Approval of the permit will also mean the withdrawal of a case pending in the state Court of Appeals challenging a Halifax County Superior Court judge's ruling on an earlier denial by council of the company's original request before the panel, said Frank Jones, a Roanoke Rapids attorney representing MaSuki.

Jones said he expects the matter to be withdrawn within the next 10 days.

Council members, with Councilwoman Carol Cowen absent, gave several reasons afterward for approving the permit on this go-round.

“Once I saw the site I thought it was acceptable,” Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough said.

Presentations on the economic impact is what swayed Councilman Wayne Smith. “I think it was in the way it was given, that it was going to benefit Cross Creek and benefit Roanoke Rapids.”

Councilman Carl Ferebee said it was the change from the original proposal. “He listened to the concerned citizens which was good for all parties,” he said of developer Mark Gregory.

Gregory said afterward some of the preliminary site work has started. He said it was hard to give a concrete starting date for construction, but anticipates within the next four to six months. “We were hoping we would have already had it up. Plenty of residents need it.”

Jones said he was pleased city council approved the project “and followed the law.”

Speaking of Gregory, Jones said, “This man and his family will be an asset to the Roanoke Rapids community.”

During the public hearing on the matter, city planning board member Terry Buffaloe told council, “We painstakingly went over every issue … It met all the codes and ordinances. The law outweighs emotion. We have the opportunity to bring about inclusion, prosperity and progress.”

Donald Vincent, who lives in the Cross Creek community, accused council of breaking the rules of the quasi-judicial setting of the hearing when it met in a joint meeting with the planning board last month. “They broke rules … I don't think you were impartial.”

He criticized planning board Chair Gregory Browning for speaking in favor of the project as well as Mayor Emery Doughtie who talked about MaSuki's $10 million investment.

Jones spoke to concerns registered by Pastor Jimmy King of Good News Baptist Church, who registered concerns about drainage. “You can't divert water on someone's property,” the attorney said. “I feel like they will be good neighbors.”