Plan for Hurricane Recovery Housing Rejected

Residents of Gautier are vehemently opposing a plan which would allow for the creation of a neighborhood composed of hurricane recovery housing. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports.

Cottage Square, made up of the brightly colored MEMA cottages, sits behind a repair shop at the end of a gravel driveway in Ocean Springs,

“We’ve modified the front porches, and we have added picket fencing and landscaping to really show these units well.”

Donovan Scruggs is the planner of Cottage Square. Last week a request to allow 85 of the MEMA cottage units set up in the manner of Cottage Square in a subdivision in North Gautier was rejected by the city’s planning commission. But Scruggs says the plan provides a good solution to the affordable housing crisis plaguing the Coast,

“If you look at the construction of these cottages they are far superior to manufactured housing. First of all they feel like a home, they look like a home. Also they are built to withstand wind loads of 150 mph.”

Gautier Councilman at large Jeff Wilkinson says there is no doubt that the plan would be an upgrade to the area. But he says there is real concern from the 350 Gautier residents who signed a petition opposing the plan, that the units would be rental properties,

“And I’ve looked at their plans and the cottages look nice and neat, but our concern has to be what is that going to be like in ten years. And I believe if you look historically that owner occupied structures tend to be better maintained and kept up better than rental units.”

Scruggs and the owners of the property will have the opportunity to appeal the planning commission’s decision in front of city council.