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Council denies special‑use permit for bed‑and‑breakfast at 979 North Main Street
Summary
After a public hearing and voluminous neighborhood comment, Conyers City Council denied Ordinance 14‑70, a request to allow an owner‑occupied bed‑and‑breakfast at 979 North Main Street, citing precedent and neighborhood‑character concerns. The planning commission had recommended denial 4–0.
The Conyers City Council voted to deny a special‑use permit that would have allowed an owner‑occupied bed‑and‑breakfast at 979 North Main Street.
Staff presented Ordinance 14‑70 and explained that bed‑and‑breakfasts are allowed in the Downtown Edge subarea by special‑use permit but are subject to eight zoning criteria and supplemental standards, including a requirement to provide breakfast and obtain a tourist‑accommodations permit if food service is involved. Staff told council the planning commission unanimously recommended denial (4–0), citing reasonable economic use of the property as currently zoned and concern that approval could set an undesirable precedent by introducing commercial uses into a core residential district.
Kristen Gibbons, the owner and applicant, told the council her operation is owner‑occupied, limited to three guest rooms, uses screening and monitoring, and has been operating for two years with what she said were no complaints. She said she had paid roughly $9,500 in occupancy taxes and argued that each future application would be evaluated independently so approval would not automatically change the entire neighborhood.
During a lengthy public hearing many nearby residents opposed the permit, repeatedly citing precedent, neighborhood character, property‑value concerns and alleged prior noncompliance. Residents said that even if the current owner runs a low‑impact operation, approval could make it easier for future owners to convert properties into commercial uses.
A motion to approve Ordinance 14‑70 failed for lack of a second. Councilmember (speaker 5) then moved to deny the ordinance; a second was given and, by voice vote, the council carried the motion to deny. The council therefore did not amend the zoning code or grant the special‑use permit for 979 North Main Street.
Council members and staff noted that the special‑use permit process requires case‑by‑case review and that any future applications would again be subject to staff review, public hearing and council decision.
