Reba McEntire's son Shelby Blackstock, biz partner to build 'age in' Wilson County homes
Shelby Blackstock, the son of McEntire and her ex-husband Narvel Blackstock, is a partner in the development being called Cumberland Oaks. The County Commission recently approved two variances to move the project forward. Shelby Blackstock and business partner Austin Recht make up B&R Lebanon Investments, which now owns the property.
"This is my home, this is not a normal development for us," Blackstock said to commissioners. "I wanted to come in and do something very, very special."
Cumberland Oaks will be built on approximately 407 acres on Bates Road, Estes Road and Chalford Place near the Sumner County line, Cumberland River and State Route 109.
The design has a variety of building plans that will include starter homes, step-up homes and homes to downsize that can allow residents to transition at different life stages within the neighborhood, said Caleb Thorne of RaganSmith, representing the developers.
As proposed, approximately 58% of the Cumberland Oaks site will remain open land that could have a variety of opportunities, Thorne said.
There will also be a wide variety of home styles and sizes.
A marina clubhouse that could act as a bed and breakfast is also part of the plan, Thorne said.
McEntire and Narvel Blackstock purchased the property in the early 1990s "when it was just a thicket hunting land," Shelby Blackstock said, addressing commissioners. The partnership declined further comment.
Cumberland Oaks is planned as a "destination community," Thorne said. "It's something new for Wilson County."
Wilson County commissioners approved a rezone and Planned Unit Development back in November. However, two variance requests that were not approved needed revisions and went back to county commissioners in February.
Both variances were approved, one that increased a request for a minimum building separation to 20 feet and another that addressed minimum lot size.
The vote to approve the rezone in November was 18-6, with some concerns expressed about spillover traffic to nearby State Route 109 and Coles Ferry Pike.
McEntire and Narvel Blackstock previously lived in Wilson County near the Cumberland Oaks property in a home now used as a wedding and events venue just off Highway 109.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter @ AndyHumbles.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Reba McEntire's son plans to build 435 homes in Middle Tennessee
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