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Planning commission approves Gulfport Elks Lodge private-club use with parking and lot conditions
Summary
The Gulfport Planning Commission approved a private-club use for the Gulfport Elks Lodge on Highway 49, attaching conditions requiring parking compliance, any necessary variances, a recorded parking agreement for an alley-separated lot and a lot combination before final site plan approval.
The Gulfport Planning Commission on Thursday approved an application to allow the Gulfport Elks Lodge to operate a private-club use on four tax parcels along Highway 49, subject to conditions addressing parking and lot configuration.
Jordan Matthews, agent for the applicant, told commissioners the Elks have a contract to buy the properties and had submitted a preliminary site plan to confirm the concept: "The Elks Lodge has the property at issue under contract to purchase, which is pending approval for the right to use it as a private club," he said, adding that formal engineering and architectural plans will follow if the commission approves.
Craig Huck, identified as president of the Gulfport Oaks Lodge, described the lodge’s long local history and volunteer work, telling the commission the organization has delivered "over 4 and a half million dollars in community support" across its history and receives modest annual grants from the Elks National Foundation to fund local programs.
Commissioners and staff focused on technical site issues, notably accessibility and parking. A commissioner noted staff recommended van-accessible aisles and a variance for circulation to and from 21st Street; City staff and the applicant agreed those requirements could be handled as conditions. Malcolm Jones of city staff emphasized the need for a recorded parking agreement for the lot separated by the alleyway and recommended a lot combination be required.
A motion to approve the application—with the parking conditions, the required variance and the recorded parking agreement and lot combination noted as conditions—was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The approval allows the applicant to proceed to the formal site-plan stage, where architects and engineers will produce the detailed plans subject to the commission’s conditions.
The decision was procedural and conditional; the commission did not vote on a final site plan or on any specific building permits. The applicant and staff were instructed to return with required documents and the applicant was reminded that variances and recorded agreements must be in place before final sign-off.
