Racquet Club Townhome development near Snowden Grove Tennis Complex
A developer will be able to move forward with a planned development near the Snowden Grove Tennis Complex after Southaven aldermen Tuesday night unanimously approved a zoning change for a planned urban development, or PUD.
Developer Mark Utley is proposing to build a 56-townhome project called The Racquet Club Townhomes in Snowden Grove, which will adjoin the city tennis and pickleball facilities. Utley said the development will feature a clubhouse, be a gated community with a private pond, a lit fountain, and have restricted covenants for low-maintenance living. Each townhome will have three bedrooms, and 2.5 baths.
Homes will start at around $300,000 and are expected to attract active individuals of all ages. The townhomes are not rentable, however. They are for purchase and the contracts will not allow purchasers who may follow to rent that space to others.
Utley, a third-generation builder, says he plans to break ground on the Racquet Club Townhomes later this summer and the homes should be available next spring.
“This will offer a housing alternative for people that don’t need, you know, they don’t want the upkeep of the yard,” Utley said. “All the exterior, the roof, your paint, your siding, but the studs out will be maintained by the HOA. You’ll have a small yard, but you’ll have access to, you know, all of Snowden Grove Park and the entertainment district.”
The plan is for this to be designed as an exclusive, gated townhome development that will be a unique first for the community, Utley said.
Tuesday’s public hearing did hear from a roomful of residents on hand to oppose the development, with concerns about property values in the area diminishing, attempting to compare this development to others elsewhere in DeSoto County and in areas of Memphis, to water drainage and traffic issues.
At the end of the hearing, Utley again presented his proposal and Musselwhite called for a motion, but not before making a statement of his own.
“I disagree with some of the comments here comparing this development to others in the past because I think he (Utley) is a quality developer,” Musselwhite said. “The townhomes are not like what is built in Horn Lake or Memphis. However I do have some concerns about the location of it.”
Musselwhite expanded on the last part of the statement, saying the townhome location would constrict future tennis expansion. He also felt a future park expansion would fit there.
Alderman John David Wheeler made the motion to approve the PUD rezoning, with wording making the rezoning “for a potential residential placement or possible city park expansion.” Alderman Raymond Flores seconded it.
“I personally understand your feelings, but as an alderman I have to consider that the gentleman came to our planning commission, recommended by them and the planning director,” Wheeler said. “We just can’t deny something for no reason, we have to have a reason. Legally, there is no reason. I’d rather it be a park than a townhome,” a reference to why the motion included the possibility of park expansion.
Alderman voted unanimously for the rezoning.
