Conducted by Urban Land Institute South Carolina for Charleston Metro Chamber

Charleston, SC – The Urban Land Institute South Carolina (ULI) has been engaged by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce to offer an “unbiased fair and honest assessment” of the framework plan for Growth Management as proposed by Mount Pleasant Town Council in March 2015.

The public is invited to hear the results of the two-day study and the panel’s recommendations at a presentation at 5 p.m. August 6 at the Cooper River Room at Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park.

The Town of Mount Pleasant is a thriving and safe community with a rich history of aquaculture and agriculture.  Once a quaint seaside village and bedroom community of the City of Charleston, Mount Pleasant is now amongst the 10 fast growing urban areas in the country and is the fastest growing town in South Carolina.  While the national spotlight affords the town a number of opportunities, it is a challenge to maintain and build high quality public infrastructure that is economically feasible in the long term.  The cornerstone of the growth management plan proposes curbing the number of residential units through the elimination of bonus densities, raising impact fees and increasing taxes for the acquisition of public land.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the region to get expert, third party input as we respond to opportunities and challenges with unprecedented growth. We are likely to hear about some new ideas and approaches, confirm known aspects and opportunities in the area, and perhaps hear some things we might not want to hear,” said Mary Graham Chief Advancement Officer at the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The two-day panel will consist of a tour of the study area; a town hall meeting; stakeholder interviews with a range of community leaders, including elected and appointed officials, business owners and active residents; and advocacy groups. ULI will issue a final written report on the Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) in about two months.

The six-member inter-disciplinary team is drawn from ULI’s statewide membership and includes experts in transportation and land use, economic development, urban planning, alternative financing and affordable housing.

TAPs are part of the ULI Advisory Services program. TAPs which are run and implemented by District Councils — the local chapters of ULI — provide expert, multidisciplinary advice to local governments, public agencies and nonprofit organizations facing complex land use and real estate issues.

About ULI: The Urban Land Institute provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. ULI South Carolina was formed in 2005 to encourage dialogue on land use and planning throughout the state and within each of the three main regions. The nonprofit group, consisting of more than 500 members, hosts more than 30 programs annually throughout the state. Visit http://southcarolina.uli.org.

About the Chamber: With more than 1,600 member organizations representing 125,000 professionals, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce serves as the collective voice of the business community, and a catalyst for advancing the region’s economy and enhancing members’ success through Advocacy, Innovation, Talent and Business Advancement. Visit charlestonchamber.net.