Parking requirements for Vicksburg businesses should extend to convenience stores, the Board of Zoning Appeals voted Tuesday.

Presented with a request to define parking regulations for convenience stores in the Vicksburg Zoning Ordinance by Dalton McCarty, the city’s zoning administrator, members voted to suggest the change at their regular meeting.

The change would set a minimum of five parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of commercial floor space in new convenience stores operating within the city’s corporate limits. It would not apply to existing convenience stores. It would match the requirement applied to most other businesses.

The decision on whether to follow the recommendation would be made by the mayor and aldermen, who have the authority to amend the zoning ordinance.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to uphold a decision by McCarty after an administrative review requested by Alma Cash, owner of a property at 1720 Military Ave. The building, formerly a convenience store, is in a residential district. Because the business was operating prior to establishing zoning in Vicksburg, it was allowed to remain open. Cash said the store was closed last winter, but believed she had a year to find another tenant before the building lost its special exception to operate as a nonconforming property. City code changed in April 2006 and reduced to 60 days the period in which a nonconforming use could be abated before special exceptions lapsed.

Cash, who lives in Louisiana, said she had not been notified of the change. A veteran of many battles with the city over the store, Cash said she had two potential tenants who wanted to rent the building.

“The store is needed down there,” said Cash, who was angered that she was not made aware of the rules.

McCarty said the ordinance, like all changes in city law, was published in a legal notice.

“I don’t think the city should take it upon itself to notify each homeowner, because it was published in the paper,” said board member Fred Katzenmeyer.

Cash indicated she may appeal the board’s decision to the mayor and aldermen.

The board approved also three special exceptions.

Lucy H. DeRossette was granted permission to open a tutoring center at 2213 Cherry St. Called the Knowledge College, it will offer after-school tutoring services and parenting classes.

John and Renee Kendrick of Hope, Help & Healing Inc., were granted an exception to open an expansion of their school in three suites at 1901 N. Frontage Road. Hope, Help & Healing offers computer courses to pregnant teens and children, with a mission of keeping at-risk youth in school. The program has operated four years in Vicksburg.

John Moak of JAM Trailers was granted an exception to store extra inventory at 4100 Pemberton Blvd., adjacent to a BP gas station on land he owns. The board allowed Moak to store up to eight utility trailers at a time there, none more than 16 feet wide. The decision is pending a site review to ensure the area does not overlap state right-of-way.

The board also approved stipulations presented by McCarty on behalf of the city for community events signs that can be put up at any of six locations around the city by nonprofit groups who submit requests.