Point Cadet Rezoning Proposals on Hold

After months of back and forth, the City of Biloxi and the Secretary of State’s Office agreed to put a hold on plans for the property surrounding Margaritaville. The agreement came just minutes before both sides were set to present proposals to the Biloxi Planning Commission during a public hearing.
News 25’s Kendra Turley brings us the latest.
After hours of arguing their case, officials with the City of Biloxi and the Secretary of State’s Office requested that the planning commission hold off on a yes-or-no to rezoning land around Margaritaville until both parties could research and gather more information.
The planning commission voted and agreed to table the matter until the next meeting on November 3rd. Jonathan Dyal with Balch and Bingham, LLP said, “We’d like to be able to have the appraisal done that we’ve stated. It takes four to six weeks. Now understand we’ve been in litigation for 18 years, not just with the developer, but with their predecessors.”
While the fate of the waterfront property, south of Highway 90, is still up in the air, the planning commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of rezoning land north of Highway 90. That is the area that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is not opposed to changing. Gerald Blessey with the City of Biloxi said, “What we’re proposing, what the city is proposing, is consistent with comprehensive plans and consistent with many years of master planning of waterfront in this area.”
Biloxi officials believe the 23 acres of land surrounding Margaritaville should be rezoned from a waterfront business to a community business in order to make way for more family friendly entertainment along the Coast.
However, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says the Mississippi Gulf Coast will lose millions of dollars in tax revenue if they move forward with phase two of an expansion of Margaritaville. “I’ve heard people talk about we need more family oriented attractions. We agree. We’re not fighting over that. You can do it under either zoning. You don’t lower it to have that happen,” said Dyal.
Various representatives from businesses within and around the proposed rezoning area attended the public hearing as well to offer their two cents on plans that could bring the Coast millions of dollars.