The city of Biloxi, Mississippi recently adopted WRT's comprehensive plan for the city. The adoption was made by unanimous decision by the city government.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina massively impacted Biloxi, destroying over 20 percent of its buildings. East Biloxi's traditional neighborhoods, seafood industry, and lively tourism businesses were especially hard hit. Working with the city and citizens of Biloxi, WRT prepared a comprehensive plan that defined how the many aspects of the city's natural, built, and cultural environments can support each other. The plan presents a shared vision and strategic implementation plan to shape Biloxi for the next two decades.

"You know there will be storms in the future, as well as sea-level rise and climate change, so it's all about resiliency," said John Beckman, AICP, WRT's principal in charge of the comprehensive plan project. "That has to do with physical infrastructure, social networks, and attitudes. At the most basic level, you don't want public policy that encourages people to put themselves at risk."

Working with the community through surveys, focus groups, and public open houses, WRT developed the plan to address three overarching issues: storm vulnerability, rebuilding in a way that is sensitive to character and history, and creating a sustainable development pattern where most growth will occur. Given Biloxi's location along the water, the plan addresses floodplain protection and natural resource preservation to support a "multiple lines of defense strategy." Other major components include improving public waterfront access/views, creating mixed-use centers, and growing the local economy. The action plan coordinates public policy with capital investments to achieve the city's vision.