two_farms
By David Walsh

A view of the area in Thompson’s Station that Beacon Land has proposed developing into the residential community of Two Farms / Photo by Matt Blois

By MATT BLOIS

On Tuesday night, the Thompson’s Station Board of Mayor and Alderman voted unanimously to approve a zoning change that would allow the construction of the proposed Two Farms subdivision.

Before starting construction Beacon Land Development, the company that wants to build Two Farms, will need to submit a conceptual plan to the city. Then it will need to turn that concept into several plans documenting exactly how it plans to develop the property.

Mike Abbot, the president of the company that wants to build Two Farms, said if the board approves the zoning change on its final reading next month things could move quickly.

“Hopefully you have a shovel in the ground by summer,” he told several aldermen after the meeting.

The new type of zoning allows for both residential and commercial buildings. Beacon Land plans on creating several groups of homes scattered across the property, with commercial spaces mixed in.

Alderman Graham Shepard asked Abbot whether there would really be enough people to support all the commercial areas proposed. One part of the development would have 70,000 square feet of retail space.

“We don’t think about that square footage as scary to us,” Abbott said.

The board voted to approve the zoning classification, but included several conditions. Beacon would have to build its own sewer treatment system, set aside land for a new school and pay for any improvements to city infrastructure required because of the subdivision.

The board will vote once more at its meeting in March to finalize the decision.