By Laura Brandt
lbrandt@scbiznews.com
Published July 13, 2011

The Patriots Point Development Authority met with the Mount Pleasant Town Council on Tuesday to officially establish a regular partnership.

“We are only as good as our partners and friends in the town of Mount Pleasant,” said Ray Chandler, Patriots Point Development Authority chairman. “We share significant property, we share significant challenges, and we share significant goals; and we’re going to partner with Mount Pleasant as we move forward.”

Officials said that there has never been a steady flow of information and transparency between Patriots Point and the town in which it is located.

“In the past, we took Patriots Point for granted,” said Mac Burdette, Patriots Point executive director and former Mount Pleasant town administrator. “Part of my focus is going to be building a true partnership — an economic engine — with Mount Pleasant. When we market Patriots Point, we’re marketing Mount Pleasant.”

Members of both boards also touched on issues at the meeting that will most likely come up in future discussions, such as public transportation to and from Patriots Point; traffic and parking concerns; and ways to optimize the waterfront property.

“It’s the front door of Mount Pleasant,” Mount Pleasant Mayor Billy Swails said, “and we want to pay attention to it.”