Suburban developments pivot to housing; CBU expansion approved
The planning board approved a change in plans for two large, suburban developments east of Memphis that now total hundreds of residences and less retail in this era of e-commerce.
The Land Use Control Board unanimously approved changes to the Amherst Planned Development at the northwest corner of Walnut Grove and Houston Levee, and the Greens at Irene Woods Planned Development at the southeast corner of Tenn. 385 and Forest Hill Irene Road.
Other applications receiving approval on Thursday, Jan. 14, were:
A nonprofit’s still unfunded plan for building 76 apartments of independent living for veterans in Raleigh; a Medical District soup kitchen’s plan to offer emergency shelter every day; the addition of six townhome lots near FedExForum; changes to a planned office development in the Balmoral neighborhood; and a plan for expanding the Christian Brothers University campus.
The board rejected a proposal to build a car wash where a Regions Bank branch closed last summer on Covington Pike in Raleigh.
Changes approved for the 101-acre Amherst Planned Development reflect the effects of e-commerce on brick-and-mortar retail as well as softer demand for office space.
Developer Keith Grant revamped the 11-year-old plan to eliminate all office space and add 125 single-family-home sites. The revised plan shows, generally, that remaining commercial space will line Walnut Grove and Houston Levee. Behind that will be up to 135 units of apartments, and behind the apartments will be the 125 home sites.
The concept plan for Amherst Planned Development reduced commercial space, eliminated offices, and added single-family houses. (Credit: DT Studio)
“We felt this was more appropriate than the existing planned development,” Grant told the board in the online meeting. “It introduces the additional residential component and is more applicable to the current market. We felt there was too much commercial on the site.”
“I love this plan,” planning board member Lisa Wilbanks said.
“Love the design,” added board member J.C. McKinnon. “Love what you are doing. It’s a good fit for the area.”
The Greens at Irene Woods will be developed 10 miles south of Amherst. Fourteen acres at the corner of Forest Hill Irene and Tenn. 385 had been approved for commercial, but the planning board approved by consent developer Dan B. Turley Jr.’s request to build apartments there instead.
The plan is to erect 275 units on the site, which is across Forest Hill Irene from the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.
The board also unanimously approved, over objections of several nearby property owners, CBU’s 7.5-acre planned development for expanded athletic facilities on the northeast corner of the university’s Midtown campus.
Over the years, the private college has been acquiring small homes on the south side of Avery along Oakdale and Finlay roads. The streets dead-end into the school’s existing athletic fields.
When CBU once tried to build an indoor batting facility for the baseball field, it learned the current residential zoning did not allow the construction, Martin “Marty” Regan told the board. The attorney represents CBU.
“The best method to take it from disjointed lots to something we could complement the campus with was this planned development proposal,” Regan said.
The college did not purchase all the houses; about four rentals remain scattered around the planned athletic development.
Several property owners voiced their objections. A spokesman for them said the college created the now “disjointed” neighborhood by buying houses, bulldozing many of them and leaving the lots vacant.
“The neighborhood is a pocket, single-family neighborhood. The decline of the neighborhood has been a result of CBU acquiring these homes.”
— Alan Albright,
spokesman for nearby property owners
“The neighborhood is a pocket, single-family neighborhood,” Alan Albright said. “The decline of the neighborhood has been a result of CBU acquiring these homes.”
Still, the board voted 9-0, with Scott Fleming recusing himself, to approve CBU’s planned development.
The planning board also unanimously approved plans for an independent-living facility for veterans, including those threatened with homelessness.
The planned development for 3681 Hawkins Mill Road in Raleigh comprises 76, one-bedroom apartments with kitchens and washer and dryers, a private community center, and gated security.
Paul and Debra Brantley bought the undeveloped, 13 acres in 2018 with the vision of creating the facility for veterans to live and receive support.
“There’s a big need for this,” planning board member Darrell Thomas said. “There isn’t enough in Memphis. There’s a big problem.”
Another board member, Margaret “Libby” Pritchard, added that she has learned through her volunteer work with veterans “how critical this is. I’m delighted to see it and plan to support it.”
The applicants said they are near the beginning of their efforts to raise funds for the project.
The board also approved developer Preston Thomas’ changes to the office development he plans in the Balmoral neighborhood.
The site is 4.2 acres and bordered by Interstate 240 on the west, Quince on the north, Lynnfield on the east and Vassar on the south.
He now proposes three buildings designed to look like residences and to be one- or two-stories tall. Doing business as SE Industrial Investments, the developer has one prospective tenant for a first, one-story building of about 6,000 square feet.
An attorney and resident of the Balmoral Neighborhood Association said that after the developer changed plans to address residents’ concerns, the association is generally in support of the latest plan.
The board voted 1-8 in rejecting a request for a special-use permit so Century One LLC could build an automated car wash at 3061 Covington Pike in Raleigh.
The site is where a Regions Bank branch closed last summer. The board staff recommended rejection, saying that the existing zoning calls for less intensive business activity. The staff noted that offices were across the street and that single-family homes were 500 feet north of the site.
The board approved a request from a charitable organization to add a daily emergency shelter as a use to the soup kitchen operating at 1306 Monroe in the Medical District.
The change also allows outdoor food service and extends the validity of the special-use permit from four years to 10 years.
Volunteers with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul operate the the Ozanam Center in the building that originally housed Madison Heights United Methodist Church.
The planning board also approved on the consent agenda the addition of six, attached townhouse lots for Pontotoc near Turley. The expansion is to a previously approved six-lot development of six attached townhomes near the FedExForum.
Also approved on the consent agenda is a request to allow a church at 262 S. Highland, at Cowden.
The 95-year-old building now houses Welford’s Antiques and Joes’ restaurant. But owner Karen Wellford has sold the property to Third Church of Christ, Scientist. The church plans to renovate the space or demolish it and build a new church building.
Topics
Land Use Control Board Mixed-use Development Memphis Medical District RaleighTom Bailey
Tom Bailey retired in January as a business reporter at The Daily Memphian, and after 40 years in journalism. A Tupelo, Mississippi, native, he graduated from Mississippi State University. He has lived in Midtown for 36 years.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.