Mount Pleasant's Police, Judicial and Legal committees of Town Council referenced prohibitive state law in their opposition of ferry services being used at Patriots Point in support of the cruise ship industry.
The May 6 session saw several maritime workers and representatives from the International Longshoremen's Association in attendance at Town Hall to make their case for the operation of transporting tourists to and from cruise line ships via tender vessels.
They argued the need for cruises that would not only support jobs, but also bolster surrounding businesses.
Upon recently learning of an arrangement between one or more of their tenants to allow the tenders to move vacationers to and from Mount Pleasant, however, the Patriots Point Development Authority apprised Town Council of its opposition to any kind of recreational cruise ship activity.
In attendance was Patriots Point Executive Director Allison Hunt, who reported that no one from any of the tender services ever applied to conduct business at the state-owned naval and maritime museum venue.
Hunt further stated that there is no available land at Patriots Point for passenger transportation.
Town attorney David G. Pagliarini supported those claims by telling Mayor Will Haynie that Patriots Point has the control and ability to develop and utilize docks and other structures. But that authority is limited to educational and/or recreational operations that excludes their property from being used for ocean cargo or passenger vessels, per state law.
In fact, Pagliarini later noted that he isn't aware of any zoning permissive of such activity at Patriots Point.
Haynie shot down speculation of Mount Pleasant allowing cruise ships to conduct business locally, which he said could hinder the development of jobs by the State Ports Authority at other locations in the Lowcountry.
"We're working against the fact that there's no land at Patriots Point ... it's all spoken for. Eminent domain will not be used to kick people off their land at Patriots Point for which they have a vested interest," added Haynie.
As for the State Ports Authority picking up the slack in terms of offering employment to tender ferry workers at other nearby terminals, Councilmember Howard Chapman suggested that the Town governing body publicly discuss alternative solutions with SC Ports reps.
And while that sounded like a reasonable approach, Councilmember GM Whitley threw a fly in the ointment when she referenced a recent article mentioning that SC Ports is no longer allowing cruise ships to embark and disembark in Charleston.
"For me, the question is: Why did Charleston stop doing it? This is an issue that is Charleston's. They have been the home to cruise ships. They are the primary tourism destination of the region. Mount Pleasant is a bedroom community. We have our wonderful things and aspects, but we are sort of an add-on," observed Whitley.
"We are being forced to take on what Charleston didn't want. For whatever reason, they didn't want it ... so, for me, we are not the right place for this. We are not the right destination legally under state law. We are not the right destination; Patriots Point is not the right destination — there is no land for that."
On that note, Whitley motioned for Town Council to adopt a resolution at the governing body's May 14 meeting to reinforce their position on the matter.
Pagliarini endorsed voting on a resolution, but advised against Town Council enacting the enforcement of zoning standards.
Prior to committee members approving the motion, Councilmember Carl Ritchie affirmed that he and his colleagues are recognizing state law that is already in place.
Ritchie ended the discussion by assuring maritime workers that action will be taken to address any loss of employment.
"It's about the jobs ... we support the jobs. We'll make sure that we hear from your employer; we will hear from the Ports to find out what more they can do and if there is something we can do to support that," he concluded.
