NATCHEZ &8212; Approval on Tuesday by the Natchez Metropolitan Planning Commission of a subdivision of 4.5 acres off John R. Junkin Drive is the first step in a possible new hotel development for Natchez.

Realtor Sue Stedman, representing the owners of the property, said she was not able to divulge the name of the developer but that he had looked at several sites in the area &8220;and this is the one he chose.&8221;

The property is on the south side of John R. Junkin and west of Ramada Inn Drive, basically near the bottom of the hill on which the Ramada stands.

Stedman said plans for the hotel are in the design stage but she is not a part of that project and has no details on size or type of building.

The commission approved dividing the property into three lots, with the easternmost lot being the site proposed for the hotel.

City Engineeer David Gardner said Natchez Water Works would provide water and sewer infrastructure to the site.

&8220;Then the developers will do the hookup from there,&8221; Gardner said. &8220;The only difference is the developer has agreed to split the cost &8212; two-thirds by the developer and one-third for water works &8212; for utilities leading to the site.&8221;

The other two lots could be developed at another time, Stedman said.

Owner of the property is Natchez Summit Corporation. Betty Swinny of Natchez is president.

In other business, the commission for the second time tabled previous meeting minutes in order that numerous corrections could be made.

The commission approved a public hearing be set June 1, the next regularly scheduled meeting, to hear comments on the new comprehensive code for planning that will combine all ordinances and documents in one place.

Smith said later at the board of aldermen meeting that copies would be available for viewing in his office in City Hall on Friday.