A proposed development in Limestone County described by Huntsville City Council President John Meredith as a “big community” could provide housing for workers at major employers in the area such as Mazda Toyota, Amazon and Polaris.

Huntsville city planner Lady Kassama told the Huntsville Planning Commission on Tuesday that the development fit into the city’s Big Picture master plan for that part of Huntsville in that it provided housing options for workers at the manufacturing facilities just off Interstate 565.

She said the development’s location on nearly 315 acres north of Swancott Road and west of Bilow Road would provide residents direct access to major employers without getting on to an already congested I-565. The development is being called Greenbrier Preserve.

Swancott Road is just off the interstate exit for Greenbrier Parkway.

Kassama told the Planning Commission that the development would include housing of various sizes. Single family homes and townhomes are expected to make up the majority of the development. But the development will also include an apartment component.

Meredith – who represents the area – normally votes against apartments in his district because he feels the city has too many apartments in the pipeline. But he told the Lede he supports this development because it could lead to much needed retail in that part of the city.