A. The developer has completed the design review process and recently submitted for building permits for the first phase of development. - Christiane Farrell, Director of Planning, Town of Mount Pleasant

Q. Last week I came upon four four cars (three from out-of-state) stopped on Highway 17 South at the Creekside entrance. The traffic light there is for a left turn only but the light may have twisted and traffic was unsure whether to stop at the red light or not. Please check on this traffic light. - Melanie Wilson, Mount Pleasant

A. "We'll look at this and make any necessary changes. This is really a maintenance issue for the contractor." - Brad Morrison, Director of Transportation, Town of Mount Pleasant

Q. Can you update us on when the new county park on Hwy. 41 will be open and a sneak peek on what will be inside? - Marla Chalfie, Mount Pleasant

A. "Although you really can't tell, we have been busy at Laurel Hill. The archeologists will be finishing soon. With a site this historic, is is important that we do not desecrate anything on that site. The written history is well documented. We know that there is a story to be told about the rich past of Laurel Hill Plantation. Once the archeologists tell us where we can work and more importantly, where we can not work, we will immediately begin to create a safe traffic pattern which will have an entrance at one opening on Hwy. 41 and an exit at the other opening on Hwy. 41. We are not sure about the integrity of the bridge over the lake and we would like to have a circulation pattern for any large vehicle such as a bus, large truck or utility vehicle. We anticipate parking in the power line easement which should give us all the parking we will need for the immediate uses. We hope to have all of this first phase of work completed by the middle to end of the summer. There have been numerous requests for Laurel Hill to become a cross country host facility, from youth teams, high school team and colleges. We also anticipate CCPRC hosting some very exciting fitness events at the site. Other uses will be wedding events, special events, and family reunion hosting. Although this will not operate as a day park, like Palmetto Islands County Park, we are going to do all we can to find time for the casual walker, runner or bird watcher on our trail system.

As many people know, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops have been using this facility for years. It is an exceptional site for these overnight camping excursions. The previous owner, Mr. Muller and caretaker Mr. Alton Fort, started a great tradition of positive scouting experiences at Laurel Hill that we will continue.

The word of Laurel Hills greatness as a Scout camp has reached the entire Southeast region. We plan to accommodate as many of these uses as possible.

The commission is about to undertake a major comprehensive planning effort that will take approximately 18 months.

Our current commissioners did not want to wait for the end of this planning process to allow the citizens on to the property that they recently purchased. We love all of our parks the same...but we know that Laurel Hill is a very special place that the public will love." - Tom O'Rourke, Director of Charleston County Parks and Recreation