A proposed RV park on Foshee Road is one step closer to reality.

The Brewton City Council Monday held the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone a 3.62-acre parcel from R-A (rural agriculture) to B3. It was the second time the council met on the matter after the city planning commission approved the space for workers with the Georgia Pacific renovation project.

Hundreds of contract workers will spend 18 months in Brewton working on an estimated $375 million renovation project at the local GP mill.

At first presentation, property owner Jerry Kelly of Brewton asked to rezone the section to B5, which would allow for the installation of mobile homes; however, after the public claimed the designation would cause their property values to decline, the commission agreed to allow for a B3 designation which only allows for recreational vehicles.

The park, called Twin Acres RV Park, will feature 48 units, a laundry facility, a bathhouse, a pavilion with grills, and an ice machine. The property would include landscaping and a 24-hour attendant, as well.

While neighboring property owners weren’t fully pleased with the compromise, Kelly said at that meeting, he would do whatever it took to make the project a go, which includes installing an eight-foot privacy fence and extra landscaping.

“When we began this project, we were told it was in the county jurisdiction,” Kelly said. “As soon as we found out that wasn’t right, we’ve done everything we could to make sure it was on the up-and-up.”

During Monday’s vote, Councilman Frank Cotten voted “no,” while Mayor Yank Lovelace had previously recused himself as he and Kelly serve together on the Bank of Brewton’s board of directors. Councilman Bill Littles was not present at the night’s meeting.

A final vote will be held at the Oct. 13 meeting.

In other business, the council:

• announced a public hearing to allow for city appropriations for start-up businesses, which will be held at the October meeting as well;

• approved an ordinance to extend the right-of-way lease with South Alabama Gas District for an additional 14 years;

• approved an ordinance to waive city license fees for carnivals, street fairs and like events whose principal purpose is to raise funds to financially support academics, athletics and bona fide extracurricular activities in the Brewton City School System;

• changed the date of the Nov. 24 meeting to Nov. 17 in light of the Thanksgiving holiday.