Planning Division
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Community Development Department Phone: (601) 485-1910 |
Links
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Historic Preservation Districts |
The Planning Division is made up of professionals involved with a wide range of immediate and long-range planning issues. This division serves as staff for the Meridian Planning Commission, Meridian Historic Preservation Commission, and Meridian Tree Commission.
After development of short/long-range plans, this division guides implementation of ordinance preparation and administration, grant writing and administration, landscape and recreation design/construction supervision.
More specific activities include:
- Comprehensive planning and implementation through zoning, subdivision, and development review ordinances
Annexed Area Zoning 2008 Annexation - Planning and preservation related to historic buildings and districts, and participation in the State's Certified Local Government Program
Downtown Meridian
22nd Avenue at 4th Street
looking NorthDowntown Meridian
22nd Avenue from bridge
looking North - Urban Forestry initiatives that manage City trees and promote green infrastructure
- Landscape design and improvements on City property and City right-of-ways
- Recreation and trails projects, and related funding
Bonita Lakes Trails Grant Project Bonita Lakes Trails Grant Project - Neighborhood improvement and economic development projects by applying for and administration of available grant programs
- Flood Plain Management through participation in the Community Rating System Program
Planning Applications and Fees
| Rezoning | 200.00 |
| Telecommunications Tower | 200.00 |
| Street/Alley Closing | 100.00 |
| Public Street/Facility Naming | 250.00 |
| Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) | |
| Tracts up to 11 acres | 200.00 |
| Tracts greater than 11 acres | 300.00 |
| Commercial PUD | 500.00 |
| Subdivision Preliminary Plat | |
| Subdivision Final Plat | |
| For 10 or less lots | 50.00 + 4.00/lot |
| For 11 to 50 lots | 50.00 + 3.00/lot |
| For 51 to 150 lots | 50.00 + 2.00/lot |
| For 151 or more lots | 50.00 + 1.00/lot |
| Special Use | 50.00 |
| Home Occupation | 50.00 |
| Site Development | no fee |
| Tree Permit | no fee |
| Dimensional Variance | 50.00 |
| Historic Certificate of Appropriateness | 20.00 |
Planning Documents
City of Meridian Comprehensive Plan
The following documents of the City of Meridian Code of Ordinances are online and codified by Municipal Code Corporation (Municode).
City of Meridian Code of Ordinances
Chapter 17 - Planning
- Article I. – In General
- Article II. – Planning Commission
- Article III. – Historic Preservation
- Article IV. – Tree Protection
Chapter 20 – Streets and Sidewalks
Sec. 20-31. – Closing and vacating streets and alleys – Generally
Sec. 20-32. – Same – Contents of petition
Appendix A - Zoning
- Article I. – In General
- Article II. – Zoning District Regulations
- Article III. – Administration and Enforcement
- Article IV. – Definition of Terms
Meridian Historic Preservation Districts
The City has eight recognized historic districts and neighborhoods, including, within its Downtown District, the largest collection of historic commercial buildings in the State. The Downtown District was formed through the merger of two previous districts – The Union Station District and the Urban Center District. The Highland Park District consists primarily of the public park of the same name plus five surrounding residences. This district also contains the County’s only National Landmark in the form of the Dentzel Carousel and Carousel Shelter Building. Meridian's six historic residential neighborhoods were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and feature fine homes and buildings typical of their eras.
In addition to the district resources, Meridian has some 31 individual buildings listed on the National Register and 12 Mississippi Landmark Sites.
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Merrehope 905 Martin Luther King Drive in Merrehope Historic District
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2223 Poplar Springs Drive Poplar Springs Historic District
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Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Historic Resources Inventory Database
The following is a link to a site published and maintained by MDAH containing an expanding, searchable database with 50,000 records of historic properties statewide.
Meridian Downtown Historic District Resources
In 2005, the Meridian City Council approved an amendment to the Code of Ordinances which consolidated and expanded the Urban Center District and the Union Station District into a single, contiguous, and larger district. This new Meridian Downtown Historic District runs from the railroad tracks north to 6th Street, between 18th Avenue and 26th Avenue, excluding Ragsdale Survey Block 71. Although many building resources have been lost since 1979, the district still boasts some 130 resources considered as contributing elements to its historic character.
The following is a link to an interactive, ‘point and click’ map of the Meridian Downtown Historic District with details of historical resources in the district.
Meridian Downtown Historic District Map
Meridian Planning Commission
The Meridian Planning Commission has been created by the Mayor and City Council as an advisory committee to the City in planning and zoning matters and is vested with the rights and responsibilities as provided in Mississippi Code Annotated Section 17-1-17 (1972), and established in the City of Meridian Ordinance No. 3637 as amended, and to recommend such action as may be agreed upon by such Commission to the City Council.
The Commission is made up of nine members who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. They serve for a term of five years.
Planning Commission meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of each month. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers / Police Courtroom at 5:30 p.m. The deadline for submissions to the Meridian Planning Commission is the first of each month for that month’s meeting.
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission
The Meridian Historic Preservation Commission was established by the Mayor and City Council, pursuant to Section 39-13-5 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as amended, to preserve, promote, and develop the historical resources of the city.
The Commission is made up of seven members of the City who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.
The Meridian Historic Preservation Commission regular meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. in the Community Development Conference Room located at 723 23rd Avenue.
Historic Preservation Commission Members
Meridian Tree Commission
The Meridian Tree Commission was established by City Ordinance No. 3890 as amended, for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, and disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas.
The Commission is made up of seven members who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. They serve for a term of three years.
The Meridian Tree Commission meetings are held as needed in the Community Development Conference Room located at 723 23rd Avenue.
Historic Photographic & Negative Collection
The City of Meridian, through the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC), obtained through donation the photographic negative collections of A. G. Weems, Lee Davison, and Harry Revell. Between 1940 and 1975, these local professional photographers captured on film many aspects of life in Meridian. Railroads, businesses, government officials, churches, military, schools, festivals, and events were some of the topics contained within these historic collections.
Thanks to a grant from the Riley Foundation, we have been able to preserve and store the collections in the correct archival materials and obtain the latest computer technology to digitalize these images. The MHPC owns the copyright to an estimated 25,000 images of which more than half are the original negatives with the remainder consisting of copy negatives.
We have selected several of the photos from these collections for your viewing. Please note that the descriptions contained in the online image catalog are taken from the respective photographer's original comments and descriptions found on the image's original packaging. Any other notations by us are enclosed in parentheses.
View Archive Pictures Photographic Negative Collection
To purchase a print:
8 x 10 prints from the original negatives may be purchased for $30 each. Please review the contents in the Photographic Negative Collection and make your selections. Be sure to include the category, box number, and description as we have over 25,000 negatives.
Send your request to planning@meridianms.org
We will review your request and send you e-mail confirmation. Once you receive confirmation of your order, please send check or money order made payable to the Meridian Historic Preservation Commission to:
Meridian Historic Preservation Commission
Attn: Community Development Department
P.O. Box 1430
Meridian, MS 39302
Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Orders will be processed once payment is received.