A public hearing on the Bell family’s request to rezone 558 acres adjacent to Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club will spill into next month after the Southern Pines Planning Board imposed a time limit on its monthly meeting last Thursday.

Chairwoman Joan Strawson proposed a 10 p.m. cap at the start of the 7 p.m. meeting and the Planning Board adhered to it three hours later.

“We’ll keep the public meeting open,” Strawson said. “Next month, we’ll be able to ask our questions first, then we’ll see if there is additional public comment.”

The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 27, when the board is expected to vote on its recommendation to the Southern Pines Town Council. The council will have the final say on the rezoning request after also conducting a public hearing.

The undeveloped land, known as the Knollwood Tract, is located near the intersection of U.S. 1 and N.C. 2. It is the same tract that was the center of a major confrontation five years ago when the proposed Pine Needles Village development was defeated.

See full details in Sunday's edition of The Pilot.