Murfreesboro’s much-watched Kroger proposal is on ice, at least for now. On Monday, the City Council hit pause on a plan for a new grocery store and fuel station along busy Memorial Boulevard, telling the development team to prove the project will not make flooding worse for nearby homes before anything moves forward.
The decision stalls a rezoning request and site plan for roughly 13.4 acres at the southwest corner of Memorial Boulevard and Tillanook Lane, according to City of Murfreesboro records. Plans filed with the city show a standalone Kroger store and a fuel and convenience station on consolidated parcels that currently include single-family homes, which helps explain why nearby residents are so tuned in.
At the council meeting, members deferred the request and told the developers to come back with “an appropriate drainage plan that will provide relief for nearby neighbors,” as reported by WKRN. Until engineers spell out how stormwater will be handled, the application is stuck. City staff said the item is expected to return for more debate at the May 14 meeting.
Neighbors Warn Of Water In Yards
Residents of the Palmer Heights and Regency Park neighborhoods told council that heavy rains already drive water into their backyards, and they worry that grading or added fill for the Kroger site could push even more runoff toward their homes, according to local planning records. Planning staff previously summarized ongoing concerns about drainage, traffic, and late-night deliveries and asked the applicant for visual profiles showing sight lines, berm heights, and planted buffers to lessen the impact on nearby houses, per Citizen Portal.
Mayor Flags Flooding Along Memorial
Mayor Shane McFarland pointed out that the Memorial corridor “has significant flooding,” a reality that had several council members wary of approving the rezoning without stronger stormwater guarantees, as reported by WKRN. The council has previously held back approvals for other projects in the area when drainage complaints could not be resolved, signaling a cautious approach to development in parts of the city that already struggle with runoff.
What's Next
The developer has been told to return with detailed engineering plans that address runoff, on-site detention, and any changes to finished grades on the property. Council will take another look at the rezoning once those materials are submitted and city staff have had time to vet the proposed stormwater fixes. For now, nearby residents say they plan to keep pressing for firm safeguards before any construction equipment rolls in.
