May 20, 2025

Dispute Over Sewer Access Sparks Annexation Debate in Mount Pleasant

News Summary

A couple in Mount Pleasant faces challenges in obtaining sewer service for their new property due to the town’s annexation policies. Their application highlights ongoing tensions between urban development and community preservation. With current regulations requiring adjacent properties to annex for sewer access, the couple wishes to remain in the county where regulations are less stringent. Their situation has reignited discussions on property rights and development in the area.

Mount Pleasant – A dispute over sewer access is sparking a heated debate about annexation policies in Mount Pleasant after a young couple, Allison and Jordon Johnson, sought to obtain sewer service for their newly purchased five-acre property on Boston Grill Road in the Hamlin Beach Community. The couple intends to raise their three children in this largely undeveloped area, but they are facing obstacles related to the town’s annexation requirements.

The Johnsons are grateful for the opportunity to live in Mount Pleasant, yet Jordon Johnson remarked that many of his peers from high school cannot afford to buy property in the area. Their primary contention revolves around the need to undergo annexation into the town to access sewer services from Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW). While their application for annexation is limited to securing sewer service, the couple would prefer to remain within the county boundaries, which feature less rigorous development restrictions and lower impact fees.

Current municipal regulations dictate that properties adjacent to town properties must annex to connect to MPW sewer lines. If the Johnsons’ annexation request is denied, they would still receive sewer service but would continue to operate under Charleston County jurisdiction, which could complicate their long-term development plans.

The issue has revived scrutiny of the town’s annexation practices, which have previously drawn criticism from other property owners, notably those associated with the Republic Tract. These homeowners claim that the stringent laws contributed to a failed $41 million development deal, intensifying the conversation around property rights and urban growth in the area.

In 2022, the town amended its annexation laws, allowing existing homes on unincorporated properties to connect to MPW sewer lines without the requirement of annexation. These changes were reportedly made to minimize the number of septic tanks and promote public health by ensuring adequate waste management.

The Johnsons’ case is currently pending before the Mount Pleasant Town Council as they navigate through the bureaucratic challenges associated with the annexation process. Their struggle has reignited broader discussions about development, especially in Gullah Geechee communities, where the town is considering stricter development regulations for historic Black neighborhoods. Such measures may include potential moratoriums on large subdivisions to protect the character of these traditional settlements from suburban expansion.

Within the MPW service area, approximately 1,500 septic tanks are in operation, many of which are poorly maintained by homeowners, leading to heightened environmental risks. In response to these issues, Mount Pleasant Waterworks has announced the launch of a Septic System Maintenance Program, set to begin in January 2025. This initiative aims to assist local homeowners in maintaining their septic systems, with the promise of monthly fee credits for the initial participants of the program.

The discussion surrounding the Johnsons’ bid for sewer access underscores the increasing tensions between the demands of urban development and the preservation of community identities in Mount Pleasant. As the Town Council evaluates the currently proposed annexation request, the outcome may have significant implications for future property owners and development regulations in the region.

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