The Right Down Broadway Masterplan is well underway after Hattiesburg City Council’s Monday and Tuesday meetings, where ordinances to amend the official zoning map and Land Development Code were adopted. These ordinances rezoned and added multiple parcels to the Broadway Corridor Overlay District, a new overlay district for the corridor, more definition to existing language within the plan and some minor use changes.
A public hearing was also held to review an appeal filed by the property owner of 112 East 8th Street. The owner had already made several modifications to the exterior of the home without permits, so the city’s code enforcement department issued a stop work order in Oct. 2024. After communication was established between the property owner and the HHCC, all of the requests for the changes were submitted to the HHCC in March 2025.
The HHCC voted unanimously in their April 9 meeting to deny the requests filed by the property owner, as changes to the opening sizes of door and window openings and siding are specifically cited in the design guidelines as not being recommended.
The property owner nor any representative was present at the hearing, so the appeal was denied. Moving forward, the property owner will be required to create and submit an approvable plan and remove the modifications made.
Other business conducted included:
-Acceptance of the planning commission’s recommendation to approve a conditional use request for a R-1A zoned property at 105 North 19th Avenue to be used as a group home
-Acceptance of the planning commission’s recommendation to approve a conditional use request at a R-3 zoned property to be used as a “place of assembly not otherwise listed” at 500 Hutchinson Avenue
-Acceptance of the planning commission’s recommendation to approve a conditional use request to landscape and renovate the parking lot of Forrest General Hospital located at 2701 Camp Street
-Acceptance of the board of adjustment’s recommendation to approve a variance request from a 4-foot fence to a 6-foot fence and the planning commission’s recommendation to approve a conditional use request for a B-3 zoned property to be used as a contractor’s office at 700 Bouie Street
-Approval of multiple sign variances made by Hattiesburg Clinic to allow for updated illuminated signage at their main campus at 415 South 28th Avenue
-Adoption of a resolution declaring 2901 Inverness Place as surplus and authorization of the sale of said property to Alford’s Estate, LLC
-Adoption of a resolution setting a public hearing on June 16 at 4 p.m. to determine if the property located at 1101 Main Street is in such a state of disrepair or uncleanliness as to be a menace to the health and safety of the community
- Adoption of resolutions adjudicating and directing the placement of cleanup costs and applicable penalties to 523 Louise Street. 525 Louise Street, 815 Country Club Road and 906 Short 7th Street
-Approval of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Jay Bearden, Inc. for the Arcadia Sunset Water Improvement Project to adjust to actual quantities and to reduce the contracted amount by $50,807.25 for a final cost of $597,019.25 and authorization of final acceptance, closeout and payment
-Approval of Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with R & J Construction, Inc. for the Country Club Road Reconstruction Project to allow for a $6,950.08 reduction in cost
-Approval of an agreement between the city and the Downtown Hattiesburg Association to provide $48,000 annually to support the operation of DHA’s partnered events
-A contract for purchase and sale of real property between Forrest County Industrial Park for Commission and MMC Materials, Inc. effective April 8 was tabled indefinitely
-Acknowledgement of request for qualifications received by May 1 for HUD CDBG & HOME programs’ financial consulting services and acceptance of the bid from Compliance One Consulting, LLC for $10,036.80
-Acknowledgement of receipt of letters from the Department of Revenue granting ad valorum tax exemption to Zeon Chemicals for a period not to exceed 10 years and to Excel Injection Molding for a period not to exceed five years and adoption of the final orders allowing the same
-Council also entered executive session regarding existing litigation
