At its Oct. 30 meeting, the Rankin County Planning Commission introduced a slate of conditional use and rezoning requests and voted to set two public hearing dates to consider the applications.

The commission set items 1–4 for public hearing on Nov. 3 and items 5–8 for public hearing on Dec. 1. Staff presented conditional use applications for short‑term rentals at addresses in Belle Grove and Barnett Bend (applicants included Victoria Geller, Brett Denson and Cesar Billman), a request from Dupreet Singh to construct a convenience store with gasoline pumps on Highway 468 (1.54 acres, C‑2 zoning where pumps are not allowed without conditional use), and a rezoning request from Crown Homes LLC to change 16.2 acres on Highway 469 from A‑1 to R‑N‑1 for a six‑lot residential subdivision called Greenfield Farms (lots minimum 3.25 acres).

Why it matters: Commissioners noted the county’s short‑term rental rules — a 10 percent cap per platted subdivision and a 500‑foot separation measured property‑line to property‑line — and discussed tax and homestead implications for properties used as short‑term rentals. Staff reported that available short‑term rentals in some subdivisions remain low but the issue will be monitored.

For the convenience store on Highway 468, staff said pumps are not permitted in C‑2 and that this conditional use application seeks relief; staff noted access easement arrangements with an adjacent parcel and that another gas station exists within a few miles.

Action and next steps: The commission voted to set public hearings (Nov. 3 and Dec. 1) to allow full public comment and formal action on these items. Staff will provide subdivision counts and proximity measurements and will publish hearings in accordance with county procedures.

Ending: Applicants will appear at the scheduled public hearings; staff will provide additional documentation to the commission ahead of those hearings.