We, the undersigned residents, property owners, and concerned citizens of Biloxi, Mississippi, respectfully urge the Biloxi City Council to deny the rezoning request and proposed Planned Development for the Beauvoir Villas subdivision at the corner of Lawrence Street and Iris Street.

The project, as proposed by Elliott Homes, seeks to rezone 16.7 acres from Low-Density Single-Family Residential (RS-10) to Planned Development - Residential District (PD-R) in order to construct 213 two-story homes on lots as small as 1,500 square feet resulting in 12.75 units per acre. These specifications are dramatically out of step with established neighborhood standards and threaten the integrity, safety, and livability of our community.

Full Resolution Version

Key Concerns:

• Density & Quality of Life Issues: The proposed development would place 213 two-story homes and 614 parking spaces on approximately 16.7 acres of land, resulting in a residential density of 12.75 dwelling units per acre. Each home would occupy lots as small as 1,500 square feet, far smaller than what is typically required for single-family housing in Biloxi. For comparison, Residential Manufactured/Mobile Home (RMH) zoning, which is the most dense single-family home zoning and intended for mobile home parks, limits density to 10 units per acre and requires a minimum of 3,600 square feet per home site. The fact that Beauvoir Villas would exceed even mobile home park density standards underscores the incompatibility of the project with not just the surrounding neighborhood, but all of Biloxi.
• Inappropriate Use of Planned Development Zoning: By ordinance, the Planned Development - Residential District (PD-R) designation is "more conducive to creating more mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented, and otherwise higher quality development" and is "intended to encourage the use of innovative and creative design to provide a mix of different residential uses in close proximity to one another"—not simply to bypass existing zoning laws. Beauvoir Villas does none of these things. It is not innovative, creative, or mixed-use. Instead, it is a compact, profit-driven development designed to increase density well beyond what current residential zoning laws otherwise allow. This sets a dangerous precedent: if this project qualifies for PD-R, then future development in Biloxi could be targeted for similar high-density downscaling.
• No Justification Provided for Rezoning: Mississippi law followes the "change or mistake" rule, which requires that rezonings demonstrate either a mistake in the original zoning or a significant change in the character of the neighborhood alongside a demonstrated public need. No such evidence has been provided to meet this requirement or justifies abandoning Biloxi’s long-standing planning principles.

Our Position:
We are not opposed to thoughtful development, but we are opposed to reckless overdevelopment that compromises the standards of Biloxi's neighborhoods and ignores the intentions behind Planned Developments and other zoning related ordinances. If the city wishes to consider smaller lot sizes as part of a broader strategy, then the proper course is to amend the zoning ordinance through a public, transparent process—not to grant ad hoc exceptions that benefit a single developer at the community’s expense. We respectfully request that Biloxi's City Council:

1. Deny the proposed rezoning to a Planned Development for Beauvoir Villas;
2. Uphold the integrity of Biloxi’s Land Development Ordinance; and
3. Commit to a consistent, transparent, and community-driven planning process.

Updates:

• 3 May 2025: Setback Update: Is It 5ft or 10ft Between Houses
• 4 May 2025: Planned Development? Rezoning? What You Need to Know Before Tuesday!
• 6 May 2025: City Council Hears Beauvoir Villas Proposal Tonight
• 7 May 2025: The Decision Has Been Pushed to July (and with Changes)! Now What?
• 14 May 2025: Let's Change Lot Size Minimums! A Look Back to 1956.
• 16 May 2025: 1940: An Ordinance to Promote The Health, Safety, Morals, and General Welfare of the Community
• 20 May 2025: Beauvoir Villas Violates Open Space Ordinance — Missing 100,000 sq ft
• 21 May 2025: Monarch Villas: A Small, More Blatantly Unlawful, Sister to Beauvoir Villas
• 22 May 2025: Monarch Villas: the Illegal Variance that Started It All
• 6 June 2025: Beauvoir Property Sold by Biloxi Public Schools for $278,000: A Breakdown of the Surplus Land Deal
• 17 July 2025: When a Trailer Park Has Stricter Standards Than a Subdivision
• 24 July 2025: City Council Vote on Beauvoir Villas – July 29, 2025