One of the oldest farms in the mid-state could be in danger of shutting down under one option proposed to make getting around Murfreesboro easier.
Among the options city planners have been considering under the 2025 Major Thoroughfare plan would have a five-lane road go right through land owned by Batey Farms, a development that its owners said could force the farm to close
The road would extend Veteran's Parkway to connect with Interstate 24.
City leaders have said any big changes would likely take 10 to 20 years to get finished, even if they're approved. Even so, folks at Batey Farms said they think twice now before looking to expand and diversify their operations, like a plan to start a malt facility on the farm.
They said they don't want to start something just to have to shut down a few years later - something the road through the middle of the property would force them to do.
“As far as the hog business, any livestock, it would just put it out, because it would just come in the middle of that,” said John Batey, owner of Batey farms. “When you split the land in two with a five-lane road, it changes. Iit changes everything you're doing.”
