The project set to bring an Academy Sports store to Starkville took another step forward Tuesday evening after the Starkville Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the final plat request for the development.
It paves the way for the request to head for approval by Starkville aldermen. Earlier this month, aldermen approved a new, $1.5 million tax increment financing plan for the development—the TIF plan was unanimously approved by county supervisors. Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins was the lone vote against the new TIF plan.
A separate bond for the project to cover planned infrastructure improvements must be approved ahead of the final plat approval by aldermen, according to conditions placed on the request.
The 62,000 square foot store will be built at Highway 12 West on Stark Road.
To shake up the project, the new TIF plan shows a re-oriented project layout, with a new road to be built to connect Hollywood Boulevard leading to Hollywood Premier Cinema and the future project. Developers changed the access road plan ahead of Mississippi Department of Transportation initiative to build a dividing median on Highway 12 to mitigate accidents along the corridor. An 8-foot sidewalk could be built along the Hollywood Boulevard extension, if approved by aldermen.
For more, see the Aug. 10 edition.