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+ Comp Plan Highlights 2

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Comp Plan Highlights 2

Your comments count!

(click here for "Highlights Part 1)

This is your chance to help shape the future of the city. The Council has set up a new e-mail address specifically for this purpose:

bslcompplan@yahoo.com

You may also drop off written comments at the Library in Bay St. Louis, City Council Office or the Hancock Chamber. If you wish to mail in comments, send to:

City Council Office
P O Box 2550
Bay St. Louis, MS 39521

Copies will be made of all comments received and given to each council member and the planners.

This "highlights" version of the plan should only take between 10-15 minutes to read.

Part Two of Bay St. Louis
Comprehensive Plan Highlights
Pages 37-70


Reminder – Issues that stimulated intensive discussion between members of the Advisory Committee in the past year have been highlighted in yellow. Citizens are strongly encouraged to read ALL pages of the comprehensive plan draft thoroughly. The items from the plan listed below are NOT necessarily the most important – they are merely ones that opened up the most dialogue in Advisory Committee meetings.

Pages 37-41 Community Facilities

Discusses items such as infrastructure, programs, parks, community centers, police and fire protection and emergency management. Includes eight Goals and 47 Objectives (specific means of obtaining the Goals).

GOAL 1: Plan growth and manage growth through the provision of adequate infrastructure.
Objective 4: Assuring the availability and the estimated cost of wastewater treatment should be considered in the City’s decisions to expand services.

Objective 6: Re-establish a recycling program, and work with organizations to make the program sustainable.

GOAL 2: Provide safe and reliable drinking water and water flow adequate for fire protection.

Objective 1: Work with the County Authority to establish the east county water system proposed in the Mississippi Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan, to increase the supply and insure the reliability of water in Bay St. Louis. This should address the need for an additional well by the City to insure reliability of the City water system.

Objective 8. Work with the Hancock Water and Sewer District to provide water service to the area newly annexed into the City of Bay St. Louis.

Objective 9. While the City’s water is healthy, due to the mineral content, it is not often clear in color. Establish a reverse osmosis system to clarify the color of the City’s water.

GOAL 3: Promote and cooperate in the provision of facilities, programs, and parks or open spaces in a variety of locations and settings for use by all citizens (from the City’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan).

Objective 2: Take advantage of lowlands too frequently flooded for building to set aside for recreation and open space. The City may utilize Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase contiguous properties with homes that repetitively flood to achieve this objective.

Objective 8: Maintain portions of the Valena C. Jones Center as a Community Center.

Objective 9: Revisit the development of the Science Nature Center in Cedar Point as an educational tourist draw.

GOAL 4: Provide fully effective fire protection, prevention and expert fire related knowledge throughout the City. Maintain a highly rated fire department able to respond in sufficient time and force to rescue persons and preserve property (from the City’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan).

GOAL 5: Provide fully effective police protection and related knowledge. Maintain a highly rated police department able to respond in sufficient time and force to reduce crime and protect life and property (from the City’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan).

GOAL 6: Support a fully effective emergency management agency within Hancock County. Work with the county to insure that the agency is able to prepare for and respond to all natural and man-made disasters in Hancock County.

GOAL 7: Establish organized recreation, social and cultural programs for the City’s youth.

GOAL 8: Establish community centers in neighborhoods throughout Bay St. Louis.

Objective 2: Develop an arts business incubator which can also be utilized for community programming.

Pages 42 – 43 - Transportation

GOAL 1: Make corridors into and within the City more attractive.

Objective 1: Complete the Gateway Project slated for Highway 603 and Interstate 10.

Objective 2: Establish a Gateway at the Bay St. Louis bridge.

Objective 3: Rebuild Beach Boulevard in a manner that is attractive and functional.

Objective 4: Require businesses located on corridors of the City to provide attractive buildings, signage and landscaping.

GOAL 2: Establish attractive boulevards throughout the city to include tree-lined streets and landscaped medians.

GOAL 3: Provide ample vehicle parking, preferably off-street parking in the business district.

Objective 1: Establish a parking garage in downtown.

GOAL 4: Explore options of inter-city/regional transportation in our area.

GOAL 5: Make Bay St. Louis safer for bicycles by creating a network of sidewalks and bike paths throughout the City.

Objective 4: Provide new sidewalks were needed to link neighborhoods with commercial areas and to link neighborhoods with community centers and recreation areas.

GOAL 6: Make enforcement of traffic laws a high priority for City police.

GOAL 7: Make use of innovative traffic calming measures such as round-a-bouts and speed humps which can effectively reduce vehicle speeding without requiring a police presence. The Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee recommended round-abouts at Main Street and Dunbar Avenue and at key intersections on Highway 90.

LAND USE – pages 44 – 53

Pages 44-45 – Covers the definition of a comprehensive land-use plan and how it was derived. “The Comprehensive Land Use Plan defines a pattern for development…”

Pages 45-53 Covers Land Use Functions and Space requirements.

Facts and Figures (page 46 and 104)

Note: Estimated population for Bay St. Louis – INCLUDING the newly annexed area – in 2000 was 11,531. By 2030, the population is projected to increase by 64% to 18,896.

According to the 2000 census, there were 6016 housing units in Bay St. Louis (including the annexed area). Currently (post-Katrina) in Bay St. Louis, there are an estimated 5167 housing units.

In 2030, there will be an estimated total of 8215 housing units. This leaves of “balance” of at least 3048 units needed. As of June 2007, two large-scale housing proposals have been approved by the Site Planning Committee, totaling at least 1750 units of that estimated “balance.”


The City of Bay St. Louis Planning Commission, Mayor and City Council, in their consideration of zoning matters, should base their recommendations and decisions on the ultimate highest and best use of the land - that being the use that is in the broad community interest. The ultimate highest and best use of land, however, does not necessarily mean utilization, which brings about the greatest economic return to an individual or individuals, nor the use that at the outset would create the highest market value at the expense of neighboring properties.

It is, rather, that use which balances individual interest with the broad community interest that will, in the long run, sustain the property values, character and amenities of the area; and provide for the most practical and economical expenditures for public facilities. Zoning districts should be created to include appropriate area for development and not be established on a piecemeal or property-to-property basis.

The Land Use Plan proposes to blend purposes with compatible uses, helping to unite and rebuild individual neighborhoods into a community that creates a vital economy at a human scale and with a safe living environment.

Prior to Katrina the land use patterns created: a small town atmosphere; a place apart; and a place to visit, retire, walk to school, or enjoy the arts community and a compact downtown of historic character with shops and restaurants, views of the bay and the Gulf, historic and contemporary housing, and sidewalks.

Much of that character and environment were lost, severely damaged or destroyed by the storm. In order to re-establish, re-create and enhance those community characteristics the City should utilize development techniques and strategies associated with “Traditional Neighborhood Development” and “Smart Codes.” These development strategies promote mix-used development in addition to being environmentally and socially sensitive.

It should be noted that one of the administrative goals of this plan is to apply zoning regulations to the newly annexed area. However, before zoning can be applied the City must first satisfy the requirements of Section 17-1-1 of the Mississippi Code 1972. The statute requires the adoption of a comprehensive plan prior to the adoption of zoning regulations.

In response to the post “Katrina” land development issues the City is committed to a major overhaul of its Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations and Architectural Design Standards. Consultants have already been selected and outreach to the public should begin in the near future…

Pages 48-50 Covers factors to be considered regarding Land Use, including Community Facilities, Financial Planning, School Settings and Parnership Uses, Roadways and Streets, Residential Development, Location of Businesses and Institutions, Strip Commercial Development, Re-Development and New Development, Manufactured Housing, Public Space and Site Plan Review.

Pages 50-52 – Current and Suggested Land Use Categories. Details Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Flood Plain, Wetlands, Historic Preservation, Special Land Uses, Mixed Use Development.

·Flood Plain: To identify those areas that are subject to periodic or occasional inundation from stream and river overflows in order to stipulate careful development practices to protect the property from flooding. FEMA regulations and the Bay St Louis Flood Ordinance must govern any development that occurs in the flood plain. Lands that are subject to inundation by the 100-year base flood are defined on the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps.

Wetlands: To consider those areas of tidal marsh or wetlands that are subject to the Wetlands Protection Act in order to effectively protect these properties from encroachment by unsuitable development.

·Historic Preservation: To provide a regulated district for the preservation of historic neighborhoods and structures by maintaining historic architectural guidelines. Historic structures create “a sense of place” that illustrates the culture, character and scale of Bay St. Louis. The historic character of Bay St. Louis is an important contributor to the City's tourist industry, adds to the character of the community and the quality of life, and enhances the tax base of the city.

·Special Land Uses: These special uses, such as casinos and their related land uses, public and semi-public facilities, beach and waterfront activities, are intended to identify those specific uses which occur in areas of the City with unique characteristics, geography, or which create impacts requiring regulations which may not need to be addressed in general land use area of the City.

Page 53 is a future land use map. A large version is available for public viewing at the Council Chambers.

Page 54- 56 – Transportation Plan

Covers Port Bienville Rail Service and Water Access, Stennis Airport and Roadways. Definitions of roadway classifications are explained: Urban Principal Arterial, Urban Minor Arterial, Urban Collector and Local Street.

Page 57 - map of BSL roadway classifications

Page 58 - BSL Daily Traffic Counts and Map

Pages 59-62 - discuss Traffic Generators, Capacity, Levels of Service and Traffic Demand Forecasting.

Page 63 - Map of projected Roadway Deficiencies by 2030.

Page 64 –66 - Park and Ride and Hurricane Evacuation discussion with map.

Pages 66 - Covers transit service, identified Needs, Proposed service Concepts,

Pages 67-70 - Bicycle and Pedestrians – list proposed walking and bike routes, safety and access to schools and parks…

Pedestrian and bicycle friendly roadways are in demand as public comments indicated from the Governor’s Commission’s and FEMA’s Long Term Recovery planning efforts. Providing this alternative mode of transportation improves safety and the overall quality of life.

Pedestrian and bicycle projects can be implemented in conjunction with other roadway improvements or developed as stand-alone projects. Pedestrian and bicycle trips help reduce automobile travel and result in less highway congestion, better air-quality and fewer parking problems.

Depending on the characteristics of a roadway and its adjacent land uses, traffic calming strategies can be used to create a safer environment for pedestrians and reduce fast moving traffic in nearby residential areas.

Hancock County Greenways Plan also recommends a comprehensive number of pathways and trails connecting neighborhoods, schools, commercial areas and the city’s natural resources. The following is a sample of proposed projects:

. • Recommends continuation of the beach pathway from Bayou Caddy to Cedar Point creating a 14-mile trail.

. • Creating sidewalks and pathways from neighborhoods to the beach path.

• Natural Area Trail connecting Bay High and Middle School to the Sports Complex and Neighborhoods


The City of Bay St. Louis has been identified as a walkable community. The City, in conjunction with Hancock County and the City of Waveland, developed a pedestrian pathway on the beach in Hancock County in 1999.

That pathway and a bike path on Dunbar Avenue are the spine of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Vision for the City of Bay St. Louis and southern Hancock County. The new Bay St. Louis Bridge construction will have a bicycle/pedestrian pathway that will provide opportunity and justification to link the Beach Pathway to the Highway 90 at the Bridge.