[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6567569,"mediaKeyId","3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef","parentId",3290641,"title","Votes at a glance: Mount Pleasant council approves contracts, appointments, planning items, impact-fee amendment and budget","audioSeconds",5030,"startMs",2300000,"endMs",7330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef&start=2300&end=7330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567569/Mount-Pleasant/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Mount-Pleasant-council-approves-contracts-appointments-planning-items-impact-fee-amendment-and-budget","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567569-4b65f345cf9a7b6de95a0af0577d05bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149933&Signature=YiuMpwAGBAUo5maQEGVY32gf2XMLLjwkl5ouCuBOZGr7yXTAtw1GWLlXywikP7b5nLNTtOJv8a1gAWn7RJ75D-49lJgwoJ65V6W9ldgaWmEK4UDZw27D4nURc47ByeTUcFf1IgXoUo416cX4jxA0BEDOBr-X9lFlYtbWKRBxb4lhru6yWBGzQIBMHaeoA~UnxOthbdEU6nle00Rd4BTVqQIIGw1aWEHMPqeJPCkp7wAUsTIDHkP5me9s9wOdE8k6-Hbys-4Uh-b9OIMHmwpPjhQv5RiX-ENRAziQUfqdY5HyCMICOWCaKcDeUkMKd58OJaoUx5xVTCfYcWXVwRSttA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mount Pleasant","date","2025-05-14T00:53:42Z","article","Mount Pleasant Town Council recorded multiple formal actions on May 13. This summary lists each item on the public record with the motion outcome and key details. Where the transcript named a mover or vote tally, that detail is included; otherwise the outcome is recorded as stated on the record.

Executive session follow-up (post-executive session motions)
- Legal action related to the fire and police training facility: Motion to approve legal action as discussed in executive session. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified in transcript.)
- Approval of town administrator contract as presented in executive session: Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Approval of corporation counsel contract as presented in executive session: Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)

Appointments and reappointments (post-executive session)
- Board of Zoning Appeals: Reappoint Stephen Wood and appoint Joan Spire to Position 7. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Construction Board of Adjustments: Reappoint Anne Derbyshire, East Blackwell and Theresa Martinez to seats 1, 2 and 3; nominate Taylor Porter for seat 5. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Historical Commission: Reappoint Janan German, William Hine and Danielle Cox to seats 5, 6 and 7. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Planning Commission: Appoint Kevin Barry to seat 4 and reappoint Pamela Ireland to seat 5. Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)

Planning and land-use actions
- Annexation of parcel (first reading, ordinance 25024): Council moved and approved annexation (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Zoning for the annexed parcel (first reading, ordinance 25025) to R-3: Council approved zoning after debate. Planning commission had recommended denial. Transcript records a roll-call style result discussed on the record and the clerk recorded the first reading as ordinance 25025. (Motion carried; recorded opposition by multiple council members noted in discussion.)
- Item removed by staff (Watermark plan development on Bowman Road): removed by staff at applicant request; not considered tonight.
- Item withdrawn by applicant (Dunes West planned development district ordinance): withdrawn; not considered tonight.
- Item deferred at applicant request: One planning item (applicant-requested deferral); council deferred (motion carried).
- Seaside Farms PD amendment to allow a second hotel: Planning Commission recommended approval with the condition of boutique size (25 rooms); council denied the request (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Multiple deferrals and standard planning votes (consent agenda): Approved as presented (motion carried).

Impact fees and other ordinances
- Ordinance to amend Chapter 154 to exempt relocations required by eminent domain from development impact fees under specified conditions: First reading, ordinance 25029. Council approved the amendment; conditions include same use, materially equivalent square footage, no increase in service units or new demands on municipal systems, and the relocated development must be situated within corporate limits to qualify. Outcome: Approved on first reading (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)

Budget and finance
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) adoption, FY 2026-2030: Resolution adopted (25-051). Outcome: Approved (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- 5-year general fund financial plan and lease-purchase declaration (resolutions 25-052 and 25-053): Adopted together (motion carried). (Mover/Second: not specified.)
- Final FY 2026 budget: Council approved the budget as amended per budget committee recommendations; vote recorded as carried. (Motion carried; some council members registered dissent on narrow amendments but the final budget passed.)

Procedure notes and vote records
- Many of the motions recorded on the transcript were carried by voice vote with no named roll call; where a tally or opposition count was discussed in the record it is noted in the text. If precise numerical tallies or mover/second names are needed for official indexing or legal audit, staff minutes and the clerk's formal roll-call record should be consulted.

Why it matters: Together these actions advance capital and operational plans for the coming fiscal year, finalize several personnel and legal matters discussed in executive session, and set short-term policy on development impact-fee exceptions tied to eminent domain relocations. Several planning decisions touch settlement communities and triggered the council's request for additional county materials and mapping to guide future local decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 13th, 2025 - Mount Pleasant Special Town Council & Town Council Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a package of executive-session follow-ups, appointments, planning votes, an impact-fee amendment and the fiscal 2026 budget during its May 13 meeting.","taxTitle","Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina","taxId",5820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567573,"Council directs staff to draft tree task force parameters after residents call for stronger canopy protections",7094,3706000,10800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef&start=3706&end=10800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef/thumbnail_3706000.jpg","/articles/6567573/Mount-Pleasant/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Council-directs-staff-to-draft-tree-task-force-parameters-after-residents-call-for-stronger-canopy-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567573-7a82d73258b84ebd1f5e00a600a147ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149933&Signature=BN0RJ8aptFiUjGL54jjewZzJWmxXyhYYTPWBA9QuL5uX0Hts-YPK6q8-qQxeZKunIAw03rw-gn9rScY1ogaHYWeBX5AiBtBuSBS07cs7uCS6Cu40EfNRAFIdvtIniFvkf9eI5W498lWggl22I8icwWn~0hbaxm3~ltc~CHBh1DUA7UFU~kK1D1kzx~kUC2JcOEslN9YQnG82rkXLriO7QKuI7FFS79QG9b0u00vqmN6Oz6oTHOPfuMAXwkZjRKCPRfg0yVHwhHQFaHxo5gFNF0V-pcW3G9r~03f2gpgFHQfcfImM9NxjfnaJiAacOv8WUu9Xc3NsdpoOjxZgj8KqAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Pleasant Town Council voted May 13 to have staff prepare a draft vision, membership parameters and a one-year term for a tree task force aimed at protecting and restoring the town's urban canopy.

Why it matters: Multiple residents and homeowners'association representatives had urged stronger protections for trees during public comment, saying existing rules do not sufficiently protect older neighborhoods. Council members said the town's recently adopted Community Forest Master Plan provides a starting point and the task force should work on implementation details.

What the council asked staff to draft: The planning committee had recommended creating a task force with a balance of stakeholders (for example, planning- and green-commission representation, an arborist or urban-forestry expert, a local-business representative and community members). Council refined that direction and voted to direct staff to return with a draft that assumes seven members, a one-year term, and encouraged representation from the Green Commission, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, a local business leader, and an arborist or environmental expert. The motion, as amended, also specified the task force would report to the Flood Resilience Committee and that administration would be handled by the town's executive office.

Public comments and rationale: James McKee, an HOA representative, urged a tree task force to help implement the town's Community Forest Master Plan and to coordinate with homeowners associations to restore canopy cover. Planning director Michelle Reed said the plan already provides a structured approach (inventory, policy recommendations and implementation steps) and that recruiting volunteers with technical expertise may take time because certified arborists and similar professionals often work in paid roles.

Next steps and limits: Staff will return with a draft resolution and membership guidance for committee review, after which the council may adopt a short-term task force by resolution. Council members clarified this would be a time-limited task force (not a permanent commission) and that any ordinance changes recommended by the task force would still require planning commission review and the formal zoning amendment process.

Quote on record: \"This is an opportunity to protect our tree canopy and deliver the Community Forest Master Plan,\" council supporter Michael Tinky said during debate.

Implementation risks: Recruiting a balanced mix of volunteer experts and community representatives may be slow; the task force would have advisory power and any regulatory changes would follow the standard planning-commission and council procedures.","Council asked staff to prepare a draft mission, membership and term for a one-year tree task force to implement the town's Community Forest Master Plan and recommend ordinance and program changes; the flood-resilience committee will oversee the effort and the executive office will administer it.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567579,"Mount Pleasant council to review county moratorium, directs staff to bring maps and moratorium language",4505,7155000,11660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef&start=7155&end=11660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290641-4d13b8bbec2e1a2399cdfbc63d286bef/thumbnail_7155000.jpg","/articles/6567579/Mount-Pleasant/Charleston-County/South-Carolina/Mount-Pleasant-council-to-review-county-moratorium-directs-staff-to-bring-maps-and-moratorium-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567579-a71c7149fdd7825abf9367d17cd92ae9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149933&Signature=ECvvPjEF9Wo~GJrVZjDVpPR-DjrRazbP~C4UFGou1wSU6nn0K04wMkNe-HtKiG4g76Ka1g46S3SN9I5WqUR3irn1WYUktpqecEZc~oVY8W~VZ9PZdPKIJw0DYRVWKNHV1W9mvETaw8gGkYq~UOB-msuS8UEAtCcKNZnRDWdslzjtTsfAm5uNFGm-krclDX397Qbwg7~1TykYsj7-xwLyxYoKD3Q0ncFdCJ-kC4VVTNkn~NW1BM77E0eLkvD4wtPxycr~7hgVI2hg2SUPPATnwttAS234r~GO4ZfxAv2TH9BoTF-bUEG-i9OOtQhntdmXOgJp2CorZXfSj27jgCykjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mount Pleasant Town Council on May 13 voted to ask town staff to return with the Charleston County moratorium language, maps and a detailed description of which parcels the county's action covers as part of a broader effort to consider protections for historic settlement communities.

Why it matters: Residents from multiple settlement communities urged the council for urgent action during public comment, saying long-established neighborhoods face intense development pressure that can displace longtime residents and alter neighborhood character. Council members said they want to coordinate with county officials rather than act unilaterally.

Public commenters from several settlement communities described repeated pressure from developers, rapid rises in taxable values, and cases where property owners felt forced to annex to secure utilities. Myra Snipe Richardson, president of the Hamlet Beach Community Association, told the council those neighborhoods are \"being wiped out\" by overdevelopment and asked officials to pause actions that accelerate displacement. Pam Ireland, who said she worked on the town's comprehensive-plan draft, urged a moratorium on subdivisions in county parcels that lie inside or adjacent to town settlement-area boundaries and recommended an overlay approach to preserve community character.

Council discussion focused on how to align town-level action with the county's work. Planning director Michelle Reed told the council the county has placed a two-year moratorium on subdivisions of five lots or more within three county-defined historic-overlay settlement areas east of the Cooper ' the Phillips, 10 Mile and Hamlin Beach communities ' to allow the county to develop tailored preservation guidelines. Reed said the county moratorium runs from July 2024 through July 2026 and that the overlays exclude parcels already inside the town.

Mayor Will Haney and several council members emphasized existing steps the town has already taken, including an overlay called Community Conservation and recent changes allowing some property owners to connect to Mount Pleasant Waterworks sewer without full annexation when sewer is already available and a septic tank is removed. Haney said that rule was intended to improve public health while limiting the sort of \"zoning shopping\" that leads to rapid subdivision and character change.

Action directed: Councilman John Brownstein moved and the council seconded a staff request for a report. The motion as amended requires staff to return with the county's moratorium language, the moratorium map, and a clear list of parcels affected so the town can consider an equivalent or complementary response. The amended motion passed unanimously.

What's next: Town staff and committee members will review the county's materials and bring recommendations back through the planning and relevant council committees before any town ordinance or moratorium would be considered. Council members repeatedly framed the next steps as \"listen and learn,\" saying any town action should reflect the preferences of each settlement community rather than be imposed without local buy-in.","After dozens of public comments urging protections for longstanding \"settlement communities,\" Mount Pleasant Town Council directed staff to return with the county's moratorium language, maps and an analysis to consider a matching town response and next steps for historic-overlay protections.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Mount Pleasant council approves contracts, appointments, planning items, impact-fee amendment and budget

Council directs staff to draft tree task force parameters after residents call for stronger canopy protections

Mount Pleasant council to review county moratorium, directs staff to bring maps and moratorium language