According to a Clarion Ledger story, the Mississippi Supreme Court is going to be asked for a rehearing on the decision that the restaurant in the Fairview Inn is spot zoning. One curiousity: Am I reading correctly that this bed and breakfast was started by Bill Simmons (this was his father’s house for decades)? Simmons was for decades the leader of the Citizens Council. In any event, here’s what the Clarion Ledger has to say:
Peter Sharp, who owns the Belhaven bed and breakfast with his wife, Tamar, said he was informed Friday of the city’s decision.
Peter Sharp said the Fairview’s restaurant, Sophia’s, is an integral part of their business. It would be difficult to serve meals to the guests at the inn without opening the dining room to the public, he said.
“Sustaining a restaurant for 18 rooms is not a viable option,” he said. …
The court’s decision reverses a 2007 decision by then-Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who sided with the city. The suit was brought by Mark and Anita Modak-Truran and Daniel and Katherine Baker, all of whom are lawyers and represented themselves.
Anita Modak-Truran said they never had a problem with the Fairview Inn operating as a small bed and breakfast, but the business continued to grow and expand, threatening the character of the neighborhood.
“The whole reason why there are zoning laws is to protect residential areas, and we live in a quintessential residential area,” she said.
Modak-Truran described the Fairview as “a beautiful place” and said the Sharps should be commended for their involvement in the community. But the restaurant is out of place in the neighborhood, she said.
Modak-Truran said the inn, under initial owners William and Carol Simmons, was pitched to neighborhood residents as a small, quiet bed and breakfast. Then the Simmonses opened the restaurant, getting zoning approval from the city after the fact.
At the Simmonses’ request, the council voted unanimously to create a zoning classification for a bed and breakfast with a restaurant.
Sharp said the restaurant will continue to operate, at least for the 14 days it takes for the court to decide whether it will review its decision. “Obviously, we want to make available to the community dining options at the inn,” he said. “I think the city wants to support (the inn). It’s good for the city as a whole and is not detrimental for the neighborhood.”
Update: Fairfield corrected to Fairview, as per comment.
One of the commentors makes a point and sure enough its true that the CL conveniently left out the fact one of the plantiffs writes for them on a weekly basis. Guess they forgot that part of the story.
Besides writing the movie review column for The Clarion-Ledger, Anita Modak-Truran also does (or did) movie reviews for WAPT-Channel 16.
Yes, that’s the William Simmons who was associated with the Citizens Councils. He passed away in November 2007 at age 91.
Yeah. Wirt Yerger wrote a lovely letter to the CL praising him upon his death.
Hard to see how a restaurant in that big inn is going to ruin the neighborhood right next to a 4 story building at 1800 Medical Center.
i have been fortunate to stay at the fairview inn on several occasions. i cannot imagine a more wonderful representation of southern hospitality. every time i have had the good fortune to eat dinner at sophia’s, i have seen one or more young men who make sure all traffic is handled smoothly and with the utmost efficiency.
after living in chicago for twenty years i thought i could no longer be impressed with a restaurant. i was so wrong. mr. and mrs. sharp have created such a welcoming, embracing environment. jackson is lucky to have the fairview inn welcoming guests to the city.
my wife and i agree that the fairview inn is “the jewel of the south”.
it would seem that no one would be so unwise as to insist on hiding its special glow. i only wish it was across the street from my family.
Just a point of clarification. This is the Fairview Inn in Belhaven, Jackson, not the Fairfield Inn on I-55 north Jackson.
Thanks, PeterS. Correction made.