There was confusion and anxiety about the planned rezoning of the NewCore district at a required public hearing Tuesday.

The Pinehurst Village Council heard public comment on the plan to establish a new Planned District zoning ordinance, which would be used to rezone the 35 acres in the NewCore district.

The planning department recommended the rezoning as a way to allow varying developments to occur as mixed uses within the tightly controlled old service district.

Covering 19 acres, the NewCore district includes areas in the Magnolia Road area. It is now zoned as a mix of Neighborhood Commercial, R-10 (Single Family Residential), Office Professional, Hotel and Public Private Conservation zoning districts.

Council members will vote on the ordinance -- as well as the new zoning map -- within the next few months.

"It seems like we are vacillating, but I think we're trying to get smarter," said council member Virginia Fallon, also a NewCore steering committee member.

A moratorium forbids new development in the district until mid-February. By then, the council hopes to have the area rezoned to be a "holding" district, which would allow developments to be approved after multiple reviews.

Check Wednesday's Pilot and ThePilot.com for full coverage from the meeting.