Alderwoman Cheryl Bourne
Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough
By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher
Whether to allow a business to operate in a historic residential area was a source of disagreement at the Columbia Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night.
A local certified public accountant, Scotty McDaniel, who is also the city’s accountant, was seeking a variance to operate his office in a residential zoned historical district at 723 Broad St. The Board ultimately granted the variance with certain conditions on a 3-2 vote, with Alderwoman Cheryl Bourne and Alderman Wendell Hammond voting against.
Columbia's Broad Street has residential and business property.
Bourne said she thinks putting businesses on Broad Street could harm the historic residential character of the area. Bourne said if she granted a variance for McDaniel, she would have to do the same for others, and eventually there could be many more businesses on the street.
Bourne noted that the area is zoned R-100, which is for single family residences, not business, and she added that there are probably some residents who live along Broad Street who want the street to remain residential. People who have homes on Broad Street take pride in the fact that it is a historic residential area, she added.
Hammond said he also voted against the variance because the area is zoned for single-family residences, not business. Moreover, Hammond said Broad Street is in Bourne’s ward and he voted with her out of “respect” for her opinion.
The Columbia Board of Aldermen approved a variance to allow an accountant's office to operate out of this residence at the corner of Park Avenue and Broad Street.
Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough voted in favor of the variance, saying he thinks the CPA office will look professional and he noted that McDaniel had received consent from several Broad Street residents to open the office.
Hough added that there are other businesses along Broad Street, and some of them resemble houses. As long as there is not a neon sign and parking lot in the front yard, Hough said he does not think an accountant’s office woud detract from the character of Broad Street.
Hough said he can understand Alderwoman Bourne taking issue with a business being in a residential area especially since she lives on Broad Street.
Aldermen Todd Pittman and Rene Galloway also voted in favor of the variance with conditions that there not be a flashing sign, and if McDaniel ceases operating the business, the property will go back to being zoned residential.
There are already businesses on Broad. An accountant’s office will leave the home looking like a home-not a business. Regardless, why should these two aldermen fret over having to change the rules so that others may follow suit with businesses? There was not so much as a whimper from the aldermen about changing the police’s residential rules. Seems that added businesses would help Columbia, whereas hiring from out of town would be harmful to the economy of the city.
I’m confused…..why would ANY of the alderman object to opening a business on Broad Street when it has ALWAYS been a mix of residential and businesses as well. There is almost as many businesses in operation at the present time as there are residential properties on Broad Street and the fact that they would oppose allowing another businessman to open/operate his business is totally confusing to me……If you are going to stop one then you have to make all the others shut their business down…..and I don’t think that’s going to happen…
Such a load of bull. If the area is zoned residential then it should remain so. I think that our city officials make up the rules as they go along. If someone needs space for a business why can’t they move into some of the empty space down town
by referring to “downtown”, do you mean Main Street? I don’t think there are very many shops that I would coduct business with down there. If I plan on going to a shop during their posted business hours, I would expect them to be open then. I should not have to wait around for 30 minutes or more for them to open, just to find out later that the “owner” has an appointment elsewhere and will eventually open at their own convenience.
I couldn’t agree more.
What is the purpose of having zoning laws in the first place, if they’re going to be rewritten and redrawn every time someone wants to open up a business in a residential area? Such actions render the zoning laws pointless.
The zoning laws are there for a reason. There are PLENTY of places in Columbia in commercial zones where one could have a business. Why encroach on residential areas?
when its you living by the business around your residence it is a terrible thing and almost as tho no privacy, then they will start tellin the neighbors how to do their yard and this and that
maybe because that business already owns the property for which they are seeking a variance
Well, that’s just great.
Sounds like you can have lawn mowers and junk piled up outside, but as long as you don’t have that flashing sign out front, you’re okay. What a crock!!!
That’s right across the street from Trustmark Bank and across the corner from the library; the worse think I can think of is creating a traffic concentration. If I lived next door I may have a problem with it but otherwise I’m at a loss to explain the confusion!
living by one is definitly a problem, and no one could understand this until you are the neighbor. it is even worse when you were in what you thought was quite country living then here we go with noise, traffic, them knockin on your door EARLY in the morning because your dog is on their side of the road. it is AWFUL
I say let a residential area be just what it is and if a business person want to open up go down main street and fill in the gaps.
blah, blah, blah…..way too bad they don’t have any real issues to discuss!
I would have to say I would agree, theres plenty of places down down or out on 98 thats available.
Here were go BIG government has come to Mayberry . Telling someone what they can and can’t do with their property is socialistic. Broad St is lined with business in the historic district . Why stop new business from moving in ? Unless you own almost a entire city block and the business wants to locate close to you and don’t want new neighbors. The city approved a new apartment complex in the historical district with out any fuss more RENTERS than owners in any neighborhood will hurt property values. Nobody asked me if I approved of the project.Imagine owning property in the historic district and have LOW income housing close by and the problems that come with it.If I had a choice between the two I take a new business any-day.
AMEN
There are already businesses on Broad. An accountant’s office will leave the home looking like a home-not a business.Regardless, why should these 2 aldermen fret over changing the rules and others following suit with businesses?Seems there was not so much as a whimper from the aldermen about changing the policy about policemen being residents here.I would think that added businesses would help Columbia, whereas hiring from out of town would be harmful toward the city’s economy.
Zoning ordinances have never been fully enforced here…there is no pristine residential area in Columbia. Even bigger problem…look at the rental property strewn down Church St.! Blighted!
Interesting. Across the street is a bank, just down the street is a multi-family dwelling, past that an office building and on the opposite corner, a library. There is no logic to the zoning. Much of our zoning and other “laws” (such as speed limits) should be reviewed by someone who has some common sense.
I agree with all the comments that note the other businesses already in residential areas. That is what I hate about this administration, they are inconsistent in their thought process and decision making. ie- let’s make a big deal out of the ‘laws’ we want to uphold…and change the others as we go along. It is okay to change the rule about city employees actually being residents….but okay to grunt over a zoning law:X go figure.
I wonder if they will consider relaxing the residential requirements for candidates for Alderman!
Then we can bring in some qualified Alderman from Hattiesburg or somewhere else.
Good one. I second that thought.Whilewe are at it, lets include an out of town mayor.
This is a positive for the City not a negative. Jobs, tax revenues, etc. theres a Bank across from it and a library diagonally across from it. what is it going to hurt?
how can they deny an accountant putting his office there when there’s a bank directly across the street and just down the street an restaurant, gift shop, dentist offices and much more. oh and let’s don’t forget the library is right across the street also…..
READING ABOUT NOT WANTING A CPA OFFICE ON BROAD ST.JUST MAKES ME WONDER WHY? ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING,FROM EAGLE DAY TO THE COURTHOUSE I COUNTED NO LESS THAN 24 BUSINESS. WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH ONE MORE. I CAN SEE IF THEY HAVE A BIG FLASHING SIGN LIKE KFC OR SOMEBODY BUT A SMALL CPA SIGN, COME ON. ITS NO WONDER EVERYONE IS WANTING TO MOVE OUT FROM DOWNTOWN.ONE WEEK THE ALDERMAN AND WOMEN WILL BE WANTING TO BRING A BUSINESS IN AND THE NEXT WEEK, NO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KEEP IT HISTORIC. AND AS FAR AS MR. HAMMOND SAYING IT WAS IN ALDERWOMAN BOURNE’S WARD AND HE JUST VOTED OUT OF ” RESPECT ” FOR HER! MY GOSH,GET A LIFE,EITHER YOU DO OR DONT WANT IT. STAND UP.IF YOU DONT WANT IT, VOTE AGAINST IT,IF YOU DO,VOTE FOR IT.THAT SEEMS PRETTY SIMPLE DOSENT IT? THANKS JOSH FOR THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING AND KEEP IT UP.
i think it is awful having a business put up in front or around your HOME. It brings more traffic and more problems and you just dnt feel secure. I had a dog grooming/ kennel put up in front of my home outside of the city limits and have had nothing but problems and issues with my animals that are not under a leash law and shouldn’t be just b/c of HER business. Business should stay in a business district. Not around homes and interupt lives that have established that area already.
i have a business in front of my home at my out of city limits residence and i HATE it, she has caused issues with my animals, my family and just our quite living altogether. And the start of it was the husband of hers building the stupid place so close to the road and our house and workin all hours of the night not even takin into consideration there were people sleeping, kids, new borns and through a pregnancy. Business should stay in their own district or we should be able to put our house and thrash it up in their district also.. they wouldnt like that very much would they!?
When driving down Broad, seriously, how many places of business do you see?
Times change, places change and have to grow. Its an accountant’s office. I mean, seriously, what is the REAL issue?? Did all the other businesses that opened their doors around there have to go through this?? Kinda ridiculous in my opinion.
Why not focus this pathetic energy on something worthwhile in Columbia! I mean really people, this is almost silly! Columbia needs all the professional help it can get!! It could be worse, it could have been bought by people who didn’t give a rip about keeping a place up and could have been a complete eye sore for “the historictal district”. Count your blessings that at least you know the property will well taken care of!!!
WOW! What selfish, greedy, and jealous people have come to. Im wondering did it bother Alderman Cheryl Bourne when she built her big house on Broad st. across from a run down apartment complex. Didn’t she think that would bring down her property value. But trying to deny rights to the cities accountant so he can better pursue his job in our town is down right disgusting. Its not a dog kennel, nor is extremely close to any other residence. And is far as traffic seems like Trustmark bank has enough traffic to take care of the entire street. Not to mention the other 27 businesses that are located on Alderman Bournes street. And your right it could have been bought by someone who doesnt care about Columbia and would just run the place down. And as far as Mr. Hammond what are you even doing being an alderman if you base your decisions on the respect of someone else. Was that a joke or was that a true statement? Did alderman Bourne have a problem when the Brandon House restaurant was deveolped or the countless other houses that have been converted into real estate agencies, insurance companies and so fourth on Broad ST. The whole thing makes absolutely no sense. What we should be worried about is outside police officers and police chief running this town. Keeping our citizens safe and stopping the countless breakins in this town should be the main focus not a respectable accountants office.
Southern Jewelry , Coment On Broad Street Businesses
I thought we wanted businesses, Don’t be deceived by Broad Street.
Busineses have been on Broad
Street for over 40 years. All the businesses on Broad are neat and clean and produce millions in revenue. I counted 21 businesses and 16 residence from the corner of High School Ave. to the corner of Park with no vacancies.
In comparison, I counted 21 open businesses with 11 vacancies on Main Street from the court house to the post office, emphasizing that businesses on Broad Street are a very vital part of business in Columbia.
Get Real—The businesses on Broad Street is why the street looks as good as it does. Take a look at other streets downtown that have no businesses on them.
Wouldn’t it be great if the city fixed the flower beds in front of businesses. What were the city trucks and employees doing in the flower beds, about a year ago, in front of Cheryl Bournes house?
My GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!, it amazes me that coulmbia is ruled and run by rich people. they already have the power regarding wealth, why on earth should they ever be allowed a voice concerning the people, when in fact, the very people they could care less about. If you don’t look like, act like and pretend to be like them your treated with a certain amount of tolerance. All of Broad St should be commercial/residential property and with that said, let the man operate an honest business.