BPAS history: adoption, the 2024 extension, and the failed motions to cut the number further

ADOPTED: Mount Pleasant Town Council enacted the building permit allocation system on January 11, 2019 under Ordinance No. 18097, as recited in the 2023 extension ordinance. The Town's own BPAS webpage instead gives a program start date of January 8, 2019 — the two dates conflict (see notes). It ran roughly five years. EXTENDED: Ordinance No. 23035, 'An Ordinance to extend the Building Permit Allocation System and amend Section 156.070, Et Seq. of the Town of Mount Pleasant Code of Ordinances,' received final reading at Town Council on January 10, 2024 and was signed, sealed and delivered that date. It reimplemented the system 'for an additional five (5) year period from the date of this Ordinance' and was 'EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON FINAL READING' — which places its expiration in January 2029 absent a further extension. Planning Commission reviewed it October 18 and December 13, 2023; Planning Committee November 6, 2023 and January 2, 2024. THE NUMBER HAS NOT CHANGED: the 2019-2024 program used the identical figures now in force — 480 single-family and 20 accessory dwelling units per year, 500 multi-family for the term, 3,000 total. Two motions to cut the number failed at final reading on January 10, 2024: Councilman Rambo moved to halve single-family from 480 to 240 annually (120 per cycle), which failed 3-5; Councilman Brownstein moved to reduce the program to two years and cut the caps to two-fifths, which failed 2-6. Final reading then passed with all present voting in favor. CHALLENGE: the BPAS itself has not been struck down. The system was cited as an alleged burden in litigation filed in 2023 by the owners of an approximately 185-acre Wando River tract (the 'Republic tract') challenging the Town's requirement that property be annexed to obtain water and sewer service; that suit contests the annexation-for-utilities rule, not the allocation ordinance directly. No court decision invalidating the BPAS was located.