1300 Hospital Dr #220
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
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Struggling with Knee or Shoulder Pain that won't improve?
From serious sports injuries causing tissue damage to bone issues and stiffness that comes with age, living with pain is, well, a pain. But it's more than that - it's a stressful, often upsetting way to get through your day, month, and year. Have you ever tried to get out of bed with sore, stiff knees? Most folks would rather just get back in bed. Think you might try exercising with plantar fasciitis? Don't plan on running far or doing cardio for very long. Torn rotator cuff? Without proper treatment, your life might not ever be the same.
Living with pain and the inevitable issues that come with age can seriously affect your wellbeing and happiness. Sure, you could wake up every morning and rely on addicting medications to help you move. Or, you could risk further injury and damage with invasive surgeries that require long periods of recovery and downtime. But those can't be the only two options for treatment, can they?
Fortunately, a new, natural, non-invasive treatment for pain is revolutionizing the medical industry and transforming people's lives. It's giving athletes, average folks, and people of a certain age a reason to be hopeful. It's called Softwave therapy, and unlike many fly-by-night medications and sketchy treatments, it's backed by science and provided by Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine.
If you're barely making it through the day suffering from chronic pain, this FDA-approved drug-free treatment may be for you. Softwave therapy has already been used by thousands of people around the country living with issues like shoulder pain, knee pain, and plantar fasciitis. You could be next.
Though its popularity has only grown in recent years, Softwave therapy - also known as shockwave therapy - has been around for years. In fact, the first systematic study into the benefits of shockwave therapy took place way back in 1950. So, what is Softwave therapy?
Softwave therapy is a method of treatment that works incredibly well for mobility rehab, pain relief, and full-body recovery, usually from chronic pain or injuries. Softwave therapy uses a device emitting low-energy soundwaves that target a patient's injured area. These low-intensity waves boost blood flow and kickstart your body's natural healing processes, relieving long-term pain and helping your body to heal a wide range of injuries and conditions.
The main targets in the body include bones, tendons, and other soft tissues, which are encouraged to regenerate and repair via the shockwaves. Often, shockwave therapy is used in conjunction with other non-invasive treatments like chiropractic care, which we offer at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. The results are often incredible, leaving patients wondering why they never tried Softwave therapy before.
Softwave therapy works especially well for:
Better Blood Flow
Collagen Stimulation
Reducing Inflammation
Kickstarting cell growth and healing factors
Breaking down build-ups of calcium
With FDA clearance, little-to-no side effects, and quick application time, Softwave therapy is a welcome alternative for people suffering from pain. Who wants to spend weeks or months recovering from a surgery that might not even work? Likewise, who would want to become dependent on over-the-counter or, even worse, prescription pain meds? Living a life of addiction is a road nobody wants to go down.
Softwave therapy represents a revolution in non-invasive pain treatment; best of all, it's highly effective. Independent studies prove that shockwave therapy helps with pain. 65-91% of patients using shockwave therapy experienced real-deal improvements in damaged muscle and bone tissue, solving their mobility problems and drastically reducing pain. It almost sounds too good to be true, but as many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine will tell you - it isn't.
Book AppointmentSome of the most common conditions that Softwave therapy treats include:
When you get up in the morning and go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, do you notice a stabbing, sharp pain near your heel? Does the pain go away once you have a chance to walk around? If so, you could have plantar fasciitis. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, this painful condition is quite common. About two million people suffer from plantar fasciitis every year, and almost 10% of all people will experience the condition at least once in their life.
This common foot issue happens when the plantar fascia - a fan-shaped tissue near your heel - gets inflamed. The plantar fascia is a thick strip of connective tissue that links your toes to your heel bone, helping to preserve the arch of your foot. When this band is strained, it causes intensely sharp pain, usually in the morning when you wake up and plant your feet on the floor.
Most folks ignore plantar fasciitis because the pain eventually goes away throughout the day. However, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to weakness and chronic pain, which may affect daily walking.
Some causes of plantar fasciitis include:
The short answer to this question is not really. Patients with plantar fasciitis will ice the affected area with little-to-no relief since they spend so much time on their feet. It's hard to rest an achy heel if you've got a job that requires you to be on your feet. Anti-inflammatory meds like Advil don't work all that well, either. They may provide temporary pain relief, but in terms of a long-term solution, taking these drugs will cause major side effects.
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When more conservative treatment options like ice and over-the-counter meds don't work, most doctors turn to ultra-expensive orthotics, steroid injections, or invasive surgery. For the average person, those options fail on all fronts, as they carry risks for side effects and may even cause the issue to worsen.
Instead of going under the knife or changing their daily routines, many people suffering from plantar fasciitis are turning to Softwave therapy for relief.
During a shockwave therapy session, our expert providers use a special probe to deliver pressure waves to inflamed tissue. These waves trigger natural healing processes causing new blood vessels to form. In turn, oxygen is supplied to the affected area, reducing inflammation and causing healthy cells to regenerate. Shockwave therapy also produces collagen, which is crucial for connective tissue health.
With just a few visits, many patients find long-term relief from plantar fasciitis without relying on strange drugs or harmful surgeries.
Living with knee pain is just miserable. From knee tendonitis to osteoarthritis, knee pain can prevent you from enjoying activities and affect your day-to-day life. Your knee is a joint comprised of cartilage, bone, ligaments, and fluids. Tendons and muscles within the knee help the joint move. When one of these crucial knee structures is hurt or compromised, it results in knee pain and long-lasting knee problems. This, in turn, leads to difficulty walking at best and debilitating knee issues at worse.
If you're an active person or somebody who plays sports often, you're probably all too familiar with knee pain - especially common conditions like patellar tendinopathy. Also called "jumpers knee," this issue happens at the patellar tendon, which is found on the front of the knee just under the knee cap. When living with this condition, most patients experience pain around the kneecap or lower down on the leg around the tibia.
In addition to injuries and issues like jumper's knee, everyday wear and tear will cause knee pain over time. With time, this knee pain can develop into arthritis. If your knees are swollen, painful, or stiff, you may have arthritis in your knees. Regardless of the kind of knee pain you're experiencing, treatment options have been limited to agonizing surgeries and addicting pain medications. But that all changes with shockwave therapy for knee pain in Mount Pleasant, SC.
Though no two knee pain problems are exactly the same, shockwave therapy has been shown to be highly effective for knee pain. In fact, many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine find relief after just one session. Many times, sessions can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. So if you want to find relief for knee pain on your lunch break, that's definitely possible.
As is the case with plantar fasciitis, Softwave therapy works by sending sound wave and low-energy impulses to the affected area of your knee. These pulses stimulate your body's healing factors, which can help regenerate and repair damaged tendons and tissues. Softwave therapy for knee pain is especially promising for people who have tried other treatments - like surgery and pain meds - with disappointing results.
Benefits include:
Several studies and reviews prove that Softwave therapy can be very beneficial for people suffering from knee pain problems like jumper's knee. A study involving 66 patients with knee pain found that they enjoyed a significant improvement in their reported pain levels with Softwave therapy. In fact, knee pain was reduced by nearly 50% after a single month. When combined with other regenerative and physical therapy treatments at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, your days of living with knee pain are numbered.
Book AppointmentHere's a fact for you to consider: Every joint that you have in your body plays a part in your day-to-day life. But when we think of joint issues, we typically jump to knee issues. However, your knees aren't the only joints in your body to go through wear and tear. Your shoulders experience just as much, if not more, wear and tear than your knees. We put a strain on our shoulders just about every time we use or move our arms. Our shoulders play a pivotal part in living a normal life. When they begin to deteriorate over time due to age or overuse, it creates a litany of painful problems.
There are many causes of shoulder pain, like deterioration, inflammation, and trauma. Of the many painful shoulder conditions affecting Americans yearly, rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis are very common. Also called calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff pain is caused by built-up calcium deposits on the shoulder's tendons, which connect your rotator cuff to nearby muscles and bones. This painful condition is usually linked to sports, like basketball and volleyball, or in professions requiring repetitive movements, like in the plumbing industry.
Some common symptoms of shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinitis include:
Though strengthening exercises and some medications provide temporary relief for shoulder pain, they're not meant as long-term solutions. Luckily, Softwave therapy for rotator cuff pain in Mount Pleasant, SC, can help.
Shockwave therapy has been shown to work wonders for shoulder pain. Low-intensity shockwaves break up calcium deposits and jumpstart your body's healing processes, stimulating blood flow and healthy cell growth. Shockwave treatment is especially effective for long-term shoulder pain since it releases stem cells, sends growth factors to the affected area, and boosts capillary production. Shockwave therapy has also been shown to break down scar tissue and eliminate trigger points, all of which decrease shoulder pain. This relief is most often long-lasting, unlike other treatments like medications and injections.
Many studies support the efficacy of Softwave therapy for shoulder conditions like rotator cuff pain and calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. In a study of 84 patients living with long-term rotator cuff tendonitis, participants in the treatment group saw a significant decrease in the intensity of their shoulder pain. Another study related to shockwave therapy for calcific tendonitis found that 86.6% of patients experienced fewer calcifications.
If you're having to live with rotator cuff pain or another type of shoulder issue, choosing Softwave therapy may be your best course of action.
Book AppointmentWhether you're sick of living with intense heel pain from plantar fasciitis, the mobility issues associated with knee pain, or the day-to-day struggles of rotator cuff degeneration, you'll find hope at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. Unlike some medical clinics, our team of doctors and specialists focus on an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to healing. Instead of relying on addictive medications and invasive surgeries, we prefer to address the underlying causes that our patients face.
We combine several all-natural pain relief therapies so that your shoulder pain, knee pain, joint pain, and foot pain go away for good. We resolve pain by using healing treatments that restore function and improve mobility for the long term. Our state-of-the-art regenerative medicine treatments, used hand-in-hand with proven chiropractic techniques, will stimulate your body's healing power from within. If your pain is related to muscles, nerves, and bones, our doctors can help you overcome discomfort, injury, or medical conditions affecting these systems.
If you've been unable to resolve your pain or have become dependent on painkillers to cope, Softwave therapy may be the natural solution you need. It all starts with a quick call to our office, so we can begin to understand your needs. When you come for your first visit, our doctors will find the personalized treatment you need so that you can manage your pain in a non-invasive and drug-free environment manner.
Book AppointmentMOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant leaders approved the first of two readings to establish the Patriots Point planned development and impose a local tourism development fee on retail to fund major projects in the development.The tourism development fee is a local tax on retail items, but excludes the major categories of groceries, gas and prescriptions, among a few others. After two years in place, the fee will return some of the collected money to residents in the form of homeowner rebates. The other item the council approv...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant leaders approved the first of two readings to establish the Patriots Point planned development and impose a local tourism development fee on retail to fund major projects in the development.
The tourism development fee is a local tax on retail items, but excludes the major categories of groceries, gas and prescriptions, among a few others. After two years in place, the fee will return some of the collected money to residents in the form of homeowner rebates. The other item the council approved at first reading would establish the Patriots Point Planned Development district.
Mayor Will Haynie says the $100 million for infrastructure they expect to collect over 10 years is crucial to the area reaching its full potential.
“Our Comprehensive Plan and our Economic Development Strategic Plan both direct council, and have for years, to develop it, to make it an economic generator that takes the tax burden off the citizens of the town of Mount Pleasant. By funding this tourism development fee, we get money from tourists. We give our residents a rebate. And in effect, the things that get built there for the people of Mount Pleasant are funded in large part by tourism dollars,” Haynie says.
The projected revenue from the fee will go in part toward building the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, something the town has already committed $3 million to. On the second floor of the facility will be the Mount Pleasant Fine Arts Gallery.
“Yes, it will have a patriotic theme but can have other traveling exhibits. This will be our first major arts facility in the town of Mount Pleasant, and it’s a great place to have it because it’s so accessible. A waterfront promenade that goes all the way around to Shem Creek will be there, completing the trail that’s there now at Ferry Wharf,” Haynie says.
Money will also provide an expected $100 million in infrastructure like a 1,000-space parking garage, a waterfront promenade, turf on the town soccer fields and improvements to the College of Charleston soccer stadium.
“If you’ve been there on a Friday or Saturday, it’s bad, or when there’s a party at the Point, it’s not sustainable, and we will own that. And the people of Mount Pleasant will not have to pay when they are there for a Mount Pleasant recreation event. And then the other thing that we get out of all of this is that the whole development there is going to generate about $25 million a year in new tax revenue for the town of Mount Pleasant. That is $25 million a year that does not have to come from our residents’ property taxes in the future,” Haynie says.
Haynie boasts that Mount Pleasant is already the lowest property tax-wise of all the major municipalities and says this is how they will stay that way. Mount Pleasant also finished a nearly $10 million road improvement project at the intersection that enters Patriots Point in the fall of 2024, setting the stage for a big future.
“The whole idea behind what’s being developed there now Patriot annex, which has always been the plan for Patriots Point since the Yorktown got there, is to support the ships that are there, and its mission to give people a patriotic experience and the uniqueness of America. You add on top of that, the Medal of Honor Museum and the Center for Leadership, which will have nationwide reach, we’re going to build that tourism around that patriotic theme, and it’s going to be an economic generator for the town of Mount Pleasant that lessens tax burdens on our citizens,” Haynie says.
The 1% fee will go before the council again in January. At its first reading, the council unanimously supported it. Patriots Point Development Authority, the National Medal of Honor Center for Leadership, Explore Charleston, the College of Charleston and Charleston Battery all showed public support at first reading.
“Even if it passes a second reading in January, it will not go into effect until certain conditions are met. And then there’s a 60-day waiting period after we notify the State Department of Revenue, so you’re looking at the middle to the third quarter of next year before it goes into effect,” Haynie says.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
A forthcoming pool club at 1305 Erckmann Drive in the Old Village section of Mount Pleasant has many area homeowners on edge about increased traffic along the narrow roadway.Projected to open in early 2026, the Erckmann Pool Club was formally approved by Mount Pleasant's Design and Review Board (DRB) in late October, as the developers heralded the community benefits of their business. In particular, they noted how it could serve as a convenient gathering venue for local youngsters.Several neighbors residing around the Erckmann ...
A forthcoming pool club at 1305 Erckmann Drive in the Old Village section of Mount Pleasant has many area homeowners on edge about increased traffic along the narrow roadway.
Projected to open in early 2026, the Erckmann Pool Club was formally approved by Mount Pleasant's Design and Review Board (DRB) in late October, as the developers heralded the community benefits of their business. In particular, they noted how it could serve as a convenient gathering venue for local youngsters.
Several neighbors residing around the Erckmann Drive/King Street intersection begged to differ during the Dec. 2 Mount Pleasant Transportation Committee meeting, including Carolina One realtor Suzie Smith.
The nearly 20-year Erckmann Drive resident cited issues with the considerable foot traffic (i.e. cyclists, children, pedestrians) forced to negotiate high levels of vehicles speeding down the cut-through with no traffic calming devices in sight.
As a possible safety measure, Smith suggested the addition of speed humps, speed bumps, stop signs or new sidewalks in light of cars and 18 wheelers barreling down the artery connecting Coleman Boulevard with McCants Drive.
Smith recounted standing by her window between 7:14 and 8:15 a.m. earlier that morning and counting 45 cars that drove down her block. While another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, reported recently seeing a little girl riding her bicycle nearly get run over by a large truck.
On that note, Smith later informed the Moultrie News of witnessing two cars crossing in opposite directions, forcing one of the vehicles to stop to let the other pass through.
Mike Tinkey also weighed in by pointing to the importance of a four-way stop sign at the Erckmann/King intersection. He further cited a zoning issue by stating how the Town noise ordinance defaults to a decibel level requirement that's too low for the residential neighborhood.
In analyzing the intersection, Engineering & Development Services Deputy Director James Aton detailed that King Street — which does have a stop sign — sees about 400 cars pass through daily. Erckmann Drive, conversely, registers a volume of 1,000 cars traveling through the approach. Additionally, Aton shared that multiple speed applications for speed humps on Erckmann Drive were summarily rejected in past years.
Two attempts in 2014 and 2022, he specified, failed to meet speed thresholds outlined in the Town's traffic calming program.
Another hurdle that was addressed by staff and council is the fact that Erckmann Drive is a state roadway. Obtaining a necessary encroaching permit for the installation of a four-way stop sign, per Aton, would be highly unlikely.
"That is a volume-based criteria. Obviously, as things develop around here, [we] will continue to investigate that and make appropriate recommendations and requests to DOT," said Aton.
In lieu of placing a four-way stop sign at the intersection, Mayor Will Haynie, suggested removing the stop sign from King Street and moving it to Erckmann Drive.
"That might solve the problem because, you know, one good takeaway from today is Erckmann is a through street all the way with no calming. And that's one way to slow it down," he advised.
Aton responded that if the road in question is eligible for traffic calming, his department would be glad to submit the request in the summer of 2025. All of this would necessitate some further speed studies and processes laid out in the aforementioned traffic calming program.
One possible remedy offered by Engineering & Development Services Director Brad Morrison is to use a radar feedback apparatus along Erckmann Drive, which the Town can implement without state approval.
On the subject of ushering in other safety measures in the form of crosswalks or sidewalks, Aton maintained that his team will look into those possibilities. The sticking point, he reminded, is that nothing gets added without the state signing off on it.
Aton promised committee members that more studies would take place on several portions of Erckmann Drive to assess if any meet the speed threshold to secure a stop approach.
In responding to Councilmember Howard Chapman, Planning Director Michele Reed confirmed that sidewalks would by law need to be installed at the property borders of the new construction.
What's more, Chapman asked Aton and Morrison to consider the option of a traffic circle on Erckmann Drive to slow the flow of traffic. While Morrison conceded that there's ample space for a roundabout in that area, he estimated a $2 million price tag for that kind of project.
Chapman, himself a registered engineer in Florida and South Carolina, voiced his objections to a four-way stop sign, noting that it only causes drivers to speed even more once they move past it.
The transportation committee voted to kick off a traffic study on Erckmann Drive and along its intersection with King Street, which will probably be completed during the month of January.
Two of the four investors in attendance, Trey Lucy and Brian Collie, communicated their willingness to work with council on the implementation of safety-enhancing traffic devices.
In the aftermath of the session, several homeowners continued the conversation on the impact of the Erckmann Pool Club in the Town Hall parking lot. They acknowledged that while the investors were able to secure an approval from the DRB, the proposed undertaking is still subject to transportation and stormwater reviews.
On the latter, Smith apprised the Moultrie News that the planned removal of trees in her area would negatively affect rampant flooding conditions on Erckmann Drive.
One homeowner, who identified himself as Oliver, claimed that a recent two-hour rain event led to five inches of water accumulating in his driveway.
"It's an area that's flooding heavily already to the point that we can't even get off the end of our streets during a rainstorm," said Smith.
#ErckmannDrive #OldVillage #ColemanBoulevard #McCantsDrive #TreyLucy #BrianCollie #MayorWillHaynie #HowardChapman #MountPleasanttraffic #MountPleasantNews #ErckmannPoolClub
Abbracci Italian Cuisine & Cocktails brings coastal charm to North Mount Pleasant (PROVIDED)MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — The new restaurant, Abbracci Italian Cusine & Cocktails, is offering coastal charm to a local neighborhood.Don and Joanne Migliori are set to unveil their latest culinary venture, Abbracci Italian Cuisine & Cocktails, held its soft opening Friday, Nov. 8, in North Mount Pleasant. The restaurant promises an inviting and elevated dining experience, blending Italian recipes with the charm of c...
Abbracci Italian Cuisine & Cocktails brings coastal charm to North Mount Pleasant (PROVIDED)
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — The new restaurant, Abbracci Italian Cusine & Cocktails, is offering coastal charm to a local neighborhood.
Don and Joanne Migliori are set to unveil their latest culinary venture, Abbracci Italian Cuisine & Cocktails, held its soft opening Friday, Nov. 8, in North Mount Pleasant. The restaurant promises an inviting and elevated dining experience, blending Italian recipes with the charm of coastal Carolina hospitality.
Named after the Italian word for "hugs," Abbracci reflects the Migliori family's Italian-American heritage and their commitment to creating welcoming spaces. This marks the couple's third culinary endeavor in the Charleston area, following the success of Migliori’s Pizzeria and their partnership in Legami on King Street.
"Mount Pleasant has been our home for years, and we’re so grateful for the support we’ve received. We’ve poured our hearts into Abbracci," said Joanne Migliori. "Abbracci is our way of continuing that connection, offering a place where people can come together over heartwarming Italian dishes, cocktails, and truly memorable experiences. From the food to the design, our goal is to create a space where people feel like they’re part of our family."
READ MORE | "From okra stew to crab cakes: 'The Rideshare Foodie' savors America's diverse flavors."
Guests can expect a variety of dining experiences, including an expansive cocktail bar, a wine program, outdoor patio seating with a fire pit lounge area, a community table for gatherings, and a private dining room for special occasions.
The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Devin Sansone, known for his expertise in Italian cuisine. Chef Sansone has crafted a menu that combines rich Italian tradition with coastal-inspired flair. Signature dishes include house-made sausage arancini, crispy octopus, ricotta gnocchi, rigatoni sugo with braised pork cheek, potato-crusted fish, and a traditional cioppino with fresh local seafood.
"Abbracci’s menu has been really fun to create. We’re honoring the flavors and traditions of familial Italian roots while embracing the fresh, local ingredients of the Lowcountry," said Sansone.
Located at 1146 Muhlenbergia Drive, Abbracci will be open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The restaurant plans to introduce weekend brunch services and host a grand opening in 2025.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC)- A new medical building is coming to the Lowcountry that will be located directly across from the East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant.The chief strategy officer for the East Cooper Medical Center, Thomas Hayden, said that the 2-story, 40,000-square-foot medical facility will be called the Center for Women’s Health“It will be a centralized place where women from our community can find the best doctors all under one roof to continue the legacy of East Cooper,” Hayden said. &l...
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC)- A new medical building is coming to the Lowcountry that will be located directly across from the East Cooper Medical Center in Mount Pleasant.
The chief strategy officer for the East Cooper Medical Center, Thomas Hayden, said that the 2-story, 40,000-square-foot medical facility will be called the Center for Women’s Health
“It will be a centralized place where women from our community can find the best doctors all under one roof to continue the legacy of East Cooper,” Hayden said. “At its foundation women’s health has always been important to the community and we’re excited to see that into this next phase.”
Novant Health owns the East Cooper Medical Center and Hayden said that they will also own this new women’s medical center.
He said that the new facility will provide a variety of women’s health services.
“Once the building is complete, we will be co-locating a number of services so that the women in our community can expect to see obstetrics and gynecology, maternal fetal medicine for high-risk pregnancies, neonatology, breast surgery, pelvic medicine and of course a mammography will be in the building,” Hayden said.
He said they are expecting preparation of the construction site to begin in the first quarter of next year. Once that starts Hayden said he predicts the facility will open in 18 months.
He said that the opening of this new facility is important, saying that since the beginning East Cooper Medical Center has always strived to take care of the women in the community.
“We affirm our commitment to women’s health which started East Cooper,” Hayden said. “You’d be hard to find a neighbor or a friend or family member whose child wasn’t born either at our old hospital or at our new hospital and we’re continuing that legacy to take care of all of the women at different stages of their life.”
Hayden said for those interested in following along on the process of this new medical building to check out their LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and website for any future announcements.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Published: Oct. 23, 2024 at 1:45 PM PDT|MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant leaders and staff are nearing the finish line of a years-long process to update the town’s zoning codes in regards to approving new builds and protecting existing natural resources.“I think it’s important to note that this is our first wholesale update of our zoning code since 1979. So a lot of things have changed in Mount Pleasant since that time,” Councilman Daniel Brownstein says.Planning Director Michele Reed ...
Published: Oct. 23, 2024 at 1:45 PM PDT|
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Mount Pleasant leaders and staff are nearing the finish line of a years-long process to update the town’s zoning codes in regards to approving new builds and protecting existing natural resources.
“I think it’s important to note that this is our first wholesale update of our zoning code since 1979. So a lot of things have changed in Mount Pleasant since that time,” Councilman Daniel Brownstein says.
Planning Director Michele Reed says staff and leaders reviewed the code and began this rewrite in 2020.
“Of course throughout the years we’ve seen a lot of amendments to it. So a lot of piecemeal changes which resulted in a lot of inconsistencies throughout the code,” Reed says.
Some of the major changes are considering allowing murals, updating the sign ordinance requiring neutral content, enacting new tree protections and updating approval standards for development.
“I think this will allow us to approve development that’s better suited for our sensitive environment. There’s a lot of enhanced tree protections. There’s certain areas of town that are more conducive to mixed-use with residential and commercial being on the same site, and so I think that as a result of this zoning code change, that will be sort of modernizing the pattern of development here in Mount Pleasant,” Brownstein says.
The code creates the opportunity for creating and approving “Hubs” referring to mixed-use or development centers.
“It’s really about focusing more on concentrating your higher intensity development around these certain hubs and these development centers as opposed to along the corridors which is what we had previously through the Urban Corridor Overlay District,” Reed says.
For reference, Mount Pleasant has had a ban on apartment and condo style builds for seven years that is set to expire Dec. 31, 2024. The emergency moratorium went into place to allow the town’s infrastructure to catch up. Brownstein says as that expires, it is good to have regulations on mixed-use development, so it goes in responsibly. He believes there is a need for some diverse housing to be built soon.
“My hope is that with the zoning code, we will have an additional tool to encourage some affordable, attainable housing in our community, which is super important,” Brownstein says.
The code has new tree protections, like protecting grand oaks and pine trees, requiring a replacement tree must be planted somewhere else on site for certain trees removed, and if not possible a fine will be paid into the tree bank. The pine tree rules are new, protecting trees 24 inches or greater from being cut. Grand Oaks are already protected and will continue to be so.
“I think equally important what you won’t see is nobody’s property is going to get re-zoned. This won’t change the use or zoning of anybody’s property. Any new districts are going to be overlays that town council would apply and so I think it’s important to note that,” Reed says.
The planning commission made a few tree recommendations to the code and it will go before the county council for two readings next.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
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