Commission OKs project near Collierville

The Shelby County Commission approved a large development of half-million-dollar houses Monday on 177 acres in unincorporated Shelby County.

The proposal is for a 543-lot development that would be built over at least 10 years on the east side of Quinn Road, south of Collierville, generating $1.8 million in property taxes per year for the county. The gated community is aimed to attract retirees and empty-nesters.

“I think what we’re doing down there is going to be a tremendous asset to the area and to Shelby County,” developer John Porter said. “I think Shelby County has a big problem right now with everybody wanting to move out and move into Fayette County and DeSoto County and Tipton County. I think we need to keep our residents here. Anytime you can get somebody to build a $500,000 house in your county, that’s a good thing.”

Several neighbors spoke against the plan at a series of meetings.

Tanja Hodges told the commission she lives in a nearby development also created by Porter. She described the neighborhood as beautiful and having a rural landscape.

“Most of our neighbors have horses and/or other farm animals,” she said. “Mr. Porter built this. We are not opposed to development at all. We love what we have. We would love to have more of it. But this new development is just a gross departure ... We feel like this destroys the character.”

Cindy Mccowan owns a 40-acre farm that includes an animal rescue and horse boarding and training facility next door to the planned development. She is concerned that only the developer’s wooden fence and her animal-containment fence would separate her farm from the large number of new houses.

“My concern is that urban people, city people, are going to be moving into this development, and their grandchildren are going to be curious as to what’s over the fence, or their ball is going to go over the fence ... and they’re going to meet my bull, or they can meet my water buffalo that’s 2,000 pounds and not a happy fella. And I’m very concerned for the safety of any new people that are not familiar with the farm lifestyle ... My concern is bringing in this other lifestyle into a non-compatible lifestyle that we have.”

Plan previously rejected

Collierville officials argued the development is inconsistent with the town’s land use plan and that it could potentially reduce the value of surrounding properties. The Shelby County Land Use Control Board also previously rejected the plan.

“We can’t move our farms,” Rick Sievers, a neighbor on Quinn Road, told the commission Monday.

Robert Slaughter, another neighbor, raised concerns about emergency response for ambulances.

The commission decided that traffic to the development would be restricted from Quinn Road except for emergency vehicles, an issue Porter hopes can be revisited. The commissioners made their votes during the final meeting of the current commission before several new commissioners take office.

“I think we have a right to an entrance off of Quinn Road,” Porter said. “Hopefully we can go back to the new commission and get that resolved.”