Land Use Committee Minutes

Land Use Committee Minutes of April 18, 2006

 

The Land Use Committee held its third called meeting on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Municipal Building, located at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Biloxi. Both the Engineering Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee met with the Land Use Committee for the joint meeting.

Approximately twenty-five members and staff were in attendance.  An overview of the evening’s work session was presented by Ed Shambra and Pattie Brantley.  Each member was given the opportunity to make comments.  Committee members then broke out into four groups with one engineer at each table enabling these smaller groups to review and mark up individual transportation, zoning, and elevation and contour maps.

The four groups regrouped and compared issues.  The engineer from each group briefly stated the issues discussed.  These maps will remain with the individual groups.  Each group has been asked to provide a narrative.  The staff will do a composite of the individual group maps.

Next week’s meeting will be a Road Tour of Biloxi, which will leave from Community Development at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2006.

 

Land Use Committee

Minutes from April 11, 2006

The Land Use Committee held its second called meeting on Thursday, April 11, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Municipal Building, located at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Biloxi. Both the Engineering Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee met with the Land Use Committee for a joint meeting.

Copies of A Pattern Book for Gulf Coast Neighborhoods and Mississippi Renewal Forum Summary Report were passed out along with copies of the zoning tables from the Land Development Ordinance.

 

It was made clear that the purpose of the Committee was to recommend land uses and zoning types.

 

Issues discussed were:

 

1.                  Accepting the new flood elevations as a given.

2.                  Possible locations for affordable houses.

3.                  The danger in single-family homes being built back in some areas; the need for good planning at committee level.  Building back correctly; making structures safer and stronger.

4.                  Recommendations should not reflect individual preferences.

5.                  Apartments can be built to meet FEMA recommendations.

6.                  Single-family residences can only be elevated, however, businesses can be either elevated or flood proofed.

7.                  Possible corridor connector road.

8.                  Proper zoning can raise property values, and provide people with more options for their land.  Mixed uses can provide a buffer against more intense uses.

 

At next week’s meeting, committees will be broken down into smaller break-out groups making it easier to review maps.

 

The next meeting will be held next Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Municipal Building, located at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Biloxi.


 

The Land Use Committee held its first called meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Municipal Building, located at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Biloxi.

Because of the size and the diverse issues involved under the Land Use Committee’s jurisdiction, a decision was made to divide the group into three subcommittees: (1) Land Use, Zoning, and Building, chaired by Jerry Creel with approximately twenty members attending; (2) Engineering to address water, sewer, and drainage issues, chaired by Les Seymour with approximately five members attending; and (3) Parks and Recreation and green spaces, chaired by Nathan Sullivan with approximately five members attending.

Topics discussed by the Land Use Committee included conceding that the advisory flood zone elevation maps are realistic and those elevations should be utilized as a basis for determining the future land uses on the Point.  Further discussion included locations and types of uses and structures that would comply with FEMA regulations and the new flood elevations.

The Committee is moving forward with the understanding that we live in a hurricane zone where experts predict a continued increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes in coming years.  As a community, we should plan and build according to the predictions.   Residential structures should not be rebuilt in V zones or intense A zones. Commercial development, which not only can comply with FEMA regulations, but can be designed and built to withstand hurricane force winds and storm surge seems to be the appropriate construction for intense flood areas.  Multiple-family and single-family residences should be located out of harm’s way and onto higher ground.

Considering the Governor’s recommendations, there was discussion concerning the development of neighborhoods with walkability and inter-connectibility to necessary neighborhood amenities such as grocery stores, banks, parks, etc.  The areas near and along Division Street seem to be the most appropriate locations for affordable housing and neighborhood uses.

The Committee left with a much better understanding of its purpose and objectives.  The need for the three subcommittees to communicate with one another for continuity was discussed.

The next meeting will be held next Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Municipal Building, located at 676 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Biloxi.