NATCHEZ — The Natchez Planning Commission tabled an exemption Thursday for Club Envy to open at 319 Martin Luther King Jr. St., pending an opinion of the congregation of St. John Methodist Church, which is next door.

City Planner Riccardo Giani said he spoke to a member of the church who said she was in objection to the business opening up next door. Giani said the church member was working on getting something in writing from the congregation.

Commissioner Charlie Harris said the church is not currently active, but Giani said the church member told him they were in the process of getting a new pastor.

“I don’t think you want that type of business next to a church,” Commissioner Deborah Martin said. “That’s the way I see it.”

Club Envy would be owned by Vanesia Johnson, pending approval from the commission. Johnson’s sister, Subrina, spoke in her place.

Johnson said the location has previously been a bar. She said Club Envy would be an improvement over previous bars in that location because security would be provided.

Johnson also said the club would only be serving beer.

Giani said the bar would have to have special approval from the funeral homes and churches in the near vicinity to serve liquor, but beer would be OK to serve.

Johnson said she does not have a lease yet for the property, but she said the owner has given approval to lease it — she just doesn’t have it in writing. Johnson said she wanted to make sure the planning commission would OK it before she got locked into a lease.

Though Johnson said it has been almost a year since the church has operated, she is willing to work with them. If the church had service on Wednesday, Johnson said she would show them respect.

Commissioner Stratton Bull said he was concerned about opening on Saturday night.

“It sounds like (this church) is getting its feet back on the ground,” he said. “A bar next to it will have an adverse impact on it.”

Johnson said she has not been able to make contact with the church members, but Giani said he’d help her get in touch with the person to whom he had spoken.

The commission voted unanimously, 8-0 with commissioner Jonathan Smith absent, to table the decision.

In other news, Bull was unanimously approved to serve as the commission’s vice chair. Cheryl Rinehart is the chair.