Maury County commissioners slammed the brakes on the massive Crosswaters Reserve proposal Monday night, voting 20-0 to deny a rezoning request that would have opened the door to a sprawling mixed-use project on roughly 1,300 acres off New Highway 7 in Columbia. The shelved plan called for more than 1,300 homes, a 400-room hotel, a 36-hole golf course, and 150,000 square feet of commercial space. The unanimous vote came only after hours of public comment centered on traffic, infrastructure strain, and unease over the land's industrial history.
Commission Rejects Rezoning After Public Pushback
The full county commission's 20-0 vote to deny the rezoning effectively stops Crosswaters Reserve in its tracks for now, as reported by FOX 17. After the vote, an attorney representing the county pressed officials to spell out why they were rejecting the plan. County leaders pointed to the project's conflict with Maury County's Comprehensive Plan and an unfavorable recommendation from the planning commission. Throughout the meeting, commissioners heard residents challenge the development on traffic and utilities and question whether a project of that size belongs in an area they described as rural in character.
What Crosswaters Reserve Would Have Brought
According to the county agenda, the Crosswaters Reserve application focused on 2200 New Highway 7 and sought to rezone 959.44 acres from M-2 to A-2 and 379.75 acres from M-2/A-2 to C-2 as a planned unit development. The blueprint included "1,313 residential units," 150,000 square feet of commercial space, a 400-room hotel, and a 36-hole golf course, as laid out in the same filing. Developer Reed Martz told commissioners the project represented "$5.1 billion in economic opportunity over 20 years," but that economic pitch ultimately did not move the board.
Residents Pressed on Contamination and Infrastructure
Opponents argued that the sheer scope of Crosswaters Reserve would fundamentally reshape the district and raised pointed questions about the site's history and environmental protections. At earlier planning commission meetings, neighbors cited the property's proximity to a former Monsanto processing area and argued they had not received required notifications when land-use restrictions were lifted, according to Maury County planning minutes. Those records also show staff and commissioners pressing the developer on dam stability, stormwater management, traffic mitigation, and fire protection during informational presentations.
What Happens Next
With the rezoning denied, the Crosswaters Reserve backers would need to scale down the concept, refile, or pursue an appeal if they hope to revive any version of the project. For now, the property keeps its existing zoning until an applicant returns with a new plan or the county changes its land-use rules. County leaders have signaled that any future growth on the site should line up with the Comprehensive Plan's rural category. Residents and stakeholders can keep an eye on upcoming proposals through the county's public calendar and Document Center, where agendas and filings are posted.
