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Biloxi-Gulfport, Ml9s., Thursday, March 11, 1982 THE DAILY HERALD
Opinions aired at beach
EDITH BIERHORST BACK Bay Bureau Chief A hearing to elicit citizen views on what structures should or should not be permitted on the beach at Bay St. Louis drew almost as many opinions as people in attendance. A crowd, estimated at 60 to 70, appeared at the hearing conducted Tuesday night by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Commission chairman Joseph Marochino told the group that prior to the hearing, he had heard opinions ranging from allowing anything to be built, nothing to be built, gazebos only, and family homes permitted.
After hearing divergent opinions at the meeting, Marochino asked for a show of hands on specifics, such as fences. While a few hands went up, questions flew from the audience, like/'What kind of fence? Along the road or the property line? How high? A picket fence? A cyclone fence?? .
The city council five
months ago placed a six . Still others wanted the month moratorium on.<j^feme exemption given construction on yie-J?Rountain in 1972 which beach to allow time 1o ^ his attorney : claimed produce an ordinance. % gave him the right to When New Orleans construct his fence. The
musician Pete Fountain erected a chain link fence around his four lots on the beach adjoining the bay bridge, citizen objections caused the city fathers to research the ordinances.
It was learned that a 1965 ordinance prohibiting structures on the beach was void because it was not signed by council members. Another ordinance excluding the Fountain lots was also ruled void by the city attorney because two of the lots were designated by incorrect numbers.
Several attempts by the council to adopt a new ordinance met with objections from citizens protesting any structures in residential areas of the beach and from organizations such as the American Legion and Bay-Waveland Yacht Club insisting on their properties being exempt from building restrictions.
council then requested the commission to prepare a draft ordinance for its consideration. Before doing so, the commission set the public hearing.
One property owner told the commission that he needed the right to construct a fence around his beach prop-, erty to protect himself from liability in the event that someone is injured on his beach. This is the reported reason for Fountain?s fence.
Another beachfront property owner responded that he protects himself with insurance and not a fence.
Others spoke of wishing to erect gazebos on their beaches. Even the question of piera ? how long, how big, with enclosed structures on them ? received no agreement among those present.
Beach property owner Waldo Otis presented a petition with 150 signatures and said'he had another with about 50 , more, requesting that structures on the beach be prohibited but excluding those already standing, such as the yacht club. Waldo's attorney, John Ellis, toM the commission that he was prepared to submit a proposed ordinance for the council?s con-
structure
hearing
t jji. Ci
sideration.
Tom Clarke, attorney, warned the commission that any exemptions Oi? granted to property owners would result in lawsuits. "I suggest that when you go to the council, be men and do the job you?re sworn to do even if your mother or your brother is involved. If there are special considerations, you?re buying a lawsuit,? he said.
Margaret Gibbens of the Hancock County Historical Society cautioned that the entire beach front is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and any ordinance must conform to its guidelines. Further,"! feel that
the zoidug board and the.. council should establish^ their positions and nor ask us what to do,? Mrs' Gibbens said.	^
Even though the 196s' ordinance was found to be void, earlier ordinances and zoning maps still in effect are available to the council, she said.	.