Lease of State Park Lands for Commercial or Residential Development

If House Bill 1492 becomes law, the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, with the approval of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, may identify certain lands within the state parks and under the jurisdiction and control of the department that may be leased to third parties for COMMERCIAL and/or RESIDENTAIL development; however, only lands within J.P. Coleman State Park, John W. Kyle State Park, Hugh White State Park, George P. Cossar State Park, Percy Quinn State Park and lands under the jurisdiction and control of the commission and the department surrounding Legion Lake in Simpson County may be leased and developed under the provisions of this act. The MDA and the commission shall establish criteria for identifying such land which shall include, but which shall not be limited to, whether or not such lands are owned by the state, in fee simple, and may be improved for commercial, residential or other development, or, whether such lands are leased from the federal government or an agency thereof, such as the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and are restricted by federal law or federal regulations or by the terms of such lease to limited development purposes. Sixteenth section or lieu lands shall not be subject to lease under the provisions of this act.

Before approving any state park lands for lease and development, whether such lease is for COMMERCIAL or RESIDENTIAL purposes, the commission must make an affirmative finding and enter upon its official minutes a statement that the development of such land will not be incompatible with the outdoor recreational purposes and opportunities existing at that park.

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