Mount Pleasant residents urge pause on enforcement of flood ordinance over garage enclosures

Dozens of Liberty Hill Farm residents told the Mount Pleasant Town Council on Tuesday that enforcement of a revised flood-plain ordinance requiring open wall area under elevated homes will force them to remove previously enclosed garage space and could create health and safety problems.

At public comment, several residents said they had relied on advice from builders, received no nonconversion agreement at closing and had enclosed garages to keep belongings and family members dry and safe. "I enclosed my garage with plywood to keep out water, mold, mildew, of obvious health concerns… and protect my belongings," said Allison Shore, who identified herself as a Liberty Hill Farm resident.

The residents asked the council to put enforcement on hold and to give the neighborhood more time to meet with the Flood Resilience Committee. "We enclosed our garage in a very basic sort of way," said Derek Johnson, a Liberty Hill Farm homeowner. "I do ask that you consider further, continuance in, the removal before the fines of the removal of the garage enclosures." Shayla Noon, who said she is a solo parent, told the council the issue is one of child health and safety: "This is an issue of health and safety. For health, having mold growing on your infant stroller…" Noon said.

Neighbors said the town has not consistently notified homeowners. "Only 30 residents of Liberty Hill Farm received notice of impending fines starting 21," Shore said, adding residents feel singled out because other neighborhoods have enclosures that are not being enforced. Several speakers suggested that federal FEMA venting standards could solve the town's concerns without requiring full removal of enclosures. "For me I think requiring federal FEMA standard…would be a fair solution," said Brian Ray.

Town staff and council members did not adopt any enforcement change during the meeting. Multiple residents asked for a deadline extension for compliance, and speakers said they had repeatedly asked the Flood Resilience Committee and staff for clearer guidance. Perry Ward, who spoke later in the public-comment period, said the ordinance appears to exceed federal FEMA requirements and warned that the same issue will affect thousands of elevated homes townwide when inspections resume.

No formal council action on the enforcement schedule was taken at the meeting. Several council members asked staff to continue working with the neighborhood and to provide clearer written guidance; some council members expressed support for giving residents more time to pursue mitigation options such as breakaway panels or FEMA venting.

The matter is expected to return to staff and to the Flood Resilience Committee for follow-up. Residents requested a formal opportunity to meet with the committee and to have a clear explanation of which properties were subject to the rules and why.

Speakers representing the neighborhood urged the council to consider health, security and fairness as it implements the flood-related rules and any fines.

Ending: Residents said they will continue to push for an extension and for clearer written guidance from the town; the council did not set a new deadline during the meeting and staff indicated further follow-up would be scheduled.