After little discussion, the Natchez Metropolitan Planning Commission voted unanimously Thursday evening to amend part of the city map, rezoning three parcels of land adjacent to South Canal Street as B-2 for general business use.

Based on the planning staff’s recommendation and a &uot;change in conditions,&uot; the commission members decided to grant property owners Noland Biglane and Joe Fortunato’s request to switch the property from two-family residential to general business.

With the zoning in place, Biglane and Fortunato said they have no plans for developing the property at this time.

Both men were present at the meeting, and attorney Bruce Kuenhle addressed the commission members on their behalf.

Kuenhle told the members he had nothing to add to the staff report read aloud by Assistant City Planner Gretchen Kuechler.

&uot;Since the early 1970s, the zoning of the majority of the properties along South Canal Street has been changed to the B-1 or B-2 business district classification,&uot; Kuechler read.

The only opposition came from Clem Young, a member of Union Missionary Baptist Church, which sits adjacent to the rezoned land.

Young said he was concerned the church land would also be rezoned. Commission members reassured him that was not the case.

Located at the intersection of South Canal and Simmons

streets, the 3.16 acres is bordered by Isle of Capri hotel, Natchez Visitor Reception Center, a church and undeveloped land.

Since the 1970s, most of the surrounding land has been rezoned for general business use.

The last amendment came in 1993, Kuechler said.