Aldermen: Hernando approves proposed development rezoning
May 21, 2025 – Hernando city aldermen Tuesday approved a rezoning of a new development to be located near the new Hernando High School campus. The land for the proposed McIngvale Exchange on the northeast corner of I-269 and McIngvale Road was rezoned from agricultural to a Planned Unit Development, or PUD.
The commercial development would have businesses only, highlighted by a hotel, according to Ben Johnson of Randall Commercial Group of Oxford. Johnson told aldermen the timing was right for the project with the new high school campus being built.
“We always thought this would be a great site for a hotel,” Johnson said, noting there are also plans for three hotels on the southwest corner of the interchange. “We have good interest from national retailers, a restaurant, and a medical end user. There is also a discussion about a hotel that we’ve been in talks with,” not revealing what hotel that would be.”
Johnson said had one concern in that a hotel was included as a conditional use, which he said would make developing a hotel there more of a challenge. Johnson added a hotel would also want visibility from the interstate and McIngvale Road.
Aldermen approved the rezoning to PUD with the removal of the conditional use portion for the hotel, but added a mini-warehouse in the conditional use requirements.
Hernando aldermen also voted to remove parking minimums in the downtown area that are part of the city’s C3 district. Alderwoman Natalie Lynch noted that other communities of similar size have also removed parking minimums.
Retiring Oak Grove Central Elementary School principal Stacey Pirtle was recognized with the city’s Community Service Award for the month of May.
SOUTHAVEN ADDS SETH KERN AS POLICE CHIEF: Seth Kern was sworn in as new police chief with the retirement of Brent Vickers during Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
Mayor Darren Musselwhite said it was Kern’s time to lead the law enforcement efforts of Southaven.
“You don’t move through the ranks like Major Kern has unless you’re committed to excellence,” Musselwhite said at Tuesday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting. “He’s been committed to serving and meeting the needs of his fellow officers and he’s done it in an outstanding way.”
