MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - The Murfreesboro City Council approved three major development projects that will bring significant infrastructure investments to Rutherford County. Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland announced the local approvals in a Facebook post, noting that the deals pave the way for a new commercial tech park, an emergency hospital, and a retail grocery expansion. Each project requires developers to cover the costs for extensive road, street, and stormwater drainage improvements as construction moves forward.

The council gave the green light to the Clarius tech and industrial park project on the Broad Street Hord property. Local leaders say this development fits the city’s land use plan to generate high-quality employment opportunities inside the community. The developer agreed to fund and construct all necessary infrastructure improvements to support the business park.

Healthcare access is also expanding on the east side of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. The city approved a new Ascension Saint Thomas freestanding emergency hospital on Highway 96 East, also known as Lascassas Highway. The facility will sit next to the new Murfreesboro Medical Clinic complex and will include substantial road upgrades to handle incoming traffic.

On the retail front, the city council cleared the way for a new Kroger development on Memorial Boulevard. This approval directly addresses local infrastructure problems by requiring a major, progressive drainage plan along Memorial Boulevard. The developer must construct these stormwater improvements as the project advances to help nearby residents in the Palmer Heights subdivision who frequently deal with standing water issues.