NATCHEZ &045; Natchez preservation commissioners will reconvene Monday to consider the design of the most significant development proposed for downtown since the convention center &045; and one that is much larger.

And as they consider the design of a six-story, two-building condominium complex on the bluff, commission members are charged with weighing how that construction fits with its surroundings.

Developers Ed Worley and Larry Brown Jr. have optioned the old Pecan Factory property from the city for $50,000, with a plan to buy the land for $500,000 to build 85 high-end condos.

According to the city’s preservation ordinance, several aspects of the new construction must be &uot;visually comparable with the buildings and environment with which the new construction is visually related.&uot;

Height and volume &045; two of the aspects of the design which drew the most concern from residents at a Wednesday preservation commission meeting &045; are the first mentioned in the

While most buildings downtown must conform to a 35-foot height limit, City Attorney Walter Brown said there is some debate whether that applies in this case.

(Two exceptions are the Callon building and the Eola Hotel, built before the height limit was established.)

&uot;We have adopted a number of ordinances that sit on top of each other,&uot; Brown said.

&uot;We have a general 35-foot height restriction in the city. But the waterfront district is the subject of some debate. It’s thought that it’s not applicable.&uot;

Other aspects the preservation ordinance directs the commission to consider include:

4Proportion between width and height of the faSade

4Proportions and relationship between doors and windows

4The rhythm of solids to voids created by openings in the faSade

4Materials, textures, colors, patterns, trims and design of the roof.

Some of those details &045; most significantly height and mass &045; are those that city residents complained about at the preservation commission’s meeting last Wednesday.

The commission tabled the plan to continue discussion Monday.

City Planner Andrew Smith said he has recommended approval of the site, contingent on &uot;fine-tuning&uot; some details the commission may want to review.

Brown agreed that some compromise could be made.

&uot;Part of (the commission’s) job is to facilitate something satisfactory to both parties,&uot; he said.

&uot;For us to make this work from a financial standpoint, we have to have a certain number of units.&uot;

Even if the preservation commission approves the design, the developers must still take their site plan to the planning commission, Smith said.

If the preservation commission denies the plan, developers can appeal to the Adams County Circuit Court.

Brown said decisions of other city boards are often referred to the Board of Aldermen, but the preservation ordinance instead refers appeals directly to the circuit court.

Smith said the preservation commission is &uot;moving forward cautiously.&uot;

&uot;They will make a decision that’s in the best interest of the city,&uot; he said.

Preservation Commission Chairwoman Marty Seibert said she and other members would be carefully reviewing the ordinance this weekend.

&uot;We do take our positions seriously,&uot; she said.

The preservation commission meets at 5:15 p.m. Monday at the city council chambers on Pearl Street.