MURFREESBORO — The Murfreesboro Town Council is looking to rezone a portion of land near the Meherrin River.

On Tuesday, council members voted to direct the Planning Board to send a rezoning recommendation back to them within 30 days.

The portion of land the council discussed is located along the Meherrin between Hart and North Fourth streets. Riverside and Georgia Pacific once utilized the area for mills.

Councilman Billy Theodorakis suggested to his colleagues that the area should be rezoned.

“Over the years it’s sat there, and it’s on the river, and different things have come up,” he said. “I think it needs to be looked at as far as being rezoned.”

Theodorakis noted the area ties with the Murfreesboro Historical Association’s property, which is a portion of the former GP mill property. There’s an overlook as well that DENR (Department of Environmental and Natural Resources) constructed a few years back.

“There was one acre that I think belonged to GP that was contaminated and I think it’s been cleaned and certified,” he said. “I think for future development it doesn’t need to be light industrial.”

Theodorakis added the council had discussed the possibility of rezoning the area in the past, but nothing had come from it.

After further discussion, Theodorakis suggested the council send the issue to the Planning Board for a recommendation.

Councilman Lloyd Hill motioned to send the matter to the Planning Board and for a recommendation to come back to the Town Council within 30 days. Councilwoman Gloria Odum offered a second and the motion passed without objection.