House Bill 595

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 55-13-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS FROM THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT PERMITTED FOR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY SHALL APPLY ONLY TO BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES CONSTRUCTED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSTRUCTION BEFORE JULY 1, 2002; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 55-13-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

55-13-35. (1) It shall be unlawful to construct or erect a building or other structure of more than three (3) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height, whichever is lesser, within one thousand (1,000) feet of the outside boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Such restrictions on buildings and structures shall apply notwithstanding that such area is located inside or outside a municipality and notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary. It is the legislative intent of this section, in part, that possession of a building permit on July 1, 1988, shall not allow any construction after July 1, 1988, based on that permit. This section shall not apply to any building in existence on July 1, 1988.

(2) Silos, buildings and structures designed foragricultural use, churches and any building or structure constructed or to be constructed on property that, on the effective date of this act, is owned by a public school district and used for educational purposes are exempted from the application of this section. The exemptions provided in this subsection (2) shall apply only to buildings and structures constructed or authorized for construction by a building permit or other appropriate permit issued before July 1, 2002.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.