NATCHEZ — A section of city code that has prohibited new bars and nightclubs from opening downtown for the past three years is under review.

City Planner Rico Giani received approval Tuesday from the Natchez Board of Aldermen to review the city development code’s permitted use table, which specifies what sorts of establishments are permitted in various city zones.

All of downtown falls under the B-2 and B-3 historic district categories, which currently do not allow the establishment of new bars or nightclubs.

Resident Jeremy Houston initially approached the mayor and board of aldermen at Tuesday’s meeting requesting that a text amendment be made to the city’s permitted use table, wanting to make bars and nightclubs a special exception use downtown.

Houston stated that the code, as it stands today, is unwelcoming to prospective business owners and entrepreneurs.

“What if Hard Rock Café wants to come into Natchez? They can’t come because of these laws here,” Houston said.

The issue of disallowing bars and nightclubs downtown surfaced earlier this year when Houston applied to open an establishment that he said would be similar to other bars and nightclubs in the area.

But an amendment to the development code in December 2014 prevented bars or nightclubs from opening downtown, in what city officials described simply as an “error.”

Giani said he wants to review the permitted use table and essentially make bars and nightclubs special exception uses, which would allow those applicants to go through a review process for potential approval.

Houston, also the director of Miss-Lou Heritage Group & Tours, said he wants to get in on the ground floor with an establishment once the code is fixed and the final plan for downtown is submitted. He said downtown needs a “fresh start,” especially after recent controversies with an establishment in 2014.

“We do know the history of what happened three years ago with Dimples, and we’re not trying to have that situation happen again,” Houston said.

Patrons of Dimples, a nightclub originally located on Main Street, often spilled into the street and on a number of occasions required police to disperse the crowds.

“Hopefully, with the go-cup situation and all that coming along, we’ll be able to move forward and also move Natchez forward, too,” Houston said.

In addition to bars and nightclubs, Giani displayed a list of other uses that are currently not permitted downtown, including auditoriums, colleges, trade schools, libraries and government offices.

“If we wanted to move City Hall downtown, we couldn’t do it (right now),” Giani said.

Giani also said that he only wants to make these simple revisions for the time being.

“Basically, I just want to have the chance to send it before the planning commission, look at the permitted use table, (and) just get this low-hanging fruit out of the way so we can have a better ordinance when we receive that plan from FOR Natchez, so we can quickly, more expeditiously be a business-friendly downtown,” Giani said.