Public Outcry Delayed Project

The people of Mount Pleasant spoke and the developer listened. Now the proposed large-scale, big-box development on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard is on hold, but it is not off the table.

“As a result of the public concern voiced … over the last few weeks, these additional efforts to further study the overall impacts of the project are expressly warranted,” Henrich Properties, the developer, wrote in a statement to the town and to local media.

Read more about the project.

The developer was slated for its first hearing on the proposed project this Wednesday. On Friday, it withdrew the application, citing the public concern.

Henrich proposed adding a Sam’s Club, Home Depot and Academy Sports to 40 acres of land across from Towne Centre on Hwy. 17.

Residents decried the proposal as being too large for the area. They contend several neighborhoods that abut the property would be being negatively impacted. They also questioned the impact on a local pond and on traffic. The land is currently zoned for multi-family residential units.

Henrich stands by the project as good for the economy and a responsible use of land already encroached upon by development. More than 950 people signed an online petition opposing the project, and many were planning to show up for Wednesday’s planning commission meeting.

“Our overall vision of this property is to positively impact our growing community in the form of infill development, increase our local tax base revenue, create hundreds of jobs, and encourage Mount Pleasant residents to shop locally,” the developer wrote in its statement.

Now that the application is deferred, Henrich will have to resubmit it for future consideration, said Christianne Farrell, the town’s director of planning.

Henrich says it will conduct additional “review, study, and analysis” to alleviate community concerns.