I am a resident of the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood. I understand that the owner and developers of 314 Bay St. want to change the zoning of that property from R1A residential to B2 business in order to open a retail establishment or restaurant there. I am against the changing of the zoning from R1A to B2.

The Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood is a residential neighborhood and needs to remain that way in order to protect the character of the neighborhood as being mainly single family homes, a school and churches, and to protect the values of our homes, which many of us have worked extremely hard to renovate and restore. There is no need for a retail establishment or restaurant in the neighborhood, as these same services are provided in the nearby downtown district, and the several retail establishments and a grocery store immediately surrounding the neighborhood.

I support the Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood Association in opposing the rezoning of 314 Bay St. from R1A to B2 zoning and I ask that the City Council deny the rezoning request and allow 314 Bay St. to remain zoned R1A.