Planning Commission to discuss new development north of high school

A residential development is being planned at the northeast corner of Sycamore Road and Shelby Drive, just north of the town’s new high school. Township Development Services is scheduled to ask the Planning Commission for approval on Thursday night for the preliminary plat that includes 43 residential lots on 15.644 acres.
The Meadows at Clara’s Ridge was adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen last June. However, the outline plan has not been recorded and is being reviewed by staff to ensure all Board conditions were met.
The land was rezoned from “forest agricultural residential” to “low density residential” last year. The minimum lot size will be 9,000 square feet.
The preliminary plat must be revised before the Board can approve a development agreement.
The first phase of the project includes 43 lots. Phase two will include 39 lots.
The ‘cluster subdivision’ development will include 82 single family residential lots and a large park.
The property is surrounded by Highway 385 and the new Collierville High School.
Kevin Vaughan, of Township Development Services, has submitted the application on behalf of Crews Development.
“Clara’s Ridge at Cartwright Farms marks the beginning of the development of the former Cartwright Nursery property that has been in the Cartwright family for over 70 years,” Vaughan wrote.
The property was once home to the largest commercial nursery in North America. It closed operations in 2019 and being used for row crop production.
The name ‘Clara’s Ridge’ pays homage to the matriarch of the Cartwright family.
“The development of this property was contemplated during the site selection for the new high school and provisions for a protection of the view shed to the new high school property was sought,” wrote Vaughan.
More than 50-percent of the property will remain open space.