Mount Pleasant officials gathered on Monday to discuss the 2025 Mount Pleasant Towne Centre plan, which aims to transform the area with housing, office space, green space, and family-friendly entertainment. However, the plan has sparked mixed reactions from residents, particularly regarding the proposed density, the future of Belk and the movie theater, and the potential impact on local traffic.
Concerns Over Density and Traffic
At the planning committee meeting, residents voiced concerns about the proposed development’s density. Pam Ireland, a member of the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission, was the only one to vote against the plan. She expressed worries about the area’s high population density, pointing out the already congested traffic on the Isle of Palms connector.
“There’s already traffic, there are density issues, and we can’t allow that many people to live so densely in that particular congested area,” Ireland said. She proposed a solution to limit the number of residents to 265 units, instead of the proposed 421 units, to help alleviate some of the concerns while still maintaining a mix of attainable and market-rate housing.
Concerns About Belk and the Movie Theater
One major concern raised by residents was the future of Belk and the movie theater at the Towne Centre, with rumors circulating about the potential closure of these businesses. Councilmember Howard R. Chapman addressed these concerns, explaining that both Belk and the movie theater are under receivership in some form, and the owner of the shopping center is planning ahead to avoid having empty buildings in the future.
“The owner of the shopping center is simply trying to recognize the fact that both of the entities are in receivership of some way, shape, or form and to plan ahead so we don’t have another empty building,” Chapman said.
Support and Opposition for Affordable Housing
The developer, Continental Reality Corporation, emphasized the importance of the proposed plans for the continued vitality of Towne Centre. In a statement, they pointed out that the plan includes improvements based on requests from town council members and the public, and they are hopeful it will receive support from the majority of the town council.
While some committee members were in favor of the plan, Councilmember Jake Rambo voiced his opposition, citing concerns about the increased residential density in the town. “We don’t want a ton of increased residential density in this town,” Rambo said.
However, Councilmember Chapman disagreed, emphasizing the need for attainable housing in the area. “It’s in the center of the town, and it is going to have attainable housing, which we need terribly,” he said.
Decision Deferred for Further Discussion
In the end, the planning committee voted 2-1 to defer any decisions on the Towne Centre plan until the next committee meeting, scheduled for one month from now. This allows more time for discussion and feedback from both town leaders and the public.
