JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Jacksonville City Council has approved a plan to annex land along a busy highway to bring more business to the city.
During last night’s meeting, city council members voted to annex 8.5 acres of land sitting off Richlands Highway across from Yopp Road.
The plot of land is empty, but city officials say they plan to use it for commercial development.
WITN spoke with Assistant City Manager Anthony Prinz, who mentioned drive-thru chain restaurants, a bank, and retail stores as possible businesses that could be built in the space.
Developers are also petitioning to bring four connected properties into city limits.
For the rest of Richlands Highway, the city is hoping redevelopment will continue, especially after a North Carolina Department of Transportation project at the corridor of highways 258, 53 and 24.
Prinz said the project would also upgrade the Richlands Highway and Yopp Road intersection into a full four-way traffic signal.
As for adding residential spaces, Prinz said that is something that could happen in the long term.
Copyright 2026 WITN. All rights reserved.