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https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/commentary-laurel-hill-parkway-is-an-unnecessary-irreversible-mistake/article_d7ad00cc-1b6b-11ee-8c92-8b0c6ef132fa.html
Dear Supporters,
Many of you have likely heard about the Charleston County Finance Committee meeting held this past Tuesday, June 24th. During that meeting, a county representative claimed that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to issue its notice of intent to issue a permit for the Highway 41 project within the next 60 days.
We want to set the record straight: Smart Growth 41 does not believe this statement accurately represents the facts on the ground. Based on everything Smart Growth 41 has learned, there are still many steps left in the permitting process — and the fight to stop this flawed project is very much still alive.
Why the County’s Timeline Doesn’t Add Up
Contrary to the impression given at the recent Finance Committee meeting and from what we understand, the Army Corps of Engineers cannot issue a permit until the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) completes its own permitting process. That process is still ongoing and far from resolved.
Here’s a detailed timeline of recent developments:
* DES must issue its permit first.
Federal permitting by the Army Corps is contingent on DES competing its part of the permitting process. Without a decision from DES to approve or deny its permit, the Corps cannot proceed. Given the outstanding concerns and incomplete information submitted by the County, a decision from DES is not expected any time soon — and would be highly unlikely within the next 60 days.
* Smart Growth 41 and State Representative Kathy Landing have been working closely with DES.
After DES held a public hearing last June at Wando High School, no updates were provided for months. In November, Rep. Landing contacted DES to request a status update and was told that DES had been delayed due to the complexity of the Laurel Hill Parkway segment and had not yet received all required information from Charleston County.
* In February, Rep. Landing met with DES leadership in Columbia.
Rep. Landing met with the Director of DES and a staff member from DES who attended the June hearing. She received an update that DES was still waiting on technical responses from the County. Recognizing the importance of the project’s implications, the Director of DES agreed to travel to Charleston to conduct a site visit.
* That site visit occurred in April.
DES leadership received a full briefing and toured the potentially impacted areas with Rep. Landing alongside Smart Growth 41 and representatives from neighboring communities. During the visit, DES shared the formal questions it had submitted to the County following public comments at last year’s hearing (read here), along with the County’s initial responses (read here) — many of which Smart Growth 41 found to be inadequate. As a result of that meeting, DES requested that we provide additional follow-up information to address ongoing concerns.
* Following the visit, both Smart Growth 41 and Rep. Landing submitted formal letters to DES.
+ Smart Growth 41 submitted a detailed environmental impact letter (read here) (https://smartgrowth41.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PWMA_SG41_DHEC-Submission_Hwy41_FINAL-5.2.25-No-Contact.pdf) .
+ Rep. Landing submitted her own letter challenging the county’s traffic assumptions and outlining constituent concerns(read here) (https://smartgrowth41.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Letter-to-DES-Regarding-Traffic-Concerns-for-Hwy-41.pdf) .
* These letters were submitted only in recent weeks.
DES is now reviewing this information that has been provided by Smart Growth 41 and Rep. Landing and from what we understand plans to submit a second round of questions for the County to respond to — a process that will likely take several more months, not weeks. Until that is complete, DES will not make a decision on its permit, and neither can the Army Corps.
Despite this reality, we have heard from some residents along the proposed route that the County has begun prematurely initiating Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisitions for the Laurel Hill Parkway segment — sending out official letters to landowners. We believe this is an irresponsible and inappropriate step given the unresolved permitting status.
If you or someone you know has received such a letter, please email us at info@smartgrowth41.org (mailto:info@smartgrowth41.org) (and include a copy of your letter if possible) so we can work to determine the best way to respond.
🔧 Action Item: Support Mount Pleasant Town Council’s Resolution
In response to these troubling developments, the Mount Pleasant Town Council is considering a resolution in the town Transportation Committee to officially oppose the Laurel Hill Parkway portion of the Highway 41 project. Mount Pleasant Town Councilmembers Daniel Brownstein and John Iacofano introduced the resolution and the request was approved by the chairman of the town Transportation Committee, Mayor Will Haynie.
This is a critical opportunity for those concerned about the current Highway 41 project design to have their voices heard and influence the project’s future. Here’s how you can help:
âś… Send an Email to Town Council
Tell them you support the resolution to oppose the Laurel Hill Parkway:
📧 councilclk@tompsc.com (mailto:councilclk@tompsc.com)
📆 Attend Upcoming Meetings and Provide Comment in Support of the Resolution
* Transportation Committee Meeting:
🗓️ Monday, June 30 at 1:15 PM
* Full Town Council Meeting:
🗓️ Tuesday, July 8 at 6:00 PM
đź“Ť Both meetings will be held at Mount Pleasant Town Hall, 100 Ann Edwards Ln, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
đź“Ł Contact Charleston County Council
Let them know you continue to oppose the “Road to Compromise”:
📧 public-comments@charlestoncounty.org (mailto:public-comments@charlestoncounty.org)
Passing this resolution is not only important symbolically — it could weigh heavily in DES’s final decision. If DES denies its permit, the Army Corps is very unlikely to issue a permit for the project, which would effectively block the project from moving forward.
The bottom line: the fight is not over. The permitting process is still underway, and there are still multiple points of leverage where we can stop this project from moving forward and harming our community.
Thank you for staying engaged and continuing to fight for a smarter, more sustainable solution for the Highway 41 corridor.
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