by Matt Wright
Within a few weeks preliminary work on a new Lakeland neighborhood called Evergreen is expected to begin. The first part of the planned development will be the underground work needed to begin construction. The land, which is located at Old Brownsville Road and Evergreen Road, is mostly pasture now. The contract for phase 1 of the residential development was approved on August 11, 2022, by the BOC.
The original planning for a subdivision at that location goes back to approximately 2007 and then re-emerged in 2019 as a revised planned development. Planned developments are typically considered a preferred method for development because it allows more oversight on the final product. Several years ago, the Board of Commissioners (BOC) fought to reduce much of the tree clearing and to increase environmental buffers so as many trees would remain as possible. According to the staff report submitted at the August BOC meeting at City Hall, approximately 91% of the pre-development trees will remain intact and 45% of the site’s land area will be reserved as common open space. 55% of all lots in Evergreen will be adjacent to or adjoining a common open space in the neighborhood.
According to submitted documents, Evergreen will have lots averaging 1/3 of an acre and the foundations should be poured in approximately 5 months after the necessary underground work is completed. Two primary homebuilders are on record with the planned development, McLemore Homes and Dave Moore Homes.
At previous meetings, residents in the area have asked about the traffic impact of the new neighborhood, but officials have said all 138 lots will not be fully completed for five or more years. According to Commissioner Wesley Wright, the Seed Tick extension to Highway 70 will be finished by then, which will help alleviate the traffic southward in the morning for many neighborhoods along Highway 70.
