

You can get carried away in their home section, too, if you’re not careful. It features gorgeous glassware, decorative napkins, kitchen towels, candles, and much more! “We’re trying to keep it all food and beverage oriented,” Sassy mentioned about the products featured in the home section. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking to elevate your tablescape.

The fun doesn’t stop there! You and your family can join the Henrys on Saturday, Feb. 3rd from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. for the grand opening of ‘The Perch,’ their outdoor patio and bar. The celebration will include a complimentary Lowcountry boil as well as their homemade crowd-pleaser appetizers.

‘The Perch’ will provide a full lunch and drink menu this spring with specialty cocktails: The Perch Punch, Coleman Cosmo, Old Village Fashioned, and the Moultrie Margarita.

Get Carried Away is located at 644 Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. They’re open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - The town of Mount Pleasant is looking to extend limiting building permits for another five years in an effort to slow growth down and build infrastructure up.

A proposal to extend the building permit allocation system was presented at a planning commission meeting Wednesday night with one more final vote left from the town council.

As people continue to move to the Lowcountry, the town of Mount Pleasant put this building permit allocation into effect back in 2019 and is now looking to extend it until 2029.

“The council is very serious about maintaining our level of service,” Mount Pleasant’s Director of Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Michelle Reed says.

“Keeping the growth slowed down, the way they have the last five years, and slowing that growth rate down, has really allowed them to continue the levels of service that we provide to our citizens,” she adds.

The goal is to finish major capital improvement projects before allowing more growth to happen in the town.

“I think the idea is really to allow the town to continue with their infrastructure improvements and to catch up with all the growth that occurred over the years,” Reed says.

The system is broken down into three categories single-family units, accessory dwelling units and multifamily units with a certain number of permits to be issued on a semi-annual basis.

Reed says they never maxed out single-family permits with 480 available and a large amount carrying over into the next year, not really affecting single-family builds.

But if you want to add another dwelling unit to your property, only 20 permits are available each year with a large waitlist putting people on a list for July of 2024.

Five hundred multifamily units were available on a first come first serve basis when the system was put into place, with the permits going quickly to builds at Patriots Point and South Bay.

“Those are the two really that were most affected; your average person that’s coming here and is going to build a single-family home, really didn’t affect them,” Reed says.

But looking at the status of real estate in Mount Pleasant, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors Government Affairs Director Josh Dix says they find the most problems with the dwelling unit permits.

“You have this permit allocation taking place on single-family residential, but it extends beyond just single family,” Dix says. “It’s if you want to add a grandmother, in-law suite, or some duplex on a single-family lot, all of that is contained by this extension.”

Dix adds people are going to be priced out of the area with regulations like the building permit allocation system.

“You have folks in Mount Pleasant, this is an aging demographic, and we want them to be able to age in place,” he says.

“I think permit allocations and caps like what we’re seeing in Mount Pleasant is not the answer to keeping communities and residents in place, where they currently live and exist in their neighborhoods,” Dix adds.

Pricing is also affected, with single-family homes in Mount Pleasant that used to cost $500,000 are now in the millions, Dix says.

“The everyday, middle American that lives here in Charleston, they are being priced out of Mount Pleasant because of these onerous regulations,” he says.

Mount Pleasant Town Council will vote on the final approval for the permit building allocation system in January.

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