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Council rejects conditional-use request for short-term rental at Porter Avenue property
Summary
After public comment and a 12–0 planning commission recommendation, the Biloxi City Council voted 2–4 to deny a conditional-use permit that would have allowed short-term rentals at 281 A&B Porter Avenue.
The Biloxi City Council denied a request for conditional-use approval that would have authorized a short-term rental at 281 A&B Porter Avenue, voting 2–4 after public comment and council discussion about neighborhood compatibility.
Applicant Chris Hua spoke during the public comment period to request conditional use for the duplex, saying the owners have rented longer terms but seek to accommodate short stays, including Keesler Air Force Base visitors. “We do want to follow any regulations and pay any taxes we need to to satisfy the short term conditional use requirement,” Hua told the council.
Planning staff told the council the property is zoned RM-30 and that the Planning Commission recommended approval 12–0. City planner staff noted the parcel immediately north already holds an approved short-term rental and that the block otherwise is mostly single-family zoning.
Councilwoman Newman moved approval, and Councilman Guynes seconded. Several council members voiced opposition, saying the parcel is not compatible with the surrounding single-family neighborhood and that approving this request could encourage additional similar requests in that area. Councilman (last name not specified) said the council must look at compatibility and the limited number of RM‑20/RM‑30 conditional-use short-term rental slots remaining citywide.
City staff provided citywide permit counts during the discussion: 389 short-term rental approvals exist, 369 have active permits, and 351 have business licenses. Staff said that of the 75 slots the council authorized for RM‑20/RM‑30 conditional uses, 60 are already filled; approval of the pending items would have used two more slots and left 13 remaining.
The motion to approve failed 2–4. The record shows the motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Newman and seconded by Councilman Guynes. The council did not list individual roll-call votes on the record; the clerk recorded the final tally as a two‑yes, four‑no vote.
The applicant and supporters had argued the site is near restaurants, a supermarket and the Keesler Air Force Base entrance and that the duplex had been remodeled. Opponents cited consistency with single‑family zoning north of Division Street and the council’s prior denial of a similar request about a year earlier.
No new zoning change was approved; the property remains RM‑30 and may continue to be used for long‑term rental under current zoning.
