Park agreement under fire

MOUNT PLEASANT — Town Councilman Gary Santos charged Monday that a proposed agreement up for a vote Tuesday regarding the Memorial Waterfront Park has not had a public hearing, even though it could shape the future of the park.

"This is kind of under the radar screen. It's a done deal before the public ever has a chance to talk about it," Santos said.

Town Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the agreement that conveys about 10 acres of land from the state Department of Transportation to the town, provided it is used for phase one of the park, which includes a 1,200-foot pier, a visitor center, a war memorial, a playground and a sweetgrass basket center.

As currently designed by a town consultant, the park project also includes a phase two on about another 10 acres for passive park uses, such as a dog park, which is not included in the DOT agreement.

Without that agreement on the land, the door is open for commercial development, Santos said.

Councilman Nick Collins said the land now identified for phase two of the park could better be used for a tax-revenue-producing hotel or convention center. "I'm against using that tract for a dog park because it's such a valuable piece of land. We have not explored all the options for a better location for a dog park," Collins said.

Councilman Billy Swails said that his opinion and that of Town Attorney Allen Young is that the resolution up for consideration tonight will not limit the town as to what it can or can't do with undeveloped land adjoining the park.

"If it's a dog park, that's OK. If it's a first-class office building for Town Hall, that's OK, too. I just don't want this to become a political football," Swails said.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.