MS Coast city has voted again on controversial beach boardwalk plan. Here are the details

The Pass Christian Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Thursday night to reconsider its request to stop construction on a new beach boardwalk and said the city will now move forward with the project’s first phase, mostly as planned.

The project will widen the walkway on Highway 90 and install a knee-wall to stop windblown sand. It has also sparked debate: Supporters hailed the boardwalk as a safety improvement that could save the city thousands of dollars on sand clean-up. Opponents worried it would cover the city’s old seawall, block views and make it harder to access the beach.

The Board voted last week to stop future construction and finish only the ongoing work on the west side of the harbor. They also hoped to stop building the knee-wall.

But that request depended on the Department of Marine Resources. Mayor Jimmy Rafferty said this week that agency had already funded $2.5 million in federal grants for the project’s first phase, and approved $2.5 million for the second phase.

On Thursday, the Board decided the risks of its request were too great. Now, the project’s first phase will continue with one change: The city is asking the Department of Marine Resources to consider finishing the ongoing construction by moving further west — not east — of the harbor. That shift would extend the boardwalk and 15-inch knee-wall from the west side of the harbor to the area of Magnolia Avenue.

Rafferty thanked the Board for approving the first phase.

“I think its a great thing,” he said. “I’m looking forward to partnering with the Board of Alderpersons and citizens of Pass Christian to get the input from the citizens on the next phases.”

Changing boardwalk plan came with costs

The Board voted 5-0 to reverse its earlier recommendations.

Alderwoman Betty Sparkman praised that decision: “I’m very pleased that we will be completing Phase 1,” she said.

At Thursday’s meeting, City Attorney Malcolm Jones said if the Board moved forward with its original vote, the city could face contractual damages of over $450,000. He said if the city did not finish the project as it promised in the grant agreement, it would have to seek approval for any changes from the state Legislature. If the Legislature decided the city did not fulfill its grant agreement, Pass Christian could also be forced to pay back up to $1.7 million, Jones said.

To avoid those costs, Jones recommended the city reconsider.

Alderman Victor Pickich said the risks forced the city to keep building the knee-wall included in the project’s first phase.

“Our citizens do not want the knee wall,” he said. “We’ve done the best we can to fight it.”

Rafferty said he will seek citizens’ input through public hearings on the next three phases of construction. The Board also said contractors have heard residents’ concerns and agreed to create more beach access in the current construction phase.

“One of the key learnings is getting input from people in Pass Christian,” Rafferty said, “and then striking the happy medium in order to move ahead.”

Pickich said he does not expect the Board will approve any of the three future phases of the project. He expects the current construction phase to end next year. Any future construction could fall to Harrison County, Pickich said.

This story was originally published August 30, 2024 at 11:00 AM.