Building Commission Defers Decision On Haywood Megasite

The state Building Commission held off today on approving some $40 million dollars for a tract of land in West Tennessee.

The Haywood County Megasite would be used to attract a large manufacturer to the state, but several commission members want more details before moving forward.

The state uses megasites to draw in new businesses, like with Volkswagen in Chattanooga and Hemlock Semiconductor in Clarksville. The state buys land and installs utilities so big companies can move in more readily.

The Haywood Megasite would be over a thousand acres, located between Jackson and Memphis, off I-40. But details are fuzzy about the body that will oversee the project – paperwork to create a megasite authority there was only filed this week.

Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey says that leaves important questions unanswered.

“I’m all for this – a hundred percent for it, but how do you authorize bonds to an authority that didn’t exist until yesterday? Does it technically exist now?”

The state’s options on the land expire at the end of October. Ultimately the Building Commission deferred its decision to an executive subcommittee. That group can act on short notice.

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EXTRA:

The TVA Megasite Certification Program calls for a minimum of a thousand acres, of which 700 must be contiguous. The site also requires rail service and must be within 5 miles of an interstate. And it must pass an environmental audit and soil assessment, and have plans in place for expedited permitting procedures. Further, “it was required to be within 25 to 30 miles of a population center of at least 50 thousand people.”

Mark Drury, assistant commissioner of Economic and Community Development, says state law provides for establishing a body to oversee regional megasites.

“On Wednesday of this week, incorporation papers were filed with the secretary of state’s office establishing the West Tennessee Regional Megasite Authority…
“Haywood County has maintained options on about 17 hundred acres within the footprint of the core site, and another 3600 acres of property beyond the core. Those options are due to expire on October 31st, lending some urgency to the commission’s actions.”

Because it will take some time to carry out a deal once funds are approved, the Building Commission deferred its decision to the executive subcommittee, which consists of constitutional officers, and can act quickly once its questions are answered.

The funds consist of a mix of bonds – about $27 million – and appropriations – some $13 million.