Lakeland city officials are standing united for high-quality development as the northeast Shelby County suburbs grows, Mayor Mike Cunningham said Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Cunningham’s comments came during his annual “State of the City” presentation to the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon at Stonebridge Golf Club.
“I think we’re obviously doing some things right because we’re starting to see a flourish of activity from the business community,” Cunningham said.
The mayor touted the city’s award-winning school district, the increase in the city’s paving budget to fix deteriorated roads and a recent increase in the pay scale for city employees in hope of luring and retaining top talent.
Among the road improvement is the long-awaited New Canada Road project. City Manager Shane Horn brought the paperwork to the luncheon for the mayor to sign for approval from the USDA for the matching funds with the state on the project.
“The USDA Rural Development Loan is $5 million to cover the city’s 20% match of the New Canada Road project,” Horn said.
Cunningham hopes to see major progress within the next year on that road alternative, which will cover 2.3 miles between Interstate 40 and U.S. 70.
“The timing is perfect because the one thing that has been my concern from a safety standpoint is that once we open our new high school in August of 2022…the last thing I want is the kids coming out of Stonebridge and the south part of Lakeland having to drive up (the existing treacherous) Canada Road,” he said.
Big ongoing developments in Lakeland include Lakeland Commons on U.S. 70, where Phase 1 of the apartment complex is being leased and occupied.
Cunningham hinted at a community amenity within Lakeland Commons that could occupy one of the two parcels dedicated to city by developer Vince Smith.
“I really think it’s something that will help the city build some camaraderie and have a place where we can all come and enjoy different things,” he said while not citing specifics.
The other parcel dedicated to city there could end up as the site of a fire department.
Another 97.6-acre development owned by the Hyneman family on the northwest corner of Davies Plantation and Canada Road could finally be getting some traction. The development is across I-40 from The Lake District.
“There is a group putting together a plan. They’re supposed to be bringing sketch plans to us…by next month,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be an awesome development, so we’ll have two in that corridor, which I believe is the city’s strongest retail tax-generating corridor.”
Although exact details are still unknown, there has been talk of a minor medical facility there, as well as a hotel, an assisted living facility, an age-restricted subdivision, and numerous restaurants.