Harrison County Development Commission
The Harrison County Development Commission (HCDC) is the one‐stop for
economic development inquiries in Harrison County. In addition, HCDC
established the Harrison County Military Team, which was initially created to
support the protection of military installations on the Gulf and now works,
along with the Mississippi Military Communities Council, to strategically
engage military influencers and decision‐makers in attracting and retaining
military missions in South Mississippi. HCDC also produces the annual Salute
to the Military report, which recognizes the economic and community
impacts the military has in South Mississippi.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Coast Centurion
Association
The Coast Centurion Association is a part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Chamber of Commerce. The Centurions, founded in 1995, support the
Armed Forces across the Gulf Coast and are dedicated to the retention of
military installations and military presence on the coast, which includes
Keesler AFB. The association is made up of community leaders and military
personnel who are all dedicated to the Gulf Coast’s military presence.
Plan for Opportunity, Regional Sustainability Plan for the Mississippi
Gulf Coast
Plan for Opportunity is a comprehensive sustainability plan created in 2013
through the GRPC and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Sustainable Communities
Initiative. The plan was created for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which includes
the counties of Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson. Over a hundred
organizations, agencies, and groups and thousands of individuals on the coast
participated in the creation of the Sustainability Plan.
The purpose of the plan is to guide the economic growth and development,
housing, employment, and transportation opportunities to foster a
sustainable region into the future.
Local Jurisdictions Plans and Programs
In Mississippi authority to regulate land use is delegated by the state to
counties and municipalities. The nature of a jurisdiction’s authority to
regulate local land use depends on that jurisdiction’s local government.
In Mississippi, counties and municipalities have land use and zoning
authority. The governing authorities for counties and municipalities have
been enabled through state code to prepare and adopt a comprehensive
plan, zoning ordinance, and subdivision regulations. Neither counties nor
municipalities are required by the State to adopt comprehensive plans or
zoning ordinances, but are permitted to at the discretion of the governing
authority.
City of Biloxi
City of Biloxi Comprehensive Plan
The City of Biloxi Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009. The long‐term
plan provides a vision for the city and guidance for land use decision making.
The plan includes goals, objectives, and actions to fulfill the vision that is has
for the city.
The following action was found to be compatible with military operations:
“Maintain height restriction for development around Keesler Air Force
Base to prevent negative impacts to its operations.”
The following keys issues related to Keesler AFB were identified in the plan:
“East‐west connections across the City and the County are limited by
waterways and federal land restrictions (primarily Keesler Air Force
Base).”
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