32 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com BY L. C. LEACH III Year in Review Countdown of town milestones If you had a time machine that could take you back to the Town of Mount Pleasant in 1970, you might be tempted to think you had landed elsewhere by mistake. The landscape would be home to less than 6,200 people. There would be no Memorial Waterfront Park, no Ravenel Bridge, no long-term economic development strategy for the future, no worries over greenspace and resources and no reason to think that Mount Pleasant would ever be anything more than simply another Lowcountry area attractive for its mild weather, fishing, water sports, summer beaches, history and food. Since that time 54 years ago, Mount Pleasant has been constantly growing: steadily through the 1980s, doubling in size in the 1990s and now more than triple its population from 1990 to around 95,000 and counting — with annual 2022 overnight visitors topping 1.42 million. With this growth has come concerns regarding affordable housing, traffic management, freshwater supply and resources, social crises and whether to limit future growth and development in drastic fashion, or to let the market continue to decide. In 2024, area leaders and officials addressed many of these concerns with more roadway improvements, first responder upgrades, preservation projects and other proactive measures intended to lead to major turning points in the area’s long-term direction. “All of these things are to enhance the quality of life in Mount Pleasant,” said Mayor Will Haynie. To this end, here is a countdown of the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Top 10 achievements in 2024: NO. 10: INSTALLATION OF EV CHARGING STATIONS This past summer, TOMP completed the installation of 23 electric vehicle charging stations, enhancing accessibility for EV users and promoting sustainability. Eleven of the charging stations are located at town hall and 12 are at Memorial Waterfront Park. The charging rate is set at 20 cents per kilowatthour, ensuring the long-term viability of this essential infrastructure. These new stations will not only provide accessible and convenient options for residents and visitors but encourage the use of electric vehicles and contribute to a greener, more sustainable community. NO. 9: LAUNCH OF OPAL PERMITTING SYSTEM Also this past summer, TOMP introduced a new online permitting and application licensing system (OPAL), a onestop digital platform designed to streamline the permitting process for planning, building and construction projects. OPAL is designed not only to enhance efficiency and provide a user-friendly experience for residents and businesses, but is also expected to ease the process of planning, building and other construction-related permit applications. Once registered, all users – such as architects, engineers, private providers, homeowners and administrative staff for contractors/qualifiers—can submit permit applications, track requests through the review process and pay for multiple permits in one transaction. NO. 8: LAUNCH OF GIS HUB This most recent innovation, launched last November, will make the town’s map-based resources more accessible and interactive. This online platform offers a range of tools for exploring Mount Pleasant’s infrastructure, zoning, trash pickup and development projects. “The new GIS Hub is a dynamic tool that provides residents and businesses with easy access to critical GIS data and applications,” said Amanda Brooks, town GIS manager. “As the site grows, we look forward to expanding its content and involving additional town departments to better serve our community.” Residents can now easily navigate local data through an intuitive, user-friendly interface at gis-tomp.hub.arcgis.com/. NO. 7: GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS The town successfully secured appropriations to fund
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1