In what’s becoming a recurring theme during his 10-plus years as Arlington mayor, Mike Wissman’s annual State of the Town address centered on the controlled growth.

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce welcomed Wissman, elected mayor in 2011 and serving his third term, for his yearly presentation at their monthly luncheon.

Arlington BMA approves master plan for new residential project

“We’ve gone through some challenges during 2020 and 2021, and while Mike may only be the official mayor of Arlington …he has helped us get through crisis. This is a man who has become a mayor of the suburbs, and we really are blessed to have him lead us,” said Bob Wilson, Arlington Chamber of Commerce board president.

Arlington’s growth in 2021 included issuing permits for 74 single-family homes, a decrease from 152 the previous year. Last year, more than 292,000 square feet of new commercial and industrial projects were completed or under construction, and the town received 62 applications for new developments — both figures that were slightly up from 2020.

“Arlington has always been more of a residential-type community, and now we’re seeing that commercial growth,” Wissman said.

While mayor, the town’s population has grown from roughly 11,000 residents to close to 15,000, and the fiscal budget has increased from just less than $8 million to $11.4 million for 2021-22.

“So as we’ve grown about 30%, our budget’s grown on the same type of pace,” he said.

Increasing home sales add to suburbs’ growth

The town’s expenditure per resident has also increased to more than $820, up from $638 in 2018-19, that includes a rise of $53 over last year.

“As we’ve grown, our services have to grow,” Wissman said.

The town is trying to manage growth, with moratoriums on new gas stations and hotel projects. To prepare for the expected growth in the coming years, major Arlington thoroughfares Airline Road and U.S. 70 have been widened, and a new fire station opened last fall on Airline Road south of Interstate 40.

Wissman sees the new Ford plant and Blue Oval City as having a major impact on the region, the rural counties surrounding the project, and residents of Shelby County.

“We’re in the best location of anybody in regard to that when you talk about infrastructure, public safety, I-40/385/269/U.S.70 and 64 — the roads that come through here — schools,” he said.

Approved projects around town include new restaurants like Waffle House, Tropical Smoothie, Starbucks and It’s A Wrap.

“The problem that we’re having is everybody’s knocking on our door right now, good or bad, so we’ve had to kind of pump the brakes on a few things,” he said. “We want to make sure that whatever comes in, we get it right.”

Project enabler talks Megasite at Arlington chamber luncheon

Other big commercial projects this year include the new Bank of Arlington and Patriot Bank locations, Airline Travel Express, a Springhill Suites by Marriott (the town’s second hotel), and Baptist Memorial Health Care’s freestanding emergency room and medical offices that are under construction.

“I expect to see that (Baptist) parcel always having some plans for expansion or growth, whether it’s more medical offices (or a hotel of some kind). They have 85 acres right along the interstate behind there. They have plenty of room to do what they want,” Wissman said.