Big plans

A commercial transformation is taking shape near Interstate 22 following action by the Marshall County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 21 to rezone property for a planned retail shopping center and plaza development.

During their meeting in Holly Springs, supervisors unanimously approved a rezoning request submitted on behalf of Skyline Homes for a 5-acre tract at 443 Victoria Road in Byhalia. The parcels, located just south of the I-22 interchange, were reclassified from R-2 medium residential to C-1 neighborhood commercial.

The measure had previously been tabled at a July board meeting to allow the developer time to bring forward a detailed site layout. The Marshall County Planning Commission earlier reviewed the concept in May and forwarded it with a favorable recommendation.

Developer representative JuanLuis Alvarado appeared before supervisors to outline the vision for the site, which currently contains a single residential structure that will be demolished to clear the way for construction.

“Right now I have an existing house there that I’m planning to remove,” Alvarado told the board. “I’m planning to make a plaza, a shopping center, two shopping centers and a plaza along with a mechanic shop.”

Alvarado told supervisors that interest in tenant space is already building, with prospective businesses lining up to serve the growing Byhalia corridor.

“A lot of business people want to come in and put in a barbershop, hair salon, ice cream shop, dog grooming ... all that is going to come right in that area,” Alvarado said. “The plan is to hire approximately 50 employees through the whole thing.”

County zoning officials noted the site sits approximately one-tenth of a mile – roughly 600 linear feet – from Holly Springs Road, with designated ingress and egress routes planned along Victoria Road to manage traffic flow.

Zoning Director David Johnson emphasized that while the rezoning clears the foundational hurdle, the developer must submit formal engineered construction plans and acquire all required permits before breaking ground.

“He’s going to have to get permitted for all of that if he sticks to it,” Johnson told the board. “As long as he gets the plans and if he sticks with his plan, we’re going to stay close to him on that ... it’s a good location.”

With no public opposition raised during the proceedings, it was moved to approve the zoning reclassification to C-1, which was carried without dissent.

Alvarado indicated that site clearing and preparation work will begin ahead of full development.

“We’re planning to start all this next year,” Alvarado said. “We want to demo everything, clean everything, and move forward.”