Bed & Breakfast Battle In Keller Neighborhood

KELLER (CBSDFW.COM) - In neighborhoods across North Texas, homes that do not sell are often turned into rental properties, much to the outrage of those other neighbors. But there is a battle brewing in Keller – not over a rental home, but over a bed and breakfast.

This is happening in the Southern Hills neighborhood. David Edwards moved there to find some peace. "I wanted to live some place quiet," Edwards said, "a little bit isolated, a little bit remote."

However, Edwards and his neighbors are concerned by what is located across the street from their homes. Through some trees and down a narrow driveway is a residential home that doubles as a business – the Legacy Retreat Center.

Tim and Cyndi Bird live in the home and run, what they call, a bed and breakfast. They offer weekend getaways for small groups of women, as well as scrapbooking and Bible study groups. But they have been operating the retreat without a permit. "This is first our private residence, then a bed and breakfast," Tim said at a meeting with Keller's Planning and Zoning Commission last week.

The Birds said that they did not realize that a permit was required. "Our impression," said Tim, "it's okay until it grows large or offensive to neighbors."

But for neighbors, like Edwards, it has become a problem of safety. "It does increase the traffic in the area, and not something everyone wants to live next to," he explained. "They are subjecting people to the possibility some kind of catastrophic fire… it would be very difficult for a fire truck to even reach them."

Edwards is hoping that the Keller City Council does not grant the Birds the required permit, and they can go back to being just neighbors. The final decision will be made at a meeting next month.