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Council pauses decision on controversial Fernwood transitional housing after hours of public comment
Summary
After hours of testimony from neighbors and program supporters, the council tabled a conditional-use request for a transitional living/halfway-house program at 2793 Fernwood to allow legal staff to review whether the proposal fits the city's definitions under the land-development ordinance.
The Biloxi City Council on Jan. 20 voted to table a conditional-use request for a transitional living facility at 2793 Fernwood after an extensive public hearing and legal review.
Proponents, including representatives of Disciplehip 33 and Home of Grace, described a model in which residents complete inpatient treatment before moving into supervised shared housing, participate in work and recovery programming, submit to sobriety monitoring and live under 24/7 oversight. Supporters and law-enforcement officials said on-site supervision, job placement and strict eligibility screening have limited prior problems at similar operations in the region.
Neighbors and other opponents argued the program's services — on-site counseling, life-skills training and housing — match the LDO definition of a "social services agency," a use they said is not permitted in the proposed zoning district. Planning staff and the administration said the proposal had been classified by staff as a "halfway house," which under the LDO references people on release from custodial confinement, and that the language in the ordinance introduced ambiguity over which classification applies.
Several council members said the LDO's use definitions were not perfectly clear for this kind of program and asked legal staff to research how similar communities treat transitional housing, and whether the property would require a different zoning classification.
The council voted to table the matter for one week to allow legal review and return with clarifying recommendations.
Council members stressed the vote did not reflect opposition to the program’s mission but rather a need to ensure the request complies with the land-development ordinance and zoning map.
