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City Commission approves $34 million capital improvement plan after debate over Pickard crossing
Summary
The commission approved the 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) after debate and a requested amendment; the plan totals roughly $34 million and passed 6–1 with one commissioner opposing inclusion of the Riverwalk North Connection across Pickard without a signalized crossing.
The Mount Pleasant City Commission approved the proposed 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) June 9 by a 6–1 vote, with one commissioner withholding support over a pedestrian crossing proposal.
City staff told commissioners the CIP coordinates multi-year infrastructure and quality-of-life projects and uses about $34,000,000 in planned spending to guide engineering, project timing and potential financing approaches. The city manager said the CIP must be approved by the charter deadline and that this action does not by itself appropriate all funds for the projects but sets the planning and prioritization framework.
Commissioner Zang said she would vote for the plan only if the commission removed one project: the GKP Riverwalk North Connection crossing of Pickard, which she said would steer “thousands of people, including children, handicapped people” across a high-speed, truck corridor without adequate protection. "I do not want to be associated with steering pedestrian traffic across the road without ample protection," Zang said, calling the current plan "dangerous and perhaps deadly."
Other commissioners said the CIP reflects a multi-year, coordinated approach and that specific projects can be refined, delayed or re-scoped as engineering and funding decisions are made. Commissioners noted that leaving the Riverwalk connection in the plan preserves the option to seek grants and funding for safer crossing solutions rather than precluding the project entirely.
A motion to approve the CIP as last updated June 2 was made and seconded; the commission voted to approve the amended CIP 6–1. The commission asked staff to address funding gaps for maintenance and rehabilitation of existing capital assets during the upcoming budget process and to return with project-level details and safety analyses for contentious items such as the Pickard crossing.
Action summary: motion to accept amended CIP (updated 06/02/2025); motion approved 6–1.
