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photo by Destiney Robb
A stop work order was handed down to Fat Mama’s this week, halting work on the new location. Work is tentatively slated to begin again Dec. 21.
Fat Mama’s construction halted after permit problem
Published Wednesday, December 12, 2007
NATCHEZ — Construction at Fat Mama’s new site has been temporarily halted due to a hastily issued work permit.
Mayor Phillip West said the permit was given because the city’s planning office incorrectly approved the plans for the restaurant.
However, West said the planning office unknowingly approved the plans before they had received final approval from the site planning committee.
The city’s site planning committee is comprised of city officials like the fire chief and building inspector who make sure a building’s plans are safe and secure.
City Building Inspector Paul Dawes said the error was rectified the next day and a stop work order was issued.
West said planning office’s error was simple and will be corrected quickly.
The planning office approved Fat Mama’s plans while their case was still being decided in the courts.
West said the office’s approved plans that allowed the structure to be within five-feet of the sidewalk.
While Fat Mama’s will be built within five-feet of the sidewalk, the plans were approved before a variance was issued allowing that change to be made.
As of now, Fat Mama’s still does not have the variance.
Planning Commission Vice-Chair Ed Godfrey said a city ordinance requires buildings to be built 25 feet off the street.
The Planning Commission is a volunteer based group that monitors building projects in Natchez.
However most structures on North Canal Street are built only five feet off the street with the issue of a variance Godfrey said.
On Dec. 5., city officials, representatives from Fat Mama’s and the planning commission met to discuss finalization of plans on the restaurant.
Fat Mama’s owner David Gammill said the meeting went very well.
“We just want to get back to work,” he said.
And to get back to work, Gammill still needs final plan approval and a variance.
But at the Dec. 5, meeting members of the planning commission had an opportunity to look over Fat Mama’s plans and ask questions.
“The plans look good,” Godfrey said.
Gammill said when he meets with the committee again on Dec. 20, he fully expects his plans to be approved and expects to get his variance granted allowing him to build closer to the street.
“I hope to get back to work the next day,” he said.
Gammill said once construction resumes, Fat Mama’s should be completed by mid-June.
Comments
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No wonder Natchez never gets much done. All this over a tamale stand. There must be enough committees here to sink the Titanic.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How did the city manage to mess that up so bad? Its a simple building permit, does anybody know what is going on in City Hall?
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
apparently not
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a croc of caca! Leave it to a bunch of politicians and dead weight to stop the wheels of business.
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mike-apparently you know alot about constructin. Why don't you volunteer for the planning commitee.
I think this is all a bunch of BS. It is probably just a few people trying to cause trouble in City Hall as always.
Posted by Southron54 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How ironic. Mayor West is concerned about building / demolition permits? He wasn't concerned when he illegally used city workers to demolish the historically important Natchez Pecan Factory site.
Posted by timnoklahoma (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you think it might be the "Blue Hair Ladies" causing all of this trouble???
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When the Democrat posted the salaries of Natchez and Vidalia elected officials I had no idea how much these deadheads were overpaid. I want a refund.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah Southron - think about it. West isn't getting anything from Fat Mama's! Tim how dare you think such a thing? LOL
Did you guys know that the two Victorian homes next door to the site (where the book store used to be) were once "Houses of ill Repute"? Thats what my mother told me years ago. I guess this was back in the 30's maybe or 40's. So should we do something to save the houses, restore them, and maybe have historical re-enactments? LOL Sorry I'm just feeling frisky this morning!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You might not be able to smell it on a computer but you sure can tell when someone tries to stir it up.
Posted by coacht (T.BOB KIRK) on December 12, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Government,politics and power isn't it a lovely thing.
The mayor probably didn't think that a doz. tamales was enough kickback.
Posted by timnoklahoma (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Speaking of that, is Nellies still down there? I know she was killed several years ago, and I would guess her "business" closed after that, but is the house still there?
Posted by davout89 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You haven't seen a city hall slow progress until you have done business in Santa Fe New Mexico! If you are redoing a bathroom you have to pay a $720 toilet tax to buy 10 of your neighbors free low-flush toilets. I finally drove by the building where these are supposedly distributed but have yet to meet anyone who has gotten their free toilet that their neighbors paid for when they put in new tile floor or sink! Seriously now, Historic Preservation=$$$...Santa Fe would, for all its silliness, be another dusty collection of trailers on the side of the road without some of the regulation in stead of a major tourist attraction, a Disney Land for Californians.. Most of Natchez would look like the unpainted buildings with bad yards left in some corners without tourism...but everyone blames the "blue hairs" who brought tourists to town when you can't put a tire dump on Main Street or bulldoze Stanton Hall to put in a parking lot for a Casino that hasn't committed to Natchez yet....On the other hand, Fat Mamas has great Tamales..Hope they do well...
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need some control but the bigest problem I see is we have so many committees they don't even know what they are supposed to do or who the other ones are or what you need to proceed and where to go to next. Maybe we need a committee to fix this.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The worst part of this is when a few residents nearby decided they did not want a tamale house with a outside tables and music nearby. Give me a break! These are the same people who insist on everything being saved -- even when almost burned to the ground. If a building is burned and it is restored, then the materials are new -- not old! However, FM's has promised to keep the music level within reason. Good luck to the Gammil's and I personally cannot wait for another dozen. Always buy 2 and freeze one for a later date. But to think that I will not have to drive up into that horrible parking area called a parking lot and take my life in my hands walking across it and up the back steps, across the eating outside eating area, down the steps and then into the building and reverse it to get back to the car. No place to park out front. It is not a place of handicap people to go regularly -- however, the new place will be! Go David!
Posted by viaduck (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The delay in building Fat Mama's was due to a lawsuit filed by residents of Washington, Wall and Wensel streets who didn't want a fast food restaurant in their backyard (would you). Every city in the United States has some form of a site plan committee to oversee new construction. The contractor for Fat Mama's knew the procedure but in his haste to get the checks coming decided to skip the last process of final approval from the planning commission, which meets monthly and approves 99% of the recommendations of the site plan committee.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I will be sad to see the old log cabin go but the parking lot was a nightmare. Hope the atmosphere will follow to the new place. Sure beats Taco Bell.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sue you Sue me Blues a song written by George Harrison for those of you know who he was.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is typical government interference! The so-called MAYOR needs to get employees in line and manage them! This is local government in action! Let private business be private business!
Posted by mcmy (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm very excited about the new building Fat Mama's will be moving to. This is a very popular place for locals and tourists and needed to be expanded. I wish them all the luck. This restaurant is hardly a fast food chain and I don't think the new building will hinder the homes in that area any more than any of the other businesses. Everyone knows when youre building something whether it be a house or business, there are always delays and its usually always with the permits. Hopefully they get it straightened out and get back to work soon! I'm ready to see the finished project!
Posted by humorme (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bulldoze Longwood, make way for Super Target
Posted by progressntz81 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Timinoklahoma, Nellie was killed when a drunk burned her house down.
http://www.deltablues.net/nell.html
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With all the buildable lots in Natchez, this one next to residential area was not a great choice.
Posted by Southron54 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
progressntz81, at least the drunken idiot burned himself up too.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hey, roberth33, where have you been. Long time, no hear. I was thinking about you last night and here you are. Good, good, good... I had great hopes they would save the old building and move it to another place and build addons around it. That old building has memories. Wish we could have kept it.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thanks Destiny. Busy time of year at work... not much time to "enlighten" the world! hehehe
Posted by dovechase (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, Southron, for the 1000th time. The pecan factory building was beyond repair. I went in it many times shortly before it was torn down. Almost the whole back wall had collapsed and the roof had partially collapsed. It was structually unsound. Let's move on.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was in disrepair, but the city was told not to tear it down yet and they did anyway. THAT is the issue. THAT is why Philip is not to be trusted.
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh come on!! let them build already!! that was just an old parking lot being over grown with weeds and grass!
Posted by Idefinitelymight (Tom Scarborough) on December 12, 2007 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
progressntz81--Nellie's house did not burn down. It is still very intact (though run-down) on the corner of Rankin and Monroe streets
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Natchez did away with all these different offices and committees just to get a building permit they could cut the costs a lot. Oh, forgot that is how you get elected. City, State and Federal just how many idiots do we need to change a light bulb?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've never heard anything about those two Victorian houses being anything like Nellies? Is that story true?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now I know Nellies house caught fire, but I don't think it burned down. She did die in the fire though. I Think! LOL Anyway, she is one of the legends of Natchez!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard the natives of Vicksburg say that about all the houses in Natchez.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they would!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitloud, I wasn't there, but that's what my mom told me years ago. The good ladies of Natchez even held a march of protest in front of them.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the comment about building a commercial building next to a residential area -- good grief, look around. There is a mix of both throughout the city and county. Look at all the construction done for the Trace and all the house that were moved to prepare for that long construction process. Look at the business along the highways that have residential areas just behind them. Think of the Homochitto Addition and that it butts up behind all those businesses along John R Junkin. Just because it is commercial does not make it bad for the residents.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
freedom42....that is tooo flippin funny!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well, you know how we women are! lol
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You bet I do girl!!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd have to disagree with you lambchop, in the case of fat mamas it doesn't really apply, but generally you try and seperate business and residental. There is always the situation where one ends and one starts, but for the most part you have to seperate the two or you have a really poor city layout. Just b/c it was done wrong in the past, doesn't mean we should keep doing in now.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tim her house is still there....Shame they have let it run down like it is...
Tell you That nellie was one class act.....If you ever met her you will know this...
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A relative of mine used to do her books. lol
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
btw.....if you go to google and simply type in nellie's natchez, ms you get more info than you need!!
Posted by timnoklahoma (anonymous) on December 12, 2007 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew "Miss Nellie" from years ago when I worked and lived there.And you are right, she was a class act. She came into my store one day a few days after she shot a man peeping into her windows and tried to buy a handgun. I told her that she knew I could not sell her one because of her upcoming legal troubles. She had one of her "ladies" come over later and purchase it.
Also, she asked me once to drive her and a few of her girls to Los Angeles to visit a baseball game. I think the World Series was playing there and she wanted to take some entertainment there to make some money. Since my mom lived there, I almost did it, but I had just been married and I figured my wife would be upset if I went across country with a carload of Nellie and friends.LOL
She was a very nice person!!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 5:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like some more of the Blue Haired womens fine work.
Posted by riverat (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
could someone please tell me what was historically significant about the Pecan Factory? It had been an eye sore for as long as I can remember (and I am old!) and the site of many a sexual encounter and drug deal. Is THAT what makes it histroically significant? If thats the criteria, we could name plenty of other buildings historically significant. I am sick too death of people screaming about its significance. Mayor West shouln't have violated the law but for goodness sakes, the building was an eyesore!!!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 8:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I must be older than you riverat because I remember it before it fell apart. I would gather pecans and sell them there for gas and spending money when I was a kid. But I am not old enough to have had any historical significantance and don't think the building did either.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It had something to do with the architectural style of the building, rather than actual historical significance. I don't think it could have been put back together, but West did go against the law, and that is what made so many people so angry. If we go against the law, especially after being directly told what to do or not to do, we would be in jail.
Posted by Awstruck (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm one of Nellie's "girls". Anyone interested?!?!?
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nellie? i don't know who ya'll are talking about.. that's soo rude of me, she sounds like she had a great impact on the people in NTZ. i wish i would've met her at least once... :)
Posted by firered (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EWW!!!! How old are you Awstruck to have been one of Nellie's girls? Are all of your parts still working? EWW...
LOL sorry I just couldn't resist!!!! :)
Posted by noneya (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
firered....you so funny!
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
really!!!!!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
one of Nellie's girls today would be about what??? 120?? I agree....eeewwwwwwww not going to be able to give it away now darlin
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hmm... what does 75 dollars then equal in today's money? I think even the most hard up man would pass on that offer lol..
Posted by peacerulz (anonymous) on December 13, 2007 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
l wonder if that really was a proposition??? Right here on the Dem site. Is'nt that illegal???
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on December 18, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hahahaha!!! well i finally learned who 'nellie' was and what she career consist of!! lol!! my boyfriends uncle came to visit a couple days ago and he was talking about back in the 80's him and his crew came to ntz. to build an old folks home, and he would have to go to 'nellies' and get his workers out of there!! my dumb self was like what in the world was nellies! hahahaha!!!!
NEVER KNEW NTZ. HAD A HOOKER HOUSE!! I LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT MY HOME CITY EVERY DAY!! LOL!! HAHAAHAHAHA!!
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