Two Vicksburg businesses were granted an exception by the Zoning Board of Appeals to move despite a comment by one board member that a surrounding neighborhood could be harmed.

David McDonald, a member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors who owns the buildings where Arc-Up Welding, 710 Lucy Bryson St., and Automatic Transmission Service, 4117 Washington St., operate back-to-back, got approval in a 4-2 vote for the businesses to move to 885 N. Frontage Road, a spot west of River Region Medical Center West Campus and east of Confederate Avenue.

McDonald, who previously operated the transmission shop, said this morning the two properties are being sold to Ameristar Casino and Hotel. Ameristar general manager Ray Neilsen was not available to comment this morning on plans for the property, less than a block from the casino, its hotel, parking areas and offices.

In zoning board discussions, member Jack Burrell asked if the business would be appropriate for the North Frontage Road location.

&#8220Your current property is commercial all around it or basically commercial all around,” said Burrell, who voted against the move. &#8220Here you’re moving commercial businesses in between a hospital and a rehab center, which are basically nonindustrial places and a residential area” and that’s a concern, he said.

Burrell said the city ordinance allows exceptions for businesses to operate in C-4 commercial zones as long as they meet requirements that include no emission of gas, smoke or flames.

Although the businesses meet those requirements, Burrell said he had concerns about the effect of the businesses on surrounding residential areas.

Fred Clark, owner of the North Frontage Road property, said he doesn’t think the businesses will affect residential areas.

&#8220The back of that property is not visible to any residents,” Clark said.

He also said the nearest residential property is about 200 feet from the back of the property.

Dalton McCarty, city zoning administrator, said the city’s requirements for such property is that there is a 150-foot buffer zone.

Board members voting to allow the move were Tim Fagerburg, Lonnie Boykins, Mark Corum and Fred Katzenmeyer. Casey Fisher joined Burrell in voting against it.

In other business, the Zoning Board unanimously approved a request from the City of Vicksburg to amend the zoning ordinance by deleting the section that allows trucking terminals in C-4 zones.

&#8220Since there’s so much C-4 located throughout the city, a truck terminal is just out of the question in these areas,” said McCarty.

City officials said there are heavy industrial zones in the city where truck terminals will be allowed.

McCarty said the ordinance would affect only new businesses wanting to operate in those zones. Truck terminals already operating in those areas would be allowed to continue.