Lili Stahler's answers

1. What do you think are the three most important issues now facing the city of Waveland? Please list by priority.

INFRASTRUCTURE – I feel that the basic “quality of life” issues are most important.
Waveland residents, both living here and returning, are faced with the day to day aggravations, street lighting, ditches, road surfacing, dead trees, abandoned and blighted houses, debris and mosquitoes. With these day to day problems, it is difficult to focus on the larger issues. I believe that Waveland has made great strides since the storm but it’s time to focus on getting things “back to normal”.

COMMUNICATION – I feel that communication between city government and Waveland residents could be improved. We are all in this together and need to be apprised of “what’s going on”. We are able to handle the bad news and look forward to the good news.
Waveland needs to communicate to its residents – THE PLAN. There must be a plan, but I don’t know about it. I want to see a Four Year Plan with a Timeline so that we are all apprised of “where we are going”.

RESIDENT RETURN- The longer it takes for our residents to return, the more we lose as they settle somewhere else permanently. We want our people back. We should make every effort to contact our Pre-Katrina citizens and assist them in their efforts to return.


2. What role, if any, do you see “Smart Code” playing in our future development?

As an overlay to existing codes, with options, especially in the commercial areas – Coleman Avenue, Waveland Avenue and Central Area, and Highway 90, it would assist in making the areas functional and attractive.

Through the Coleman Avenue Coalition, a task force, led by Steve Hand, explored the Smart Code for Coleman Avenue. The results were most impressive.


3. How do you feel about the vision of Waveland that came out of the recent planning "charrette” sponsored by the Governor’s Commission. What actions, if any, should the city take to implement the plans?

I attended all or the Charrette meetings in Waveland. The team listened to the interests and concerns of various neighborhoods. They drew and re-drew. I believe they came up with a comprehensive plan for the city that is both attractive and functional. To me, the plan may be a bit ambitious. As I stated in Question 2, with the Smart Code, the commercial districts could certainly adopt many of the Charrette ideas and recommendations.

For common green space in neighborhoods and city wide, if funding is available, it would certainly add to our quality of life.

For residential building, it should be the Planning and Zoning Board’s responsibility to offer the ideas and recommendations of the Charrette. Their office should be knowledgeable and able to assist those planning to rebuild by making available and encouraging them to read the Pattern Book and Summary Report.


4. How do you stand in regards to the proposed marina at the foot of Coleman Avenue and why?

The Charrette rendering of the marina, pier and lighthouse was most attractive. Further discussion with residents, feasibility study and funding options would be necessary for me to make a decision.

5. Should current single-family zoning along the beach be changed to allow more high-density development? Why or why not?

I do not believe in high-density development for Waveland beachfront. We had one at the foot of Coleman Avenue and I would not oppose re-building a development on that site. My hope is to see the beachfront rebuilt in keeping with the original character and essence of Waveland.

6. What impact do you feel that the County’s plans for a major resort district adjacent to Waveland would have on the community?

The impact will be an increase in sales tax revenues both on the Highway 90 and the Coleman Avenue Business Districts. I do not feel that it will be a threat to the core and essence to the City of Waveland as long as Waveland maintains strict enforcement of land use and building codes.

7. The officials of Bay St. Louis and Hancock County are currently making efforts to coordinate comprehensive plans. Would you lend support to Waveland joining the effort? Why or why not?

I believe that Waveland should always be open to discussion with Bay St. Louis and Hancock County. We are all part of the same community. Good ideas stem from discussion and participation.

8. There has been exploration by the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland in regards to combining the two city’s governments (or at least some services) to save money. How do you feel about such proposals? What services or departments, if any, do you think might benefit from such cooperation?

I am opposed to combining the city governments of Waveland and Bay St. Louis. I think each city should maintain its own unique identity. With the annexation that both cities have experienced each should maintain its own character. I am not opposed to discussions of combining some services and would certainly participate in such review or study. Unfortunately, in the past, I have seen that, in many cases, combining and enlarging creates a larger set of problems and cost always seem to go up not down.