Keesler Joint Land Use Study meeting is Thursday

Interested residents and businessowners have a chance to learn more about land use plans and how to minimize the impact on Keesler’s current and future missions during a public workshop Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Building in downtown Biloxi.

The meeting is part of the Keesler Joint Land Use Study, an initiative being coordinated by Gulf Regional Planning Commission for the cities of Biloxi and D’Iberville and Harrison County. An initial workshop was conducted Tuesday in D’Iberville.

The workshops are introducing the JLUS development team and include a presentation overview of the JLUS, the compatibility factors that will be assessed through the JLUS planning study, and Keesler AFB to better understand the military missions and associated impacts on the project study area.

The JLUS will assess 25 compatibility factors, identify existing and potential issues, and propose strategies to address the issues. The compatibility factors include coordination and communication, land use, noise, safety zones, vertical obstructions and roadway capacity.

Said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich: “Keesler and Biloxi have enjoyed a great relationship over the years, and this initiative, which also involves our neighboring communities, will help make sure we continue to enjoy a rewarding relationship for future generations. I encourage people to be a part of this process. Attend the meeting. Learn the issues.”
JLUS: Everything you need to know

 

News and notes

Jerry O’Keefe services:  Visitations for community leader Jerry O’Keefe will be Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at at the Ocean Springs location of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes and Saturday from 9 a.m. until an 11 a.m. funeral Mass at Nativity BVM Cathedral in downtown Biloxi. The funeral procession, by the way, will involve the Patriot Guard, a group of pilots and a horse-drawn hearse. To read the complete obituary for Jeremiah J. “Jerry” O’Keefe, click here.

Council meeting: To see photos from the City Council meeting on Tuesday, where City Attorney Gerald Blessey announced plans to step down as city attorney, click here.

East Biloxi update: The city and Oscar Renda Contracting have released this month’s two-minute video update of the status of infrastructure work in east Biloxi.  To see the new video, and background on the project,  click here.

Traffic update: Inspections of the I-110 draw bridge continue tonight with work and lane closures on the northbound lanes from 8 to 10.  From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., draw test openings will take place with some extended openings lasting for up to 20 minutes.  To see more about road closures and traffic advisories, click here.

Erratum: The daylong presentation of storm-related programming, part of the city’s outreach efforts to educate residents about the dangers of storms and flooding, airs on Cable One Channel 69 on Monday, the 11th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A Bmail earlier this week gave an incorrect day. See the corrected story by clicking here.