Cookeville Enters Right Of First Refusal Agreement For Potential Land Property

Cookeville City Council has entered into a right of first refusal agreement for some 70 acres of land off of Lee Seminary Road.

City Manager James Mills said that the agreement would allow the city “first dibs” should the landowner decide to sell. He said that the city and county’s intention would be to have more industrial-type development there.

“This would be across the street from the new FedEx and the Garrett Brothers Concrete location so it’s right in the same industrial and commercial area,” Mills said. “So that would be the proposed use of it. And the 70-acre tract is a relatively flat piece of land that has a good potential for development in the future.”

This right of refusal agreement comes after the city approved the purchase of 16.6 acres of land from the same landowner adjacent to the Highlands Business Park. Mills said that the Economic Development Coordinator Melinda Keifer recommended the city to purchase both properties.

Property Owner Vernon Wilson offered to sell the smaller tract to the city and the county for a price tag of $900,000. Mills said that the county will consider the property purchase at its next county commission meeting. He said that should the county approve the purchase, the next step will be to market it for potential development.

“The reason that we’re looking at this property is that it’s adjacent to the Highlands Business Park,” Mills said. “Which is our newest and largest industrial park in the city and the county. And it’s an opportunity to expand the park and provide more property for future industrial development.”