A proposal to build an Internet café on Premier Boulevard passed by a 3-2 margin during tonight’s city council meeting.

Getting the matter back on the table for discussion took a motion, which passed by the same 3-2 margin, with Suetta Scarbrough and Ernest Bobbitt voting to not allow it to be discussed again.

A previous motion by Scarbrough to deny the conditional use permit submitted by Phillip Moncure was shot down by Greg Lawson, Carl Ferebee and Carol Cowen, which led to the vote to open the matter back up for discussion.

Scarbrough contended in her motion the proposed facility may be in harmony with other B-4 locations but not the one on Premier Boulevard because it is less than 1,000 feet from the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce and Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

With Scarbrough’s motion defeated discussion opened to revisit the issue, which was first brought up during a March council meeting.

In deliberation of the matter then council had checked off the proposal met all the conditions for approval but balked when it came to the question of whether it was in harmony with the surrounding area.

In other matters tonight:

Council approved an amendment to allow open-air markets and horticultural sales in the B-1 zoning district.

The approval paves the way for a farmer’s market in the plaza of the Kirkwood Adams Community Center.

Halifax County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent Matthew Stevens said currently the Farmer’s Market on Highway 158 can only operate two days a week. “We’re looking at other opportunities. If the amendment passes we have another opportunity to support our farmers.”

Approved a rezoning request for 5 acres of land on West Becker Drive between Tenth Street and Georgia Avenue for a 40-unit senior apartment complex. Federal funds for the project must be approved before the complex can be built.