If there had to be a decision made on the rezoning of the former Carolina Crossroads concert site Tuesday night then the one made to continue the hearing on the matter made more sense than just flat out rejecting the proposal as was the original direction four members of city council were headed.

When it comes back up in the February 2 meeting council has no choice but to approve the matter lest they be labeled a government body which seemingly wants to see its own city swim in a stew of status quo.

From our seat at the Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall council has made two horrible decisions over the past year — one rejecting changes to the city ordinance which would allow the sale of miniature pigs and the other rejecting the Villages at Cross Creek apartment complex proposal.

With the Carolina Crossroads rezoning continuation, council now has a chance to set the city on a course for development and encourage growth.

We understand the council's thought on the matter — not having a firm grasp on what may be built on the 80-some acres once home to Rapids Jams and other concerts in the heyday of the music and entertainment district vision sought to revive the city from its textile past.

We also understand, however, the marketing of the land is in the capable of a real estate broker who not only lives here, but wants to see the city overcome the loss of the textile jobs and would not bring anything harmful to the land off Wallace Fork Road.

We wholeheartedly believe Ellen Heaton, with the backing of Cathy Scott of the Halifax County Economic Development Commission, will exercise due diligence in luring businesses and industries of quality to the site, which has all the amenities needed for enticement to the land.

In her comments to city council Tuesday night, Heaton explained how the dreams of 2005 were blown away by the strong winds of a nearly crippling national recession.

Her comments should allay fears of traffic concerns with the proposal — that they can be dealt with.

Heaton went on record to council a proposal for a solar farm on the land has been nixed and there shouldn't be any concerns with the rezoning of the land and the potential sale of the theater.

Now, it's up to the city council — it can either take a stand and say it will pave the way for economic development, boost the city's tax base and do something to create jobs or it can make itself a stumbling block to all these things.

“In order to make a positive change and move forward, we must be open to new possibilities,” Heaton told council. “There will be no concerts at the outdoor amphitheater at Carolina Crossroads, there will no Bass Pro Shop, no aquarium, and no water park. But we do have the opportunity to team with the Halifax County Economic Development Commission to market this property to enhance our community.”

That's the key there — being open to new possibilities. The land at the former Carolina Crossroads site will be more open and attractive to marketing if the rezoning is in place. If the rezoning is not in place, there will be delays, companies may shy away and Roanoke Rapids could gain a reputation as a place not to do business.

In being pro-business, council has the option to set certain stipulations, has a comprehensive land use plan at its disposal to provide orderly growth and the opportunity to bring jobs back to the community rather than seeing jobs go elsewhere.

Council's meeting Tuesday night was a confusing one because we believe our city and our area have much to offer. We can't keep shutting doors to what we have to offer lest we begin swimming in a stew of status quo.

The same ingenuity and foresight which built this city has to be applied today and we believe if anything was gained Tuesday night from the way the rezoning turned out it was the chance to take a Mulligan, revisit it and approve the rezoning which could lead to better opportunities for our city — Editor