JACKSON — The Northampton County Board of Commissioners have approved three parcels of land to be rezoned in the Gaston and Henrico areas.

Last week, after a public hearing, the board approved two of the three lots to be rezoned from Agriculture Residential to Highway Business. In the same motion, the board also approved a third lot to be rezoned from Agricultural Residential Watershed 2 to Highway Business Watershed 2.

Lots one and two are located on NC 48 immediately adjacent to the north east boundary line for the town of Gaston. The third parcel is located along River Road at the North Carolina and Virginia state lines. The lot is only accessible in Warren County, Va. and is owned by the same owner of property located just west of the state line along River Road.

“The Warren County Zoning Department has informed me that the property that borders Northampton County at this location is zoned Neighborhood Business,” said Northampton County Planning and Zoning Director William Flynn. “Warren County’s list of uses in a (Neighborhood Business) district is similar to Northampton County’s list of uses in a (Highway Business Watershed 2).”

Flynn noted that by rezoning the third property on the state border it would make it convenient for the property owner by not having the land divided by two dissimilar zoning districts.

According to Flynn, the lots on NC 48 are not large enough to accommodate residential structures, once required setbacks are applied. Also, both parcels already have non-residential structures on them; one is currently being used as a automobile repair shop while the other has an unoccupied block building that was once used as a restaurant or grill.

The commissioners questioned Flynn about a home that was located on one of the parcels on NC 48.

Flynn said the residence could stay there so long as it wasn’t replaced.