NATCHEZ — Work on the new Fat Mama’s Tamales has been stopped by the city planner’s office due to violations in construction.

Restaurant representatives met with the Natchez Preservation Commission Thursday, but they aren’t in the clear yet.

Preservation Commissioners expressed several concerns and said the work so far was deviating from the plan previously approved by the Commission.

Vents were installed on the building’s roof last week, and City Planner John Lewis issued the stop work order soon after.

Commission Chairman Marty Seibert said in the original site planned approved by the commission in April 2006 did not include the large vents.

“Had those been visible, the commission wouldn’t have approved the design that it is today,” Seibert said.

Also, in the initial plan, heating and cooling units were shown on the at the back of the building, Seibert said, a safe distance from the property line of neighboring residences. However, the building has moved eight feet closer to the property line, and with the heating and cooling units so close, it would be an nuisance to the neighbors, commissioners said.

“We’re asking you to move the heating and cooling units,” Seibert said.

The commission also asked Fat Mama’s representatives to have any concrete they lay tinted gray, instead of a blinding white, Seibert said.

Seibert also wanted to see plans on remaining projects before it was too late.

“No lighting proposals have been submitted to us,” she said. “It must be sympathetic to the neighborhood behind the location.”

The commission also took issue with the 50-foot by 100-foot green space shown in the plan that is currently covered in asphalt, Seibert said. Seibert ordered the asphalt to be removed, and for the area to remain a green space.

Bob Latham, who was representing Fat Mama’s owner David Gammill that evening, said he was unaware of the issues.

“This is the first I’ve heard of the information on the list tonight,” Latham said.

However, he said Fat Mama’s will sit down with the architects, Waycaster and Associates, to review the items and rework a site plan proposal.

All in all, Seibert said the commission is willing to work with Fat Mama’s.

“We only ask people to come through the process on the front end instead of the back end,” Seibert said.