The Cookeville City Council discussed moving forward with paving and relocating a waterline on Green Gate Lane to assist with The Willows Development.
Community Development Director Jon Ward said the improvements are the result of an agreement with Willow Avenue Church of Christ to acquire an estimated 20-feet of right of way on the south side of Green Gate Lane. Ward said the developer will do a reclamation project on the south side of Green Gate Lane rather than rebuild the whole street.
“It just did not have a sufficient base underneath it, but they are going to perform a reclamation project on this section of Green Gate,” Ward said. “And this is where they mix, it’s like a cement mixture. They grind up the street service and the base that is there and mix it to provide a sufficient base.”
Ward said time is of the essence for the developers, and the reclamation project will be completed in about two days rather than multiple weeks. The council will vote on approving a memorandum of understanding with the developer this Thursday.
“The MOU would allow the city to complete the paving on the reclamation surface of Greengate under our current paving bid prices, which is going to be a savings to the developer, and the developer would reimburse the city for those costs for the paving,” Ward said.
Ward said the city will also need to relocate a waterline as the existing waterline is conflicting with a retaining wall.
“When they found it in the field, they realized the conflict,” Ward said. “It’s a 10-inch waterline, so they are having to move that out from under the wall. Water Quality does not want a waterline under the retaining wall.”
Ward said the city would take on the estimated $57,655 to relocate the waterline as part of the MOU. City Manager James Mills said the city is one step closer to having Home Depot and Target open. Ward said the project is still on track to open in October 2026.
“I have not been told anything to the contrary,” Ward said.
