West Point City Council will vote next week on rezoning 139 acres at Webb and Gabbettville roads after planning board members recommended the change Monday night.

The city annexed the 139 acres, now owned by West Point Business Park LLC, in February 2008, but kept it zoned for agricultural use after several area residents and even county planners objected to the proposed industrial-use zoning.

On Monday night, developers were asking for mixed-use zoning and some residents’ opinions on the plan appeared to have done an about-face.

Bill Gilmore, who along with other residents living near the Kia Motors site has been vocal against some of the city’s actions, gave the planning board his endorsement.

“I see this board being deliberative and thoughtful,” Gilmore said.

He also praised the developer, saying he’d looked at other projects the group had done in the area.

The mixed-use zoning will allow for a development more compatible with the existing neighborhood, city planner Sammy Osborne said. Developers can mix residential, commercial and limited light industrial uses.

“It doesn’t allow a lot of uses like a typical light industrial site,” he said. “You really don’t know what’s going on (in the light industrial buildings) unless you go in.”

The property must also adhere to the city’s new quality overlay district, requiring stricter building guidelines on major city corridors.

A representative for the developer told the city and residents there are no current plans for the property.

“It needs to get the zoning before we can determine what will be done,” Johnathan Coe said. “Our goal is to bring jobs to the city and county and hopefully grow the tax base here.”

Developers had tried at least twice previously to get the property at Webb and Gabbettville roads annexed into the city. As a result of the protests, the industrial-use request eventually was withdrawn, and the city and developers agreed to keep the property zoned agricultural for one year. That year expired March 11, and Osborne said the rezoning application came back to the city shortly after that.

“This (mixed-use zoning) gives them a better opportunity for a well-planned development,” Osborne said.

Council will hold another public hearing on the rezoning before its vote April 13.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.