JOHN COFFELTEditor

Approval for a proposed 335-acre multi-zoned development for McMinnville Highway is on its way to receiving final approval.

Getting there will include a series of annexes into the city of Manchester, zoning changes and amendments to the newly approved city Land Use Plan.

Amendments to the Manchester Planning Commission’s Land Use Plan were made to match the rezoning request during the April 15 meeting. The Commission sent a positive recommendation to the board of Mayor and Alderman for similar changes.

The development will be known as Old Stone Fort Crossing and is owned by Swanson Developments of Murfreesboro.

According to the concept plans, the site includes a commercial strip along the highway backed by a deeper portion slated for a grocery store. An approximately 26-acre area in the center of the commercial lots is planned to be zoned as I-1 Industrial. A fire station is slated for just outside the 32-acres to be used for apartments.

Plans are for the back portion of the site to have acres set aside for townhomes and more traditional subdivisions to be zoned low density.

All-together, the site is planned to have 386 residential lots, with 215 being single family detached lots and 171 townhouse lots. The number of apartment units was listed as unknown on the plans.

City zoning ordinances classify I-1 and light industrial district. Uses permitted in the zone uses include animal care and veterinarian services, building materials and farm equipment, construction sales and services, transport and warehousing, wholesale sales and limited manufacturing and intermediate manufacturing.

Developers said no industry has yet been recruited for the site.

“With the (I-24 Industrial Complex) megasite going out we’re looking to build buildings industrial to support the megasite,” said developer Joe Swanson.

The commercial zone along the highway, C-2, is a highway service district, designed to provide adequate space in appropriate locations for uses which serve the needs of the motoring public.

The larger, C-3, general commercial district “provide for a wide range of commercial uses concerned with retail trade and consumer services; amusement and entertainment establishments; automotive and vehicular service establishments; transient sleeping accommodations; drive-in stores; eating and drinking places, financial institutions and offices,” according to Manchester City code.

BOMA approves rezoning first reading

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on April 2 approved three first readings rezoning part of the site in the city. The properties was originally zoned R-1 and was rezoned to R-2, R-3 and R-4.

The first of two readings passed 4-0 with Aldermen Ryan French and Julie Anderson absent.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.