Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb2016

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manager, utility
contractor and
real estate agent,
he has a good
idea about how
to help manage
the future of one
of the fastest-
growing towns in
the United States.
“I know what
infrastructure
should look like,”
said Owens, who
culminated his first
political campaign
by claiming
a seat on the
Mount Pleasant
Town Council in
November’s runoff election.
During his career, Owens has
worked on projects including Daniel
Island’s infrastructure, the Mount
Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park,
the Center for Advanced Studies on
the Wando High School campus and
the utility infrastructure at Mount
Pleasant Regional Airport.
Owens, who graduated from
Wando High School and attended
the College of Charleston and
Trident Technical College, said he
launched his political career because
“It’s something I always wanted to
do.” He added that he had been
attending Council meetings for
about two years and was concerned
that local residents had only two
minutes to speak about what he
considered to be serious issues.
He actually waded into the local
political scene in October 2014
as a founding member of Save
Shem Creek, after establishing a
Facebook page aimed at opposing
the construction of an office building
and parking garage at the corner of
Mill Street and Coleman Boulevard,
not far from the creek.
“We don’t
need to negate
what made
Shem Creek so
great to people
who settled here
initially,” Owens
commented.
He suggested
that it might
be a good idea
to consider
other options
besides an office
building near the
west side of the
creek, including
a museum, an
open-air market
or a park.
Will the results of November’s
election bring drastic changes to
the way land is developed in Mount
Pleasant? Owens insisted that the
town will continue to grow, “but at
a steady and reasonable rate.” He
said he wants to eliminate many of
the special exceptions that have been
granted to developers by the Council
in recent years.
“We will review the growth
management plan. We’ll see
what needs to be done and make
adjustments to the plan,” Owens
commented. “I don’t think we should
allow development that impacts
residents in a negative way.”
He added that he is optimistic
about the future of Mount Pleasant.
“I know our best days are ahead,
and I’ll do everything in my power
to make sure that takes place,”
he said. “I can’t imagine growing
up in an area that has a sense of
community like Mount Pleasant. My
friends in those days are my lifelong
friends today.”
Jim and Lydia Owens have been
married for 14 years; their blended
family includes five children.
Jim Owens
C B , S ,
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SINCE 1992
NOW OPEN AT THE BOULEVARD.
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YEARS 23
Photography by Patrick Brickman
Four Locations Locally Owned