DeSoto County Planning Director Jim McDougal called it "one of the most important things the county has done, without a doubt."
He was referring to development of the Interstate 69/I-269 corridor that stretches from the Marshall County line to U.S. 61 on the county's west end.
In September, DeSoto County supervisors gave McDougal the go-ahead to solicit proposals from firms interested in helping plan the corridor, and last week supervisors gave their approval to pursue grants through the Economic Development Administration to offset the cost of the study.
The development corridor would extend two miles on either side of the interstate and would take into consideration all aspects of development from building to landscaping to telecommunications.
"This is different than what we've done in the past," McDougal said. "This is not a zoning or land-use study. It's what I call a 'people-use study.'
"More often than not, people go in on the front end with a strong notion of what is going to be the end product. The purpose of this is to do a lot of thinking, listening and imagining about what this corridor can be."
McDougal said the corridor could be in an ideal position to capitalize on the auto industry, with the Toyota plant opening in Blue Springs and a hybrid production facility on the drawing board in Tunica County.
"We have to be thinking ahead 5, 10, 15, 20 years to what could be happening and what do we need to do to be in a position to capitalize on that," McDougal said.
According to McDougal, one of the keys to the study will be getting input from landowners along the corridor. He said he doesn't want them to feel like someone sitting in an office in Hernando came up with a plan and forced it on landowners.
"The primary stakeholder in this is going to be the landowners along the corridor," McDougal said. "Every effort will be made to bring them in to participate and be a part of the process."
McDougal said development will come to the corridor whether it's planned or not. The study will allow that development to take place in a way that reflects the community's desires and values.
"We are fortunate that this is coming at a good time for the county," McDougal said. "We have the time, energy and resources to do a really good job."
-- Mark Crum: (662) 996-1421
Memphis Commercial Appeal