Biloxi Analyzing Expansion to Casino Sites

Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick is pushing for a zoning change along Highway 90 in Biloxi, Mississippi. He says 20 acres from the foot of Debuys Road in west Biloxi to Gateway Drive should be analyzed as a potential casino site.

Fitzpatrick is also interested in a waterfront zoning designation for 30 acres of land between Holley Street and Khun Street. That site is the old Tivoli Hotel location in east Biloxi.

A proposal is on the Biloxi City Council agenda that will expand casinos rights to operate in the city. According to Fitzpatrick, "The city council has the right to ask the planning commission to hold a public hearing about the zoning changes."

The councilman knows about a four man development team that's interested in the Tivoli site. He's also heard about a five person group that would like to add a casino to what's already been dubbed the Casablanca condominium project.

Both sites are across the street from the public sand beach. In recent weeks, there are two varying opinions about who controls the seawall area across from those properties And that could be the basis for rezoning those sites.

As Fitzpatrick said, his resolution asks the planning commission to hold public hearings on the zoning change issue. The council may take up his request at its meeting next Tuesday.