Mount Pleasant residents are currently divided over a proposed road project that is part of the ongoing Highway 41 expansion. The project, known as the Laurel Hill Parkway, aims to run along the edge of Laurel Hill County Park and alleviate the increasing traffic congestion in the area. However, not everyone agrees with the plan.
The Purpose of the Laurel Hill Parkway
Charleston County has been working on expanding Highway 41 for several years, and the Laurel Hill Parkway is a key component of this larger project. The primary goal is to reduce congestion, especially during peak traffic times, by providing a new route for vehicles. Officials argue that the parkway would help ease the flow of traffic on Highway 41, particularly in the busy area surrounding Laurel Hill County Park.
Support from the Phillips Community
The proposed parkway, often referred to as “the Road to Compromise,” was designed with feedback from local residents in mind. Originally, the expansion plans would have required displacing homes in the historically Black Phillips community. However, the revised plan now avoids this, and many in the Phillips community support the parkway, as it would help alleviate traffic in their neighborhood.
Richard Habersham, President of the Phillips community, commented, “Laurel Hill would be the best option. It would take some of the traffic out of Phillips.” As North Mount Pleasant continues to grow, many residents are hopeful that the parkway will help reduce congestion in their community.
Environmental Concerns
On the other hand, many environmentalists and some leaders in Mount Pleasant are concerned about the parkway’s impact on Laurel Hill County Park, one of the few remaining green spaces in the area. Critics argue that building a road along the park’s edge could cause irreversible harm to the natural landscape, which they want to preserve for future generations.
Mount Pleasant Councilman Mike Tinkey voiced his concerns, saying, “I just didn’t feel at this point and this time, as conflicted as I am with this, that I could say ‘let’s put a road that will irreparably harm a green space’ we have so few left.” Tinkey stressed the importance of preserving the town’s remaining forests and green spaces, especially given the ongoing loss of trees in the area.
The County’s Position
Despite the concerns, Herbert Sass, the Charleston County Councilmember representing the area, insists that the road is necessary to complete the Highway 41 expansion. According to Sass, the parkway will only impact a small portion of the park, and the project is crucial for handling the expected growth in the region.
Sass explained, “It’s as close to the edge of the park as it can possibly be. The park itself is over 200 acres, and we’re going to be right along the edge of it. We’re not going to take too much of it, a small amount of it, but it’s needed.” He further emphasized that without the new road, the entire expansion project would be ineffective, especially given the anticipated population growth in Mount Pleasant, which could see thousands of new households by 2040.
Mount Pleasant Leaders Oppose the Road
In response to the concerns, Mount Pleasant leaders recently voted to send a resolution to Charleston County opposing the road through the northern part of Laurel Hill County Park. This decision highlights the ongoing debate between development and preservation, as residents continue to weigh the benefits of reduced traffic against the potential environmental costs.
