This growth and change has brought concerns regarding shortterm rentals, traffic management, noise levels, wildlife feeding and whether to allow residents to install seawalls on personal property. In 2025, area leaders and officials are focused on many of these concerns with plans for more roadway improvements, more environmental preservation projects and other proactive measures intended to lead to major turning points in the area’s long-term direction. To this end, here is a countdown of the IOP City’s Top 10 achievements in 2024: 10. COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS Items include the dog park at 29th Avenue, the annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest, professional management of IOP City’s parking plan, two new ADA-compliant beach access paths, construction of two boardwalks and an improved public beach. 9. EFFECTIVE, CONSISTENT AND TIMELY COMMUNICATIONS Sunnie, an AI-powered citizen engagement tool, was introduced by IOP City to provide residents and visitors immediate answers to online questions, make service requests, send personalized messages and get real-time alerts anytime via text and website. So far, more than 5,800 total users have engaged with Sunnie via text and the IOP website. 8. SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS The IOP Recreation Department successfully planned and executed 25 programs, events and activities which included: the Isle of Paws Music Festival, IOP Beach Run, Ghostly Tide Tales, Youth Spring Break Soccer Camp, the Holiday Street Festival and the Halloween Golf Cart Parade & Carnival and a Drive-Through Haunted House. 7. MANAGING PRESSURE FROM AREA POPULATION GROWTH To help alleviate parking and traffic congestion, IOP City collaborated with the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments and the Town of Mount Pleasant to continue the seasonal operation of the CARTA beach shuttle, a free cross-county public transit service. In 2024, 703 riders used the service, a slight decrease from 2023. 6. EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND SUCCESSION PLANNING IOP City held the annual Employee Appreciation Event where employees were recognized for their longevity and service to the island. A holiday party was also held for all city employees, elected council members and volunteers who serve on boards and commissions. 5. DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IOP City completed the Phase 3 Drainage Project at the 30th, 36th Cutting edge services that revitalize your inner & outer you Dr. Jaclyn Lanham 843.894.0955 | info@YoungerYoustudio.com www.YoungerYoustudio.com 1022 Carolina Blvd.Isle of Palms, SC 1952 Long Grove Dr. Mt. Pleasant, SC New Year, New You! Text or email to inquire about new year specials •AquaFirmeXS Facials •Microneedling •RF Microneedling •Laser •Photo Facials •Tone Texture •Acne Scar Removal •Wrinkle Reduction •Hair Restoration •Chemical Peels Financial stability tops IOP City accomplishments from 2024 By L. C. Leach III 3 IslandVibesIOP.com NEWS If you had an eyeglass portal that could show you Isle of Palms from 1925-2000, you might see the same scenes with remarkable recurrence: white sandy beaches all around, periodic hurricanes, nesting turtles and wildlife, a steadily growing number of residents and visitors and practically no such thing as traffic jams. While much of the island’s beauty and landscape remains, there have also been more noticeable changes in the last 25 years than the previous 75 combined. Island visitors now come year-round with as many 20,000 per day in peak season; ongoing beach nourishment efforts are employed to combat erosion and the growing threat of a sinking land mass. There is traffic congestion that is now too often comparable to mainland Charleston County and a population that now stands at about 4,300 – nearly four times as many people as in 1960. Continued on Page 6
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