well good for him!

I guess Republicans CAN do good things every once in a while!

Holloway vetoes proposed re-zoning for Tivoli site

Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway, saying that the sand beach has been and should continue to be a defining factor regarding where casinos should be located, today vetoed a measure that would have opened the door to gaming on a 30-acre tract of beachfront land in east Biloxi.

Holloway’s veto, which was delivered to City Council members this morning, acknowledged that the issue has had a polarizing impact on the city, with debate focused on where new casinos should and should not be located.

The mayor’s veto message focused on four issues:

• that the city should continue to use the beach as a defining factor on where casinos should and should not be located,
• that the prospect of approving the Tivoli re-zoning would create pressure to open up the entire beachfront to the prospect of casino gaming,
• that Biloxi should maintain a level playing field for existing and new casinos,
• and opening up new areas of the front beach to casino development would have a detrimental impact on Back Bay, where the city has invested millions in infrastructure improvements and where unused land zoned for casino development exists.

The mayor said his vision for Biloxi includes an economically revitalized east Biloxi to balance the natural attraction we have always enjoyed with the sand beach.

“As I’ve said on numerous occasions before and since Katrina,” Holloway concluded, “it is important that we strike a good balance between land zoned for casinos and land zoned for other uses.

“It’s a difficult decision to veto a proposal that could have seen a billion-dollar-plus investment in our city, but this decision affects the entire city, and I must do what I believe is best for the city as a whole.”

The Biloxi City Council had approved the re-zoning during a four-hour meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18. Voting for the measure were Councilmembers Mike Fitzpatrick, Charles T. Harrison Jr., William “Bill” Stallworth and Council President Edward “Ed” Gemmill. Voting against the re-zoning were Councilmembers George Lawrence, David Fayard and Tom Wall.

Holloway’s veto was delivered five working days after he received the ordinance from the Clerk of Council, and well within the deadline of 10 working days for his response.

Five affirmative votes would be needed on the seven-member City Council to override the mayor’s veto. Deadline for an override is 10 working days from today.

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more casinos?

How many does Biloxi need?

Council OKs change in Tivoli zoning

The Biloxi City Council, after listening to three hours of citizens comments during a four-hour meeting this afternoon, voted 4 to 3 to rezone nearly 30 acres of beachfront property at the former site of the Tivoli hotel to allow casino gaming.

Voting for the re-zoning were Councilmembers Mike Fitzpatrick, Charles T. Harrison Jr., William "Bill" Stallworth and Edward “Ed” Gemmill. Voting against the re-zoning were Councilmen George Lawrence, Tom Wall and David Fayard.

The measure will now be in the hands of Mayor A.J. Holloway, who has the option of approving or vetoing the council action. Should Holloway veto the measure, five council members would have to vote to override his veto.

Despite the council’s vote, the Mississippi Gaming Commission -- after receiving a formal application from developers -- would ultimately decide whether the site is suitable and legal for gaming.

The possible re-zoning of the beachfront land in east Biloxi – 27.86 acres in all, comprising 21 separate but contiguous parcels – has sparked discussion over the intent of the state’s post-Katrina approval of on-shore gaming, and whether the Tivoli site would be appropriate because of its location directly north of the sand beach.

The state Gaming Commission several weeks ago also reminded the city that regardless of its position on the re-zoning, the Gaming Commission would be the ultimate authority on whether the site is legal and suitable.

The re-zoning proposal includes a tract of land bordered by the “mean high water line” or “toe of the seawall” on the south, Kuhn Street to the east, Howard Avenue to the north and Holley Street on the west. The area is currently zoned multi-family residential and commercial. Besides gaming, a waterfront or "WF" designation would allow residential, commercial and amusement uses on the site.