SMITHFIELD—Despite resistance from several Pinewood Heights residents, the town council voted to rezone the property located behind the meat-packing plants from attached residential to heavy industrial.

Smithfield Mayor James B. Chapman told those who spoke against the rezoning, however, that he wanted to make it &uot;perfectly clear that no one was being forced out of their homes,&uot; as some residents said was the case.

&uot;You will be given a chance to relocate, but if you want to stay, then it’s up to you.&uot;

The council has been trying for some time to secure other property on which to relocate the Pinewood Heights residents because of the deteriorating conditions of the neighborhood.

Currently, a 2.5-acre site at the corner of James and Washington streets in Smithfield, which is owned by the county, is being considered for 12 of the families.

Funding to relocate the families is already in the works, with $750,000 (cash or property) coming from the county, a $1.4 million Community Block Grant, and $185,000 raised from a 1-cent meals tax imposed by the town. Habitant for Humanity has also agreed to provide up to $750,000 in aid to help build some of the homes.

The rezoning will prevent additional home building, or adding on to existing homes in Pinewood Heights, but does not prevent homeowners there from making repairs to the homes they now occupy, said Bill Hopkins, Director of Planning, Engineering and Public Works for the town.

Hopkins said the new zoning will permit industry to locate in the area, which is already surrounded by industry.

He added that there are some restrictions — the law lists 16 uses that are permitted, 31 that are permitted with conditional use permits and 14 that are prohibited.