NATCHEZ — Natchez officials granted a special-use permit for opening a Bed and Breakfast on North Union Street despite the Natchez Planning Commission’s earlier decision to deny the request.

The action came during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

Ronald Fry, who owns and operates the Devereaux Shields House at 709 North Union Street, said he planned to open a four-unit Bed and Breakfast next door to his establishment.

Natchez Planning and Zoning Director Riccardo Giani said the Planning Commission ruled in August that the proposed Bed and Breakfast did not fulfill several requirements to be granted a special-use permit.

“Proposed Bed and Breakfasts must provide one off-street parking space per unit,” Giani said, adding the property in question only had three on-site parking spaces.

“If the board of Aldermen approve the operation of this Bed and Breakfast, planning staff ask that it be for three units, not four units,” Giani said.

Giani said the proposed establishment should also not be located within 300 feet from other existing Bed and Breakfasts unless it could be demonstrated that the addition would have no adverse effects on the surrounding neighborhood. Both The Burn and the Devereaux Sheilds house are operating on the same street.

“We’re not denying Mr. Fry the right to have a Bed and Breakfast,” said Planning Commission member, Liz Dantone. “He’s already operating multiple structures on the same street in that capacity. I support the decision of the Planning Commission to deny his application … because the ordinance was written with balance in mind. … There are many other possible properties throughout Downtown that Mr. Fry could acquire and then those could be operated within the regulations of the ordinance.”

During a public hearing Tuesday regarding the property, several local Bed and Breakfast owners praised Fry for investing in what would’ve been a vacant house to turn it into a functioning business.

Charlotte Copeland, who owns a Bed and Breakfast on North Pearl Street, said Fry professionally operates his businesses and contributes to the local economy by driving his guests around the city to visit local restaurants and shops.

“This is a very positive industry that keeps people coming back to Natchez over and over again,” Copeland said. “I want you all to consider this. This is something that Natchez just naturally does. We are very hospitable and this is an industry that we must certainly promote and not demote. … Mr. Fry and his wife do an excellent job at representing Natchez in a way that we all want our city to be represented.”

After the hearing, Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis moved that the board approve the application with three units instead of four to fulfill the parking requirements and the motion passed by a vote of 3-1 with Alderwoman Sarah Carter-Smith absent.

Alderman Dan Dillard voted “no” and Alderwoman Felicia Irving abstained.

• In other matters during Tuesday’s meeting of the Natchez Board of Aldermen, the board:4Unanimously approved an application through the U.S. Corps of Engineers for a Land, Easements, Rights-Of-Way, Relocation and Disposal Areas (LERRD) credit for $450,000 to offset construction costs for the North Natchez Drainage project and emergency Canal Street bridge repairs.
• Unanimously appointed Pamela Patterson as Interim City Clerk and authorized the removal of the former City Clerk, Charles Crump from city accounts and services.
• Unanimously approved requests from Natchez Police Chief Walter Armstrong for off-duty officers to work during the Great Mississippi River Balloon Festival on Oct. 18-20 and during a gun show Oct. 12 at the Natchez Convention Center.
• Unanimously approved the 2018 auditor’s report for the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission.
• Unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the Jackson State University Alumni Association’s work in placing a sign that marks the university’s birthplace on Cemetery Road in Natchez.