NATCHEZ &045; Natchez aldermen stunned a packed house at city council chambers Monday by amending two ordinances to increase the height limit on buildings downtown and to change the appeals process for Preservation Commission decisions.

At a meeting that had been called to discuss a compromise between the preservation commission and the developers of a proposed bluff-top condo development, aldermen unanimously approved a 75-foot height limit on buildings downtown &045; up from 38 feet, or three stories.

Aldermen also amended the preservation ordinance so that appeals of commission decisions go to the board of aldermen, not to circuit court.

The two votes were met with disapproval from the crowd, including boos and calls for a recall, and one man was later escorted from the building by police after he made statements out of order.

Aldermen said the change in height was necessary to accommodate new development, such as a convention center hotel.

&uot;The real issue here is not the design but the height,&uot; West said, reading from a statement he used to open the meeting. &uot;For the past several years, the mayor and board of aldermen have been actively pursuing the development of a convention center hotel to be built on city-owned property located across from the convention center. In order to accomplish this, we have concluded there is a need of a 70-foot to 75-foot height allowance to make a hotel feasible for the minimum number of rooms we want. I personally feel there should be nothing less for this proposed condominium development.&uot;

West then polled preservation commission members for their thoughts on a height limit, and several expressed frustration at being put on the spot about the issue.

&uot;I feel like this board is under attack because we looked at the guidelines and we followed them,&uot; commission member Lisa Johnson said. &uot;If anyone opposes development based on the guidelines, are you going to change the guidelines to fit what you want?&uot;

Commission member Sara Garcia stressed that the commission is not against to condo development itself.

&uot;It’s difficult to be called on the carpet as being opposed to development,&uot; said Garcia, noting she wouldn’t mind selling her house and buying one of the condos. &uot;We are asked to review the design based on the guidelines you’ve given us.&uot;

West said the board of aldermen has the &uot;autonomous power&uot; to change the ordinance because it is elected.

Alderman Jake Middleton said the board had voted to change the height restrictions, not to approve the design of the condo complex.

&uot;We felt like in order for future development, we had to have some more height,&uot; he said. &uot;I don’t think we’ll ever get a convention hotel with three floors.&uot;

Alderman David Massey said the city has already lost a hotel development because of the height restrictions, and another is considering pulling out because of the controversy over the condos.

&uot;We’re not condemning the commission for what they’ve done,&uot; Massey said. &uot;We’re going to try to work together.&uot;

Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West said the board must look at the total package with any development &045; not just the design but the economic impact, whereas the preservation commission is only charged with looking at the design.

West said aldermen met informally before the public meeting to discuss the issue.