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NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is asking MDOT to approve a plan to move the current north entrance to Walmart and the entrance to Natchez High School and Middle School northward, combining those entrances with one that will give access to the 30 acres of city-owned property along Seargent Prentiss Drive under option by Horne Properties of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson presented the Board of Aldermen with a “very preliminary” conceptual drawing of the entrance at its meeting today.

“Once this is approved by MDOT, it will move us to where we need to be to have this large, historic development” become a reality, Gibson said.

Douglas Horne, president of Horne Properties, said Tuesday afternoon that his company had proposed a more northward entrance to the property that would be separate from the Walmart entrance.

“MDOT would prefer to move the access Walmart has and use one access for both properties. We had worked with them for another full access, but after they made their study, they said they would prefer to have one access point on Seargent Prentiss for the 30-acre site,” Horne said.

He said the development would also have “some kind of entrance” to the property on D’Evereux Drive.

“We are doing well on recruiting businesses, but this will help develop the 30 acres. If the city successfully gets this access point on Seargent Prentiss, this development will happen,” he said.

In February 2024, the Board of Aldermen approved the option of the 30 acres of city-owned property to Horne Properties, on which it proposes a $40 million retail development.

Horne said Tuesday that TJ Maxx, Bealls, Five Below, and Aldi’s have expressed interest in locating in the development.

“We are also looking for a pet store. And there will be 9 or 10 lots in the front portion of the development where we will possibly have a bank, a restaurant, and maybe some fast food restaurants,” he said. “Aldi is really determined to come to Natchez. They are more anxious to come to Natchez than Vicksburg at this point. This development will generate lots of property taxes and sales taxes.”

The development is also expected to create approximately 300 new jobs in Natchez.

Gibson said he plans to meet with Walmart officials and the Natchez school board quickly. He noted that the school district will not spend funds to make these changes, and no estimate of the cost has been determined.

Ward 1 Alderman Valencia Hall asked why the city would have to pay anything for making this change, noting that it is an MDOT-owned intersection. Gibson agreed with her assessment of the situation.

Ward 3 Aldermen Sarah Carter Smith said it should be made clear that the city is not paying “for the development of anything, except to sell the property.”

Gibson said the next step is for MDOT to approve the move.