Economic Development Committee
Regular MeetingMount Pleasant, SC · February 3, 2020
Minutes
TOWN OF MOUNT PLEASANT, SOUTH CAROLINA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
MINUTES
Members Present: Kathy Landing, Chair; Laura Hyatt, and Rick Crosby
(MPW)
Absent: Tom O’Rourke
Staff Present: Eric DeMoura, Town Administrator; Lauren Sims,
Community and Government Affairs Chief
Ms. Landing called the meeting to order at 9:46 a.m.
1. Approval of Minutes from the January 6, 2020 meeting
Mr. Crosby moved for approval; seconded by Ms. Hyatt. All present voted
in favor.
2. Public Comments
[None]
3. Discussion regarding commercial impact fees
Ms. Landing stated that she put this on the agenda due to the number of
discussions that have taken place at Council meetings. She said the initial
purpose for raising the impact fees several times was to slow additional
residential growth. She stated that this Council over the last several years
has worked diligently to slow growth through the permit allocation
program and the apartment moratorium. She said most do not realize
that you cannot lower or increase one impact fee without the other. She
said many on Council have expressed their interest in having great
businesses and jobs. Impact fees are paid up front; however, if they are
Economic Development Committee
February 3, 2020
Page 2 of 6
too high, this may discourage businesses, including small businesses,
from coming to Mount Pleasant. She said there will be no long term
revenue from property taxes and license fees.
Ms. Sims stated that they put together a few examples of entities
here in the Town and did an evaluation of what would be paid for impact
fees versus what they would pay in their annual taxes and fees to the
Town. She said assumptions were made for the equations. She said this is
based on $1 million in sales of food, which also generates the hospitality
tax. The business license fee would be a rate Class 2.
Economic Development Committee
February 3, 2020
Page 3 of 6
Ms. Landing stated that in reference to the Family Dining illustration, is it
the number of transportation trips that account for the large difference.
Ms. Sims stated that it is due to the number of trips generated and the
improvements that were needed for that particular site. She stated that
the next illustration is for an indoor activity center. She said there has
been some discussion of an indoor activity center in the upper portion of
Mount Pleasant when we have inclement weather. She said this is based
off ofan assumption of a 10,000 square foot activity center such as a
bowling alley or a trampoline park. She said the example is also based off
of $100,000 in sales and with the assumption that there would be a snack
bar. She said this would be a rate class 3.
Ms. Sims stated that the next illustration is a stand-alone office building,
which is a rate class 5 with gross receipts of $1 million. She said there
would not be any hospitality tax.
Economic Development Committee
February 3, 2020
Page 4 of 6
Ms. Landing stated that in the illustration for the Office Building, which is
just one example, she is simply talking about the possibility of the fees
going back to what they were a few years ago or if Council believes they
are where they need to be at this point. She does not believe anyone is
proposing to eliminate impact fees, but simply bringing them back to a
different level. She said regarding Fine Dining, this is what residents in
the upper portion of Mount Pleasant do not have available. She said on
the indoor activity center, there are dramatically different numbers, due
to the car trips going back and forth, which are increased. She said if we
continued not to have any of these, the residents will drive across the
bridge causing more impact on the whole community. She said these
businesses are things residents have mentioned many times that they
would like to have here in Town. She said that there is also a shortage of
childcare and after school care in Mount Pleasant. She added that the
childcare center, KidsAreKids came to the Bessemer Road area. The
owner advised that he just got in on time for the old schedule (fees) and
said that if he had to pay the new impact fees, he would not have been in
a position to open. She said he would have gone elsewhere and that
facility is already at near full capacity. She said this is just one example of
a business that would not have been able to afford to open at the new
Economic Development Committee
February 3, 2020
Page 5 of 6
fee level. She said big box businesses have enough sales to afford the
impact fees; however, this is not what the citizens would like to see.
Mr. Crosby asked how the Town’s impact fees compare to other cities
such as Charleston, North Charleston, Spartanburg and Greenville.
Mr. DeMoura stated that the Town’s impact fees are typically higher;
however, some could argue that the Town’s needs are higher. He stated
that the impact fees are based on the demand for capital infrastructure
and new capital assets. He said with the Town’s neighbors, the impact
fees are typically higher and with other fast-growing communities that
have impact fees, he is not sure if the Town’s fees are much different.
Mr. Crosby stated that Mount Pleasant Waterworks’ fees have dropped
approximately 20% year to date due to less growth.
Ms. Landing stated that one of the common factual misunderstandings
regarding economics is that when you lower taxes or fees, you lose
revenue. She said that this is a complete mistake. She stated that if the
Town lowered its impact fees, it is likely that the impact fee revenue will
increase. She said if we roll the impact fees back to where they were
prior to the increase two years ago the Town would actually see an
increase in our impact fee revenue, but moreover in the long run, the
Town would have the great services and jobs on this side of the bridge
and have long-running business revenue fees, property tax fees, etc.
Mr. Crosby stated that you cannot disregard the impact that new
business has on the system. He said the issue is that for many years, the
Town failed to address impact fees. When they finally did, it was a
significant increase. He said he cannot see reducing the impact fees, but
this subject is likely going to warrant more discussion.
Ms. Hyatt asked if the Town was playing “catch up”, because she does
not understand why the fees are set where they are currently. She said
growth does need to pay for growth; however, we do not wish to
discourage business.
Ms. Landing stated that children are doing something with their time
when they are not able to go to the beach. She said if they have to travel
Economic Development Committee
February 3, 2020
Page 6 of 6
to North Charleston for activities, is this less of a transportation impact
than having things in our Town where we live. She said she believes
growth should pay for growth; however if you are unable to bring the
businesses to the Town initially, we will never know. She said in the long
run, it is better to have those businesses here in Mount Pleasant. She said
from what she read previously, the reason the impact fees were raised
was because the Town was trying to find different ways to slow down
residential growth. She believes this is an issue that warrants further
discussion, especially if residents desire to have more services and great
jobs in the Town.
4. General project updates
Ms. Sims stated that on February 26th, the Town will have the annual
Shellabration Oyster Roast in conjunction with the Mount Pleasant
Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the businesses in Mount Pleasant
and all they do for the community. She would like to invite the Economic
Development Committee to attend this event. She said they are also
working with the Mount Pleasant Chamber on what types of things their
members would like from the Chamber of Commerce. She said one of the
top items was how to do business with the Town of Mount Pleasant. She
said they are working with the Chamber to create a new event in August
2020 about doing business with the Town. She stated that they will send
out additional information once details have been finalized.
5. Adjourn
There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 10:07 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Ashe
February 3, 2020
Agenda
COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL
MEETING NOTICE
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Monday, February 3, 2020
Economic Development Committee 9:45 a.m.
Police, Judicial, and Legal Committee 10:30 a.m.
Public Services Committee 11:30 a.m.
Planning and Development Committee 12:30 p.m.
Transportation Committee 2:00 p.m.
Bids and Purchases Committee 3:00 p.m.
The following Committees will not meet:
Education Committee
Finance Committee
Fire Committee
Human Resources Committee
Recreation Committee
Water Supply Committee
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
9:45 a.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the January 6, 2020 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Discussion regarding commercial impact fees
4. General project updates
5. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
POLICE, JUDICIAL & LEGAL COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
10:30 a.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the January 6, 2020 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Police matters
a. Executive session to discuss security measures at town council
meetings and committee meetings.
b. Post Executive Session
Committee may take action on any item, including any subsection of
any section, listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in an
executive session during a properly noticed meeting.
4. Judicial matters
No agenda items
5. Legal matters
a. Discussion and possible action regarding an ordinance on reporting
lost or stolen guns
b. Discussion and potential action to alter the deadline for adding items
to the Town Council agenda
c. Executive session to receive legal advice on the town's contract for
legal representation
d. Post Executive Session
Committee may take action on any item, including any subsection of
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
any section, listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in an
executive session during a properly noticed meeting.
6. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
11:30 a.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the December 2, 2019 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Employee years of service recognition
4. Request from GDC Home for exemption from the Environmentally
Acceptable Packaging and Products ordinance as it relates to pillow
bags
5. Executive session, if needed, to receive legal advice regarding request
from GDC Home for exemption from the Environmentally Acceptable
Packaging and Products ordinance as it relates to pillow bags
6. Post Executive Session
Committee may take action on any item, including any subsection of
any section, listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in an
executive session during a properly noticed meeting.
7. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
12:30 p.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the January 6, 2020 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Employee years of service recognition
4. Annexations
a. A-2-20. 1770 Snowden Road. Request to annex an approximately
0.8 acre tract of land located at 1770 Snowden Road , identified by
TMS No. 556-00-00-003 and depicted on a plat as Tract 1 recorded
by Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book AT, Page 144.
5. Review of Planning Commission recommendations from the January
22, 2020 meeting
a. R-1-20. 950, 952 and 954 Key Colony Court. Request to rezone from
AB, Areawide Business District, to TH, Townhouse District, an
approximately 0.16 acre tract of land comprised of three (3)
parcels; and to reinstate the overlay district known as the UC-CBS,
Coleman-Ben Sawyer Urban Corridor Overlay District then in effect
at the time of permit issuance to render the properties compliant
with permitted uses and development standards of the same. The
properties are further identified by TMS No’s. 532-15-00-207, -206
and -205, respectively, and are depicted on a plat recorded by the
Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book L15, Page 0587.
b. R-2-20. 956, 962, 964, 966, 968, 970, 972, 974, 976, 978, 980, 982
and 984 Key Colony Court. Request to rezone from AB, Areawide
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
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Business District, to R-4, Medium Density Residential District, an
approximately 0.59 acre tract of land comprised of thirteen (13)
parcels; and to reinstate the overlay district known as the UC-CBS,
Coleman-Ben Sawyer Urban Corridor Overlay District (now known
as the Boulevard Overlay District) then in effect at the time of
permit issuance to render the properties compliant with permitted
uses and development standards of the same. Properties are
further identified by TMS No’s. 532-15-00-204, -202, -201, -200, -
199, -198, -197, -196, -195, -194, -193, -192 and -191, respectively,
and are depicted on a plat recorded by the Charleston County ROD
Office in Plat Book L15, Page 0587.
c. R-3-20. 992 and 994 Key Colony Court. Request to rezone from AB,
Areawide Business District, to R-3, Medium Density Residential
District, an approximately 0.06 acre tract of land comprised of two
(2) parcels; and to reinstate the overlay district known as the UC-
CBS, Coleman-Ben Sawyer Urban Corridor Overlay District then in
effect at the time of permit issuance to render the properties
compliant with permitted uses and development standards of the
same. Properties are further identified by TMS No’s. 532-15-00-188
and 532-15-00-187 and are depicted on a plat recorded by the
Charleston County ROD Office in Plat Book L15, Page 0587.
d. Proposal to amend various provisions in sections 156.318
(Boulevard Overlay District) and 156.320 (Waterfront Gateway
District) of Chapter 156, Zoning Code, of the Mount Pleasant Code
of Ordinances pertaining to the reduction of existing building
height limits in portions of the Boulevard Overlay District and the
Waterfront Gateway District. Affected areas are (1) near the base
of the Ravenel Bridge (in the vicinity of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard,
Wingo Way, Magrath Darby Boulevard, Mathis Ferry Road and
Houston Northcutt Boulevard) and (2) near the US Highway 17/I-
526 interchange (Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Bowman Road, and
Stuart Engals Boulevard). Proposed approximate new building
heights include the following:
80’ height for a portion of the “Medical Zone” at East Cooper
Medical Center;
65’ for portions of Hospitality and Medical Zones;
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
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55’ for McGrath Darby/Houston Northcutt area;
45’ for Bowman/Stuart Engals area;
40’ near Chuck Dawley and Bowman Road; and
55’ for remainder of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard corridor.
Also includes a request to amend the official Building Height Plan
Map to correspond with the proposed height reductions.
6. Presentation on the Scenic Highway designation of Mathis Ferry Road
and Long Point Road
7. Continued Discussion of Settlement Communities Task Force
8. Status Report on possible rezoning of school property (Moultrie
Middle School)
9. Discussion and consideration to task the Design Review Board to
study and make recommendations regarding building height and
number of floors within commercial structures
10. Discussion with regard to greener methods of development
11. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
2:00 p.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the January 6, 2020 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Presentation of Mount Pleasant Transit Study: Strategic Vision Plan
4. Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax (TST) and Charleston
County Transportation Committee (CTC) Annual Project Selection
5. Discussion with regard to construction traffic and access points in
Carolina Park
6. Discussion with regard to prohibiting truck traffic along Mount
Pleasant’s scenic highways
7. Update – ongoing projects
8. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
BIDS AND PURCHASES COMMITTEE
Monday, February 3, 2020
3:00 p.m.
Municipal Complex, Committee Meeting Room, 3rd Floor
100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the December 2, 2019 meeting
2. Public Comments
3. Award of contract for rolling trash carts
4. Adjourn
Title VI Notice: The Town of Mount Pleasant fully complies with Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and
related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Town
meetings are conducted in accessible locations, materials can be provided
in accessible formats, and provided in languages other than English. If you
would like accessibility or language accommodation, please contact the
Title VI Coordinator one week in advance of the meeting, at the Town of
Mount Pleasant at 843-884-8517.
Telephone (843) 884-8517 - Fax (843) 856-2180
www.tompsc.com
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