Collierville board approves Cedar Grove subdivision, grants waivers for Winchester frontage and 16-inch water main

The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on March 24 approved a development agreement for Cedar Grove, a 25‑lot gated, age‑restricted subdivision in Bailey Station PD Parcel 8A Phase 15, and granted the developer waivers for required Winchester Boulevard street and sidewalk improvements and for installation of a planned 16‑inch water main across the site frontage.

The agreement covers a 7.93‑acre, single‑family neighborhood with covenants requiring a minimum of 90% of homes to be occupied by at least one person 55 or older. Internal streets and detention ponds will be private and maintained by the homeowners association; sewer manholes and the 10‑inch water mains within the subdivision will be public and tie into existing mains in Peyton Parkway, staff said.

Town senior civil engineer Steven Russell told the board that staff recommended approval of waivers for sidewalks and Winchester frontage work but did not recommend waiving the 16‑inch water‑main installation because the larger main would add capacity, redundancy and fire‑protection benefits to the town’s water system. "Fire and public utilities are all in agreement with our recommendation," Russell said.

Developer David Halley, who identified himself as the applicant, asked the board to grant the waiver for the 16‑inch line, saying he had previously installed off‑site infrastructure and dedicated right‑of‑way in the Bailey Station area and that a 1994 letter in the record reflected prior agreements. Halley described bringing sewer and other off‑site improvements to the area and said the 16‑inch line "does nothing to his development" and would impose a hardship on this small, 25‑lot project. Attorney Michael Rogers of Fisher Arnold confirmed the 1994 letter from a private firm to a town official is in the packet; staff said it could not find a town acknowledgment in archived records.

Adam Boucher, an adjacent homeowner and HOA president, said residents remained concerned about pedestrian safety on Winchester and urged the town to pursue sidewalks and frontage improvements regardless of which party pays. Board members discussed the precedent that a waiver could set and noted similar waivers previously granted in Bailey Station.

Alderman Robbins moved to approve the development agreement and waive the Winchester Boulevard street improvements, sidewalks and the 16‑inch water main requirement; Alderman Hall seconded. The roll call vote recorded: Marshall, Stamps, Robbins, Hall and Jordan all voting yes; Mayor Frasier voted yes. The motion carried and the waivers were granted.

The development agreement identifies $186,452 in development fees to be paid before construction and a $23,287 reimbursement to the town for existing street‑light fixtures along Winchester. Staff noted the developer requested the water‑main waiver even though public utilities had confirmed the subdivision could tie to an existing 10‑inch water main in Peyton Parkway and that a pressure study indicated adequate pressure for the 25 lots.

Board members said the sidewalk concern would be discussed in an upcoming capital improvements work session to identify options for town‑funded improvements.

The vote grants site approval subject to the recorded waivers; future development tracks on the parcel will require additional BMA approvals.