High Hill city officials approved a variance during a March 9 Board of Aldermen meeting that would allow a bed and breakfast property on Spruce Street to operate.

A public hearing was held before board members voted to allow Stephanie Devlin to run her short-term lodging business. No one spoke at the hearing. The property was approved by the Planning and Zoning Board on Feb. 10.

Matt Schoo, a former Montgomery County sheriff and Planning and Zoning volunteer, presented the request for variance at the High Hill Board of Aldermen meeting. The variance will be in effect as long as Devlin resides at the same location and the property is owned by her.

Schoo said once Devlin secures her inspection and city license, she will be able to operate her business, which includes one bedroom with up to three occupants. There is no timetable on when it’s going to open.

“The reasons it was approved are No. 1, she (Devlin) is going to be an on-site landlord,” Schoo said. “No. 2, the house is big enough and it’s divided off. It has a separate entrance and exit for that building. She had off-street parking available, which is one of the main concerns with it being in an R-I district. She’s also close to the park, so there is room for at least two vehicles to park in the driveway that she has provided, which is separate from the house.”

Schoo said Devlin had to request a variance because the property was in a R-1 district, which is a residential district. The business is located next to High Hill Park.

“R-1 is usually the most restrictive,” Schoo said. “It’s generally designed residential. But because of her location, she’s close to the park and she’s got off-street parking. She’s going to be a live-in landlord unlike a lot of bed and breakfasts in which they just rent their house out and they’re not on station.”