City Council shelves cottage ban

GULFPORT — At the administration’s request, the Gulfport City Council has agreed to table banning Mississippi cottages in traditional neighborhoods and relegate them to areas where only mobile homes are allowed.

Council President Ricky Dombrowski tells The Sun Herald that he was unaware 32 residents were in the process of buying their cottages from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The process has taken a year or more under a city ordinance that allows cottages in traditional neighborhoods as long as certain conditions are met.

Mayor George Schloegel said his staff would review each of the 32 cases and come back to the council with recommendations. Council members agreed the cottages, brought in as temporary housing after Katrina, improve some neighborhoods and can be considered for permanent placement on a case-by-case basis.