Pearl River County, Mississippi is one of the fastest growing counties in the state. Located adjacent to the counties that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, Pearl River County has recently seen a surge in growth, as Gulf Coast residents locate to areas that are less prone to hurricane and flood damage. It is estimated that the County's population grew by more than 14% in the months following hurricane Katrina. In the face of this growth, the County's Department of Planning and Development is seeking to develop a forward-thinking plan that best adapts to new pressures. The Mississippi Development Authority has contracted CDM on behalf of Pearl River County to develop a Smart Growth Plan for the County. The Plan will provide policy and planning guidance on the future physical development of the County and the two Cities, as well as address a wide range of issues. The objective is to preserve the community's sense of place, rural character, and environmental resources while promoting economic opportunities.
The Smart Growth planning effort has been subdivided into individual plan components that can be funded and executed separately, yet easily adapted to accommodate new information and changing priorities. These components include: Land Use, Economic Development, Housing, Community Character and Image, Transportation, and Public Facilities and Infrastructure. CDM is currently developing the land use component of this project, which includes a detailed analysis of existing land uses, a community visioning process, and development of a land use plan and Smart Growth Codes to help guide development. By adapting codes such as the SmartCode, a model development code for Mississippi cities and counties, CDM is helping the County construct a tool to manage current growth and guide the next twenty to twenty-five years of growth.
The Smart Growth Code and land use plan will form the basis of the Smart Growth planning process and should help drive the other Plan components by providing information and direction. As the process continues, strategically allocating resources and coordinating new development will enhance the economic, natural and cultural aspects of Pearl River County. Both long-term and short-term goals, objectives and policies will be considered in the planning process, with an emphasis on adaptive strategies to enable response to rapid growth.
For a more details, view the Pearl River County Smart Growth Plan brochure. (1.4 MB)
View the Smart Growth: The Opportunity at Hand PowerPoint presentation. (4 MB)
View the Maintaining Community Character & Image: Considering the Mississippi SmartCode PowerPoint presentation. (8.8 MB)