Montgomery County officials have approved zoning requests that will pave the way for three new hotels, 40 homes, three restaurants and a two-story retail/office building in the Tyler Road area, according to the Roanoke Times.

It will take up to a year for the plans to make it through all the necessary approvals, and after being built in phases it will take five to 10 years to complete.

The new businesses will increase the county's tax base, which will help keep property taxes down, and be of service to visitors at the nearby hospital.

"Montgomery County leaders have approved plans that pave the way for new hotels, restaurants, businesses and homes for the Tyler Road area.

At its Monday night meeting, the board of supervisors approved three rezoning requests that span almost 51 acres for properties previously zoned for agricultural use.

The requests are to rezone the properties, near Interstate 81's Exit 109, to general business with some residential uses.

Steve Semones with Balzer and Associates Inc., which is representing the applicants involved, said via e-mail that 'eight to 12 months would realistically be the earliest a project could get through all the approvals necessary to start construction.'

He added that there are no firm plans for any projects to begin immediately.

Semones said there is transportation and utility infrastructure work that is required for the projects, including working with the state Department of Transportation on specific plans for the road work.

Semones has said it will likely take about five to 10 years to complete the projects. Also, the developments will likely be done in phases."

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