NASM JLUS recommendations

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. - Representatives from Lauderdale and Kemper counties, and the cities of Meridian and Marion accepted the 86 non-binding Defense Department recommendations from a federally funded Joint Land Use Study for Naval Air Station Meridian. Some recommendations are designed to help government leaders, while providing buffer zones around NASM, to develop policies or codes that may avoid development of new subdivisions, hospitals, nursing homes or even tall structures like towers that are too close to NAS Meridian installations. "This is just the beginning," says Dr. George Thomas, a member of the Joint Use Land Study Committee. "It's critical for us," says NAS Meridian's Commander, Capt. Brian Horstman. "Without working with our neighboring local counties, we can't do our work. We don't just operate in the fence lines." The next step is for local governments to decide what action, if any, they will take regarding the proposals. NASM, based on 2015 figures, provides a $430M total contribution to the regional economy. (Source: WTOK 09/07/17)