Arlington accepts two riverfront parcels from Shelby County Land Bank for greenway conservation

The Arlington Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Monday voted to accept two parcels along the Loosahatchee River from the Shelby County Land Bank and conserve them as green space, with the possibility of permitting a shared-use trail in the future.

Town staff said the properties are landlocked and lie in a floodway, restricting development to passive recreation, boardwalks or similar facilities. The resolution authorizes the town to request and accept the donation; it does not obligate construction of a trail or other improvements.

“The goal of the land bank is to try to get properties back into productive use,” town staff member Reeder said while showing the parcels’ location in the northwest corner of town near Williamson Park and the wastewater treatment plant. Reeder told the board one parcel is “22.5” and the other “a little over 14.5” and said both were included in Arlington’s river-trail master plan adopted in 2014.

Brandon Keith, who identified himself during the meeting’s public-comment period as living on Chester Street, told the board he had been pursuing purchase of two adjoining parcels for about a year and placed a contract on the lots after they were released for sale by the land bank. “I had my heart set on picking up more land for my kids, my family to just enjoy recreational,” Keith said, adding he was disappointed to learn the town would consider accepting the donation.

Mayor (unnamed in transcript) said he had spoken with Keith ahead of the meeting and explained that municipalities rarely decline donated land even when it is not currently usable. “It’s just kind of a hard sell for us to not take it,” the mayor said, noting the parcels’ proximity to the town’s wastewater treatment plant and the long-term vision for a greenway.

During discussion, aldermen and staff noted the parcels’ placement in phase 1 of the town’s proposed greenway phasing, their potential to serve as a trailhead or connection point, and the likely need for grant funding to construct trails or boardwalks. The board approved the resolution by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2024-14 (second and final reading): Amends the Town of Arlington budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, to reflect additional grant revenue and related expenses. Public hearing held; no speakers. Motion to adopt carried by voice vote.

- Resolution 2025-2: Authorizes the town to request and accept donation of two parcels from the Shelby County Land Bank for conservation and potential shared-use path access. Motion by Alderman Biggs, second by Vice Mayor McKee; passed by voice vote.

- Resolution 2025-3: Authorizes preconstruction work and a contract with Grinder, Taber & Grinder as construction manager for the town hall addition design and cost-estimating phase. Motion by Alderman Barker, second by Alderman Harmon; passed by voice vote.

- Resolution 2025-4: Authorizes the mayor to enter a contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation for NEPA and design-phase funding to improve curb, gutter and pedestrian access around the Arlington Tennis Center. Motion by Alderman Harmon, second by Vice Mayor McKee; passed by voice vote.

What’s next

Town staff said accepting the parcels will preserve them as green space under town control; any future construction of trails or boardwalks would require separate funding and approvals. Staff also noted the parcels could help realize parts of Arlington’s Loosahatchee river-trail master plan if grant funds become available.

The town clerk recorded the resolutions and the ordinance as passed in the meeting minutes; staff said further design work, permits and funding will be handled through future agenda items and grant applications.