Members of Hattiesburg City Council have again tabled a vote on a proposed Hattiesburg Marketplace major subdivision at Lamar Boulevard and U.S. 98, in order to get more information on the matter.
That decision was made at the June 6 council meeting, where Ward 3 Councilman Carter Carroll said the item will be revisited at the next meeting, which will take place on June 19.
“Today (the day of the meeting) at noon, we received a recommendation on some changes from the developer’s attorney, on some of our conditions,” said Carroll, who made the motion to table before the other four council members voted to approve that measure. “So we need time to look at that and discuss that.”
City attorney Randy Pope said the tabling also would give the city’s new engineer, MaryBeth Bergin – who recently replaced outgoing engineer Lamar Rutland – a chance to get involved in the discussion.
The matter was originally tabled last month, when council president Jeffrey George said Hattiesburg Marketplace is the first large commercial subdivision has done in a number of years.
“So we just want to make sure that all the right requirements are put in place, to make sure that it is good development that will be beneficial for the city,” George said after that meeting.
If approved, the subdivision would be located in the area east and south of The Citizens Bank and Hattiesburg Fire Department Station No. 8. It would consist of more than 30 acres of commercial space, along with two grassy common areas and a service road.
“If you look at the way they’re subdividing it, really they’re creating about four lots, because the road’s cutting down the middle,” George said. “But you’ve got the two small lots up front and two ‘future development’ areas.”
On May 3, the Hattiesburg Planning Commission voted to request approval for the subdivision after viewing a petition filed by Hunter Andrews, representative for Graham Development, LLC. Attorney Billy Andrews spoke on behalf of the project, and said the process for the SUBDIVISION began in June 201 as a minor subdivision, but changed over time to the “major” category.
Andrews said that each business owner would be responsible for their own stormwater retention areas, and no feedback or complaints have been received about the subdivision.
Although a complete list of commercial tenants has not been nailed down, a Starbucks was discussed at the planning meeting. In addition, two drive-through quick service restaurants also have been reviewed for the U.S. 98 frontage road, and city officials are currently reviewing plans for a third on the highway.
The site has been cleared and utilities have been placed in a portion of the development, including sidewalks, stormwater infrastructure and water lines. Street trees are required for the development of new streets in the right-of-way, and development of private commercial sites requires trees along the frontage of the property.
Traffic studies of the area will be completed before the final plan for the subdivision is approved, and additional studies will be held as new businesses establish in the area.
“Obviously, anything someone is trying to bring new businesses into the city, I think that is a great thing for Hattiesburg,” George said. “We just want to make sure that when we’re subdividing over 30 acres, that everything is done correctly.
“So that’s why we’re exploring some conditions and various things that we can put on there to make sure it is done correctly.”
