Many new developments in Mt. Pleasant are manifesting a planned community feel that aligns with my native, low-maintenance landscape design philosophy. This trend started with the development of I’On, a planned community in zip code 29464 that brought a New Urbanist feel reminiscent of Daniel Island east of the Cooper. Since the creation of I’On, a number of planned communities that harmonize the town with the natural Lowcountry environment have been developed throughout Mt. Pleasant. Notable examples include Midtown and Oyster Point.
Many Mt. Pleasant natives lament the fact that the town has become highly-developed. I disagree with these Hungry Neck natives’ negative appraisal of the current landscape east of the Cooper: When I was a kid in the 1980s, Mt. Pleasant was a hodgepodge of strip malls, fast food restaurants, and neighborhoods whose landscape design could be best described as “Anywhere U.S.A.” Certainly, Mt. Pleasant natives don’t want to return to that landscape, even if traffic wasn’t as bad back then.
Mt. Pleasant is a highly-desirable place to live, and for that reason it’s going to continue to be developed, for better or for worse. Thankfully, the Town of Mt. Pleasant has created land use regulations that ensure that much of Mt. Pleasant’s new development aligns with my native, low-maintenance landscape design philosophy.
Mt. Pleasant will increasingly exhibit planned community features that will harmonize the town with the beautiful natural Lowcountry environment in which it is located. Mt. Pleasant landscape design is becoming Daniel Island landscape design, and that’s a good thing!
