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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- The billboard states "Save Charleston. Support Cruise Control." Officials with the South Carolina State Ports Authority say it paints an inaccurate business scene.

Charleston Communities for Cruise Control (C4) launched the billboard this week in a fight against a development planned to increase Charleston's success with the cruise industry.

Members of the group responsible for the billboard say it is an effort to draw attention to their concerns over increased traffic, potential pollution and noise that may be brought to the downtown area by the use of the Union Pier property and the development on the property planned to attract even more attention.

"These issues threaten Charleston's reputation and livability as well as the experience it provides to of all types of tourists," said Carrie Agnew of C4 in a press release on Wednesday.

An organization of concerned citizens of Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, North Charleston and surrounding communities, C4 hopes to convince local officials of the importance of protecting the area from unrestricted cruise ship volume.

"It is unprecedented that a cruise ship terminal will potentially be located within two blocks of an historic residential district," Agnew said.

In response to the group's effort, South Carolina State Ports Authority spokesman Byron Miller said the billboard is an attack on the cruise industry and an attack on the local economy.

"This is certainly not southern hospitality," Miller said. "It sends a nasty message to visiting tourists and business people looking to spend money and create jobs in Charleston. It paints Charleston as unfriendly to visitors and business."

The work on the Union Pier Project is expected to being later this year with the new cruise terminal scheduled to open in early 2013. Local economists estimate the project will bring a $43 million impact and more than 330 jobs. The new terminal will only handle one cruise at a time, but it is expected to improve issues with traffic while providing more public access to the waterfront and more of an appeal to local business.

In addition to the billboard, local environmental groups have also filed a lawsuit against Carnival Cruise Lines -- a lawsuit Carnival has asked a state judge to toss out of court.

The lawsuit filed earlier this year alleges that Carnival's cruise liners are a public nuisance and violate city rules and regulations. It also suggests plans for the State Ports Authority to use Union Pier for a new $35 million passenger cruise terminal are illegal.

(This story courtesy WCIV and ABCNews4.com)