NATCHEZ — Approximately two-dozen Ward 4 residents had to admit defeat Tuesday.

Natchez aldermen unanimously approved the rezoning of 7 acres on the north side of Winchester Road.

The rezoning gives local housing developer Jody Foster —who owns the 7 acres that ends on Winchester Road and the neighboring 7 acres closest to Ashburn Street — the go-ahead to lay the groundwork for some 66 townhomes and patio homes.

Before the board voted to approve the rezoning, which was recommended by the Natchez Planning Commission, the 7-acre lot was zoned for villa residential — a zoning district used for antebellum houses.

Now that the board has approved the rezoning, Interim Natchez City Planner Rico Giani said Foster has permission to begin building the infrastructure needed for his development.

Before the board voted, Ward 4 resident Burnley Cook urged members to consider the development’s adverse effects.

“The residents most affected by this nightmare have lived there for 30 or 40 years,” Cook said. “We have paved paradise in order to put up a parking lot.”

Before Foster began leveling his property and preparing for development, the 14 acres were heavily wooded and boasted nothing but wildlife.

Catherine Ratcliffe, who lives at 131 Winchester Road in the historic Routhland house, said she would like the board to make sure Foster adheres to a promise he made to maintain a 20-foot buffer of vegetation between the development and the Routhland property.

“We are very concerned about the buffer,” Ratcliffe said.

Foster said he would consider Ratcliffe’s input when planting the buffer, which also has to be approved by the city’s site plan review committee.

Cook also requested that Foster consider limiting construction work on Sundays, and monitoring excess dust caused by construction.

“The dust is everywhere,” Cook said. “You can taste the grit in your mouth.”

Currently, Foster said he is sweeping dust off nearby streets several times a day, but there is only so much he could do to control the situation.

“Our trucks usually don’t run on Sundays, but I’m out there doing work,” Foster said. “We’ll try not to make Sunday a full-blown work day, but there is a schedule and an economic impact we have to consider.”

And while Foster now has the OK to begin installing infrastructure needs such as sewer lines and utility easements, residents won’t see actual housing units constructed for another few months.

“Additional site plan review meetings will be held for the actual buildings,” said Giani, adding that Foster has not yet submitted a formal plan for his development.

Foster said he thinks housing construction would begin in November at the earliest.

In other news from the board of aldermen’s meeting:

– Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard questioned, in the board’s finance meeting, why city bank statements weren’t matching up with the board’s monthly finance report, which documents all city incomes and expenditures.

“These monthly reports we’ve been receiving have not been reconciled with bank statements,” Dillard said.

Natchez City Clerk Donnie Holloway said he was in the process of making those statements and reports consistent.

Dillard said keeping clear city booking has been a reoccurring problem.

“This was brought up at the last board meeting, and it will probably be brought up at the next,” he said.

Dillard also said he has issues with the clerk’s office making payments without the board’s approval.

Deputy City Clerk Dianne Holland said those payments were a part of the city’s mini docket, which details bond statements and portions of city payroll.

“He thinks we’re doing something illegal, and we’re not,” Holland said of Dillard’s concerns.

Holland said according to state law, the clerk’s office can pay off bonds and payroll ahead of board approval.

“Sometimes, things are approved in the past for the future,” she said.

– The board unanimously approved landmark designation for 1.78 acres of land at the Forks of the Roads site, which was one of the South’s largest slave markets prior to the Civil War.

The acreage includes a portion of a historic bridge located on the site, which is partially owned by the city.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the other owners — Scott and Edeen Gallbreath and Vidal Davis — plan to donate their portions to the city.

Giani said it is believed that the bridge was built sometime in the late 1880s.

The Forks of the Roads site is currently being considered for addition to the Natchez National Historical Park.

– City code enforcement officer Anita Smith gave the board an update on 37 unkempt, adjudicated city properties

Smith said the liens on the lots total $23,917.

Brown said in the past, the city has had problems with collecting the liens on adjudicated properties, but those issues have since been resolved.

“After meeting with the county attorney, I think we are getting to the point to where our lien collections are perfected,” Brown said.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Carter Smith requested that the board receive a monthly report on all liens collected.

– The board received three bids for the renovation of the downtown railroad depot, located on North Broadway Street.

TL Wallace Construction gave a high bid of $1.8 million, and Paul Jackson & Sons gave a low bid of $1.6 million.

Shrivers Construction Company gave a bid of $1.7 million.

All three bids included a base bid and five add-ons, from which the city can pick and choose.

Community Development Director James Johnston recommended that the board take the bids under advisement, and award one at a later date.

– Johnston recommended the board repay $6,129.79 to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for two projects slated for completion following the 2011 Mississippi River flood. Natchez Water Works Superintendent Tony Moon said the projects were ultimately not necessary as the issues resolved themselves as the water receded.

The board approved the payment 5-1 with Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis voting no.

Arceneaux-Mathis said she needed more verification that the projects weren’t performed.

– In a 4-3 vote, the board approved the city docket. Arceneaux-Mathis, Dillard and Ward 2 Alderman Rickey Gray voted against approving the docket, while Ward 4 Alderman Tony Field, Smith and Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery voted in favor of passing it.

Brown broke the tie by voting yes.

Gray said he voted against approving the docket — which lists all city payments, including city wages — because several city employees are also performing contract work for the city.

“I don’t think that’s legal,” Gray said.

– The board recognized Natchez Coffee Co., located at 509 Franklin St., as business of the month.

“(Owner) Sharon Brown has turned this small coffee shop into a modern-day Southern coffee shop,” Brown said. “They provide great service with a great smile.”

– Assistant Natchez City Clerk Wendy McClain said the city’s audit, which was due June 30, would be ready for submission by Friday.

– The board went into an executive session to discuss the following:

– Personnel issues within the city clerk office

– Three businesses potentially locating to Natchez

– Settling a city contracting dispute

– Discussion of a city lawsuit involving former Natchez Mayor Phillip West, and the constitutionality of the city’s voting districts