NATCHEZ — With a vote of the Natchez Board of Aldermen Tuesday, the site of historic Ashburn Plantation went from “villa plantation” to “mixed density housing” — though with heavy restrictions.

The proposal to rezone the Ashburn site, which at one time housed a plantation home that burned in the 1870s, has met criticism from residents of the area.

Developer Jody Foster has said he wants to develop the 6.6 acres at the end of Ashburn Street in question into patio homes and townhouses that will cater to retirees and people looking for a vacation home in Natchez.

When the matter came before the board Tuesday, Alderman Tony Fields — in whose district Ashburn lies — made a proposal that he said would not make the residents or the developer particularly happy.

Fields motion, which was unanimously approved, was to rezone the property to allow for mixed housing under the condition that it be used for no purposes other than to build town houses, patio homes and zero lot-line homes.

Under Fields’ motion, the development will be limited to 33 lots with no more than 16 of those being townhouses and townhouses being limited to four attached residences.

The motion also requires that a 20-foot vegetative buffer be erected between the proposed development and nearby historic Routhland Plantation.

“I think this will provide limited flexibility for development of the property while preserving the neighborhood,” Fields said.

Fields said his motion came after a meeting he had with the area’s residents and the developer.

Approximately 25 residents of the area attended the meeting, and Ashburn Street Resident Pattie Barlow read a statement on their behalf.

Barlow said residents of the area were concerned about increased traffic the development would bring or that the land could be used to develop a child care center or rooming houses.

Barlow said residents would prefer that if the property was to be rezoned it would be rezoned to only allow for single-family residences.

“The idea of townhouses is not in line with an aging population,” Barlow said. “Many of the residents on Ashburn Street are retired.

“We are a retirement community on Ashburn Street. Does the voice of those already on Ashburn Street mean less than the ones we are trying to bring to Natchez?”

Attorney Grayson Lewis appeared representing the owners of Routhland, saying any rezoning of the property would affect the value of the historic home.

When the aldermen and members of the audience began asking Foster about specifics for proposed buildings, he said he didn’t have any set specifications yet.

“What I have is a drawing (of the property) I more or less completed in order to talk about (rezoning),” Foster said. “I have a drawing with 33 individual lots, 16 of those being townhouses, but that is step three in a 12-step process. Step 1 is getting it rezoned.

“I don’t have the plans drawn for townhouses yet.”

Even though the property was previously zoned villa plantation, City Planner Frankie Legaux said earlier this month she believes that designation was made when zoning planners mistakenly believed the Ashburn plantation home was still standing.

In addition to Routhland, the Ashburn property is near the site of historic Arlington, which is still standing but suffered significant fire damage in 2002.