City of Ocean Springs to Wait on Changing B&B Ordinance

After a long debate last night, it’s been the talk of the town in Ocean Springs: should a bed and breakfast be allowed in the East Beach community?
While the City of Ocean Springs has tabled the discussion to officially change the city’s bed and breakfast ordinance for now, residents who live in the East Beach community say implementing businesses like B&Bs disrupt the peace in restricted zones within Ocean Springs.
Attorney Jim Reeves is representing a group of residents who are trying to keep bed and breakfast spots off East Beach. “People rely on the fact that this is going to be a quiet neighborhood without commercial enterprises in it when you purchase the property. So, by allowing someone to come into the neighborhood, change basically the essence of the neighborhood by having a commercial venture, be it a bed and breakfast or anything else, is unfair and we think is a violation of our due process,” said Reeves.
Some of the Ocean Springs aldermen tell News 25 they think bed and breakfast spots are more homey for visitors to enjoy and they don’t think they’re a problem within the community. The city is waiting on more input from residents until a decision is made to update the ordinance.