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Council defers Kroger rezoning after residents press drainage concerns
Summary
Murfreesboro council deferred a rezoning request for about 13.4 acres on Memorial Boulevard for a proposed Kroger and fueling station after neighbors raised flooding and property‑value concerns; applicant agreed to provide consolidated engineering schematics showing how Kroger would integrate with nearby detention projects.
The Murfreesboro City Council voted May 7 to defer consideration of ordinance 26‑O‑Z‑12, a request to rezone roughly 13.4 acres at Memorial Boulevard and Tillanook Lane for a 99,000‑square‑foot Kroger prototype with a stand‑alone fuel center.
Planning staff introduced the rezoning as consistent with the 2023 comprehensive plan’s GC (general commercial) designation. Randy Perry, the applicant’s engineer, described site plans that include utility extensions, an eastward building shift, an upgraded fuel kiosk and a multilayer drainage strategy he called “overdetention” — a combination of surface ponds, underground detention, pervious pavers and swales. “We are requesting a rezoning of 3 properties for the development of a new Kroger,” Perry said, explaining that the design reduces peak outflow by about 8–9 cubic feet per second for standard design storms and provides additional freeboard in the ponds.
Neighbors who live behind the proposed site told the council they have a documented history of standing water and flooding. Pat Bacon, who said she lives at 2814 Archer and represents affected neighbors, said the problem is not theoretical: “This is not a theoretical concern, this is a fact,” Bacon said, describing yards that regularly hold water and warning that raising land could route additional runoff into already low lots.
Council members and staff pressed the applicant for a single schematic that shows how the Kroger site would tie into Northridge subdivision drainage and the Haines detention pond. Councilmembers also discussed parking counts and a potential shift of the building toward Memorial Boulevard; Perry said the applicant could reduce parking and relocate the building roughly 30 feet to the east, if needed.
Because key regional elements were not shown on one consolidated sheet, councilmember (mover) proposed deferral so staff and applicant could present one integrated graphic and additional commitments. The motion to defer passed on roll call (5–1). Mayor McFarland announced, “This has been deferred,” and staff said they will stay in touch with neighborhood representatives as engineers prepare consolidated documentation.
Next steps: the applicant will provide the requested consolidated drainage/schematic materials and a revised site plan showing the proposed building shift and updated parking numbers; the rezoning will return to the council for further consideration after those materials are reviewed.
