What was supposed to be an informational session Thursday for McComb’s recently formed board of adjustments, turned into a debate over whether the board has the authority to hear zoning appeals.
According to a letter from City Administrator Jim Storer to the members, the board’s first meeting was to be divided into two parts — an informational meeting on the board’s duties and the election of a chairman, and a hearing on the planning commission’s recommendation of the Burglund Corridor Mixed Use District for Summit Street.
The board delayed the hearing on Summit Street until Jan. 22 and elected Annette McCray as chairman.
The plan was recommended as the solution to clear up zoning issues on Summit Street.
The planning commission on Oct. 6 recommended approval of the Burglund Plan, which allows a mix of residential and commercial buildings along the street.
Proponents of another plan, the Northeast McComb Neighborhood Commercial District, appealed the commission’s recommendation to the board of selectmen.
The Northeast McComb plan proposes two separate zoning districts on Summit Street, with the area from the street’s southern terminus at New York Avenue going north to the 800 block of Summit Street to be zoned commercial and from the 800 block going north to Higgins Drive zoned residential.
The selectmen referred the appeal to the board of adjustment.
Thursday afternoon, Storer outlined the board of adjustment’s duties, including hearing zoning appeals.
The reference to zoning brought an objection from Ron Gibson, who owns a business on Summit Street and supports the Burglund plan.
“I looks like the issue is getting very cloudy,” Gibson said, claiming the board is not authorized to hear zoning appeals.
Storer maintained that the board could review the appeal, and suggested that the board members visit Summit Street to get a better understanding of the issue.
He said proponents of the Burglund plan delivered a petition of 35 names supporting the plan to the planning commission, adding that the petition may have been one reason the commission approved it.
Director of Inspection and Zoning Walter Temple said all the signatures had been verified.
Gibson continued his objection, saying Storer wanted the members “to look at stuff that doesn’t pertain to this board.”
Ronnie Brock, whose father owns property on Summit Street, cited Section 7.203 of the McComb City Charter, which said the board of adjustment “shall not be authorized to grant variances in the use of land or to take any other action which would result in change in the zoning district boundaries.”
Both the Burglund plan and the Northeast McComb plan would change the zoning along Summit Street, which is currently C-1 neighborhood commercial.
Storer countered by reading the second part of the section that says “the board shall always act with due consideration to promoting the public health, safety, convenience and welfare, encouraging the most appropriate use of land and conserving property value, shall permit no building or use determined detrimental to the neighborhood, and may describe appropriate conditions and safeguards which may include, among other things, provisions for the screening of parking areas by walls, fences and planting and other such measures.”
Several of the board members indicated that they were not comfortable discussing the Summit Street issue without further study. They also wanted a better understanding of the board’s duties. Storer said he would ask interim city attorney Angela Taylor Miller to come to the next meeting to discuss the board’s duties.mit Street, cited Section 7.203 of the McComb City Charter, which said the board of adjustment “shall not be authorized to grant variances in the use of land or to take any other action which would result in change in the zoning district boundaries.”
Both the Burgland plan and the Northeast McComb plan would change the zoning along Summit Street, which is currently C-1 neighborhood commercial.
Storer countered by reading the second part of the section that says “the board shall always act with due consideration to promoting the public health, safety, convenience and welfare, encouraging the most appropriate use of land and conserving property value, shall permit no building or use determined detrimental to the neighborhood, and may describe appropriate conditions and safeguards which may include, among other things, provisions for the screening of parking areas by walls, fences and planting and other such measures.”
Several of the board members indicated that they were not comfortable discussing the Summit Street issue without further study. They also wanted a better understanding of the board’s duties. Storer said he would ask interim city attorney Angela Taylor Miller to come to the next meeting to discuss the board’s duties.
