Harrison County is engaging in a comprehensive planning process that will last throughout most of 2008.

The Harrison County Comprehensive Plan update began in January 2008 and will continue through March 2009. The project consists of ten phases, described below and illustrated in this timeline:

Phase 1: Project kick-off and development of the citizen participation strategy (complete)

This phase is complete. The project has begun and the citizen participation strategy has been developed. The citizen participation strategy includes the following:
• A steering committee appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors
• Regular newsletters available electronically and in print: February 2008, March 2008, April 2008, May 2008, August 2008, October 2008, November 2008

• This website to provide information about the comprehensive plan
• Use of a phone number for citizens to comment 1-800-609-9006 ext. 9647
• Use of a discussion forum http://home.learningtimes.net/ms
• Postcards and letters about the Ideas Forum and plan review meetings

• The Sand Beach Master Plan can be access here.

• Read about the Cost of Community Services here.

Phase 2: Data Collection and Analysis (through Spring 2008)

This phase includes the analysis of current trends, issues, and conditions in Harrison County. This includes the development of text, analysis, and maps. The text includes a summary of relevant plans and policies developed by Harrison County and other agencies.

Existing Conditions Snapshot

Phase 3: Needs and Opportunities Analysis (through Spring 2008)

This phase focuses on identifying the needs and opportunities in Harrison County. This aids in the establishment of long-range goals and objectives.

Phase 4: Establishment of Long-Range Goals and Objectives (through Spring 2008)

This phase includes working with the public to develop the vision for the future of Harrison County and to begin to update the goals and policies of the 1999 Comprehensive Plan.

Draft Goals and Policies

Phase 5: Conduct Special Analyses (February - July 2008)

Special analyses include a focus on issues of critical importance in Harrison County. For example, the beach plays an important role for both residents and tourists. The development of a Sand-Beach Master Plan is an example of a special analysis. Another example, is a fiscal impact study that looks at the tax generation from new development, as well as, the costs of providing services to this development.

Cost of Community Services Study (July, 2008)
Sand Beach Master Plan (July, 2008)
Cover and Table of Contents (0.2 mb pdf)
Introduction (0.5 mb pdf)
Context (0.5 mb pdf)
Vision and Goals (0.3 mb pdf)
Physical Plan (16.6 mb pdf)
Policy Plan (0.3 mb pdf)
Background (0.3 mb pdf)

Drafts of these special analyses will be posted as they become available

Phase 6: Draft Comprehensive Plan (May 2008)
The draft comprehensive plan integrated the pieces of the plan described above. The draft plan was available for public comment between May and June and community meetings were held in June to gain feedback on the draft plan. The feedback received from the public was used to refine the plan.

Phase 7: Develop Implementation Strategy (May-July 2008)
The planning team prepared strategies and actions necessary to implement the plan, based on input from the citizens of Harrison County. Actions and strategies needed to implement the Plan include:
• Changes to the zoning ordinance or subdivision regulations
• New programs,
• New funding,
• Capital improvements, among others

Phase 8: Develop Final Comprehensive Plan (July 2008)
This phase includes revisions to the draft comprehensive plan based on feedback from the citizens of Harrison County. The final plan was presented to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors for adoption.
Harrison County Comprehensive Plan

Below are the comprehensive plan chapters:
Cover and Table of Contents (0.2 mb pdf)
Introduction (0.7 mb pdf)
Communities (2.1 mb pdf)
Land Use (0.8 mb pdf)
Transportation (0.5 mb pdf)
Healthy Communities (0.5 mb pdf)
Safe Communities (0.5 mb pdf)
Economic Vitality (0.7 mb pdf)
Tourism (0.9 mb pdf)
Intergovernmental Cooperation (0.5 mb pdf)
Fiscal Plan (0.3 mb pdf)
Background Assessment (5.1 mb pdf)
Citizen Involvement (0.8 mb pdf)
Potential Funding Sources (0.5 mb pdf)
Acronyms and Glossary (0.5 mb pdf)

Phase 9: Develop a Capital Improvements Plan (through Winter 2009)
This phase involves the development of a capital improvements program which will identify roads, water/sewer, and other capital improvements that are needed to implement the plan.
Capital Improvements Program (To be added when complete)

Phase 10: Develop Zoning and Subdivision Regulation amendments (through March 2009)
Develop Zoning and Subdivision Regulation amendments to make these ordinances consistent with the comprehensive plan.