BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN—Franklin City Council on Monday voted 6-0 to rezone 63 acres on South Street at the Route 58 Bypass, for the possible development of motels, convenience stores and other retail or light industry.

Mid-Atlantic Communities requested to rezone the property, once targeted for a 149-lot housing development, for a general business district.

Mid-Atlantic has an agreement to sell the property to John Janson of South Hill.

The property, which adjoins the Pretlow Industrial Park, was included in the Enterprise Zone in 2010, which provides developers with state and local incentives to build there.

Council also voted unanimously on changing a sign ordinance that would allow businesses that own three acres within 500 feet of Route 58 to put up a sign no taller than 190 feet, as long as it is a minimum of 200 feet from a residential property line.