Council expected to vote on condo issue Tuesday

The Biloxi City Council faces an agenda of 17 measures Tuesday afternoon, but the issue expected to attract the most attention, a proposal for a 33-story condo tower west of Edgewater Mall, is expected to be added to the agenda at the outset of the meeting.

The proposal, which was originally tabled during the council’s Dec. 5 meeting, has become the flashpoint in the public discussion concerning the number of condominium and condotel proposals in Biloxi – which has ballooned from 4,000 proposals before Hurricane Katrina to more than 12,000 today.

To read the original measure regarding the Edgewater condo proposal, as included on the Dec. 5 council agenda, click here.

Meantime, among the issues that do appear on the agenda for the 1:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall is a proposal for a 230-unit condo and hotel development at the Gulf Beach Resort Hotel, and a proposal to re-zone a 10-acre tract of land on Woolmarket Road to allow offices and a maintenance facility for a waste disposal service operation.

Another land-use case, involving a proposal to construct a 12-unit apartment complex at the site of the Burger King on Pass Road, will have its first of two readings during the meeting.

Mayor A.J. Holloway also will be asking the council to approve the $200,000 purchase of two heavy-duty trucks and a boom mower for ditch-cutting, all for use in the Public Works Department.

To read the entire agenda, click here. .



Parking suggestions for Saturday auction

Biloxi Police Chief Bruce Dunagan is reminding those attending the city auction of surplus vehicles and equipment on Saturday morning that parking will be limited at the site off Popp’s Ferry Road.

Dunagan said those planning to attend the auction should consider parking at the adjoining Gulf Coast Business Technology Center or Cedar-Popp’s shopping center.

For more on the 10 a.m. auction, such as registration requirements and a look at the lineup of merchandise, click here.

News and notes

Casino numbers: Mayor A.J. Holloway and IP President and General Manager Jon Lucas discuss the record-setting revenue figures being generated by the Biloxi casino industry during a segment of “WLOX News This Week,” which airs Saturday at 6 p.m. and repeats Sunday at 6:30 a.m. For background on the issue, click here.

Mayoral address: Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce members today began receiving information on the annual State of the City address, which takes place during a luncheon Feb. 12 at the Beau Rivage. For information on attending the luncheon, which is organized by the chamber and open to the public, click here.
Cable One will again cablecast the mayor’s presentation to its Biloxi subscribers.

Webcasting: This week’s City Desk webcast, hosted by newsman Gary Michiels, discusses Monday’s MLK parade, the on-going debate over the 33-story condo proposal. To listen to the 28-minute program, taped Wednesday morning at The Bay Press, click here.