Planning for a mixed-use development district on which Blacksburg Town Council is expected to vote tonight started more than a year ago. Now, as council considers several major developments, the debate over a broader ordinance may continue for a while.

Councilman Don Langrehr said Monday he will suggest that council hold off on rezoning 50 acres of Virginia Tech Foundation land on Prices Fork Road to a new mixed-use category when it comes up at tonight's public hearing at 7:30 at the Municipal Building, 300 S. Main St.

Council is expected to vote on three ordinances related to mixed-use zoning: one to create the mixed-use zoning district and two others to change the zoning of the old Red Lion Inn property and the Tech Foundation property to mixed-use.

The proposed district is meant to encourage infill development near residential and other areas where general commercial zoning might not be appropriate, Blacksburg Planning Chief Brandol Harvey said.

Retail, office, commercial and civic uses would be allowed in those areas, as well as apartments and other types of housing. The developments would be required to have walking paths, sidewalks and bus stops. Retail building size would also be capped at 80,000 square feet. Larger buildings, such as a Wal-Mart, would require a special use permit -- adding another governmental hurdle to get approval.

As written, the district would offer more flexibility to developers who want to mix apartments and other types of housing with retail and commercial uses, even on the first floor. Current zoning disallows any housing on the first floor of commercial property.

Langrehr said he will argue that council postpone rezoning the Tech Foundation property because, as its written, the new zoning district could allow a mall or other large retail development on that spot with little guidance from neighbors or council.