A - Town Council Meetings

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Municipal Complex, Council Chambers 100 Ann Edwards Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 In accordance with Governor McMaster’s Executive Order 2021-11, Council Chambers will be limited to 50% occupancy. MINUTES I. Call to Order Mayor Haynie called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Council members, Howard Chapman, Brenda Corley, Laura Hyatt, Kathy Landing, Tom O’Rourke, Jake Rambo, Gary Santos, and Guang Ming Whitley were present. II. Presentation by Charleston County project development team regarding improvements to SC HWY 41 Rhett Reidenbach, Charleston County Highway 41 Project Team, stated that he works with the Reveer Group, LLC and is on the HDR Team, who is the lead consultant on designing the Highway 41 project. He stated that he will provide an overview of the project and discuss the purpose and need as well as the history of the screening process. He said they will also discuss the feedback received from the public which was overwhelming for this project. He said they will also review what they refer to as the “revised concept”, then listen to feedback from Town Council members. Page 2 of 14 Page 3 of 14 Page 4 of 14 Page 5 of 14 Page 6 of 14 Page 7 of 14 Page 8 of 14 Page 9 of 14 Page 10 of 14  Council members continued discussions regarding the alternate proposal. III. Public Comment Jane Dierline, 1018 Lakeview Drive, was in favor of a flyover to leave the Phillips Community untouched. Kathy Apen, Abbots Glenn, Park West, stated that the presentation did not look like an improvement to Highway 41, but demolishes Dunes West and Park West. Bruce Sedowski, Wyndham Park, stated that the roads in Park West and Dunes West were designed to be community roads with traffic calming, not a four-lane highway. He asked how the residents will be protected. John Ford, Phillips Community, stated that there are less than 300 property owners in the Phillips Community. He stated that the Phillips Community has already been split with the building of Page 11 of 14 Highway 41, so they have already given their portion. He said it appears that history is repeating itself. Michael German, Snowden Community, stated that he does support the new alternative; however, the speed limit through the Phillips Community should be lowered. He said the Phillips Community has been there long before Park West, Dunes West and all the other developments. He said it would be great if everyone was involved in this decision. Mary Harish, Dunes West resident, stated that the residents were blindsided when they saw the article in the newspaper regarding this alternate route. She said they have cooperated with the planning process for over three years. She said they were always in favor of going down Highway 41, the fastest route for the least amount of funding. She said there needs to be a review process. Kevin Cunnane, Dunes West, stated that this is an outrageous cost of $187 million for Highway 41. He said today’s newspapers celebrated the advocacy groups in favor of cutting Dunes West and Park West in half and in pieces. He said they did not address the underlying bias against newcomers. He said it appears that certain homes are considered expendable. He said the so-called environmental groups are advocating for a plan that destroys more acreage, wetlands, and cultural sites. He said common sense straight line widening is the way to go. Anna Allen, 3607 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle, Dunes West, would like to remind Council that the reason Park West was widened is due to school traffic. She said Dunes West Boulevard does not need widening. She added that most of the development is happening in Huger, Cainhoy, Wando and off Clements Ferry Road. She is strongly against the revised concept. She said many would rather see nothing done on Highway 41, than this proposed new alternative and with 90,000 projected vehicles coming, she does not believe this is a safe or smart decision. Daniel Blomberg, stated that he is in the Chauncy’s Court Division. He said that Council has a tough decision and realizes that Council has an important say in what is going to happen. He believes the decision should respect the Phillips Community. He opposes the revised concept but supports the time Council will take to contemplate the revised concept. He said his subdivision is small and Page 12 of 14 the children are primarily ten years old and under. He does not have the magic answer but hopes careful consideration will be given. Russ Smith, Pignatelli Crescent, Dunes West, stated that he has a major concern with the process that has unfolded in the past week. He believes the County’s team did an exemplary job up until this point of following the NEPA Act and being open and transparent with the public. He believes something is not being done properly with the County on this project. He asked why this must be done so quickly. He would like to see more information and believes this process should be slowed down. Richard Habersham, Phillips Community, stated that he would like to thank Ms. Landing and Mr. Chapman for reaching out to the Phillips Community about the Highway 41 issue. He said when Highway 41 widening was a long-range plan, former Mayor Hallman (Dec) stated that they would be long gone before this project started. He said he is still here and so is his family, as well as the residents of the Phillips Community. He stated that if you go down Highway 41, the majority of the traffic happens at Joe Rouse Road where the traffic is turning right into Park West and Dunes West. Bob Brimmer, Park West resident, stated that he would like to thank Council for reading their emails as there is a great deal of concern with this project, which are primarily County-related. He said there are some things related to the Town that need discussion. He stated that if the Town has invested over $10 million already and $3 million in the future to keep Park West Boulevard and Dunes West Boulevard free flowing from US Highway 17 to Highway 41, which includes no traffic lights, then the newly proposed project will ruin this and create backups. He said there is already a significant investment made, and the roundabout at Bessemer Road was the best transportation infrastructure project this Town has ever done, which has been successful. With this newly proposed project, the roundabout will go away. He mentioned that this project will need Town approval to go through Town property to connect to Park West Boulevard. David Gutman, Ellington Woods, Dunes West, asked why Council is even bothering with Dunes West, Park West, or the Phillips Community? He stated that there is ample vacant land just north of Carolina Park. He said a road could be built that would not affect Page 13 of 14  anyone. He said the environmental issues would be the same, as well as the cost. He said he does not understand the logic of putting one neighbor against another and should be in harmony. He said Mount Pleasant Way does not address vehicular traffic. He said expanding the road in the Phillips Community or the Park West/Dunes West Community does not make any sense. He asked Council to look into this because no one needs the new proposed project. Mayor Haynie stated that Highway 41 is not on the regularly scheduled Council meeting following this meeting. He said there will be public comment and residents are welcome to speak. IV. Adjourn There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Ashe MacDonald March 9, 2021 Page 14 of 14