MEMPHIS, Tenn. — This week, the Memphis City Council gave a thumbs down to a proposed new high school in an industrial area in Cordova over traffic and safety concerns. So what's next for the proposed school, and will it be built someplace else? The site of MSCS's new Cordova High School was supposed to be along Fischer Steel Road, but ground won't be broken here after Memphis City Council voted down a special use permit for the project. Nearby businesses complained the site would increase traffic and be unsafe for students because the property once had hazardous materials. New Cordova high school plan rejected by City Council "Ask yourself now how many Memphis and Shelby County schools are in a heavy industrial area?" said Memphis attorney Rachel Lambert. "I'll save you the time — none. You want to know why? Because it's not safe for children." But project planners disagree that the site is a hazard. "To suggest that this school number one is a toxic dump is a misstatement that has been proven false," said Corey Brady, project planner. "To suggest that this school number one is a toxic dump is a misstatement that has been proven false." In the end, city council members said they supported the school but this was the wrong site for it. "I hope that Shelby County finds the $212 million to build this school," Councilman J. Ford Canale said. "I support the design. I think it's phenomenal and something our kids deserve, but I think this is the wrong location at this point for this high school." WREG reached out to several MSCS Board Commissioners about the project. Tamarques Porter, who represents Cordova said, "While the vote was not in our favor, I appreciate the City Council’s consideration of the Fischer Steel Road site. While this decision presents a challenge, we remain focused on providing a safe, accessible, and modern school for our students. Our commitment to student safety and community engagement remains strong, and we will continue exploring the best solutions for our students." But was there ever a Plan B for a new school?  "Have we explored additional options? The short and long answer is yes," said MSCS Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins. Feagins told the City Council the challenge is finding a location large enough for a new comprehensive high school. "Most of the barriers we encountered would be size and so, right now, Germantown High School serves well over 1,800 and in my research, pre-COVID, well over 2,000," she said. The new Cordova School was going to replace Germantown High School. First look at new high school planned in Cordova That's because state law requires MSCS to transfer Germantown High School back to the City of Germantown by 2032. Still some council members such as Edmund Ford Sr. questioned whether MSCS ever had the money to build a new school in the first place? "That site that you got is more of dump site to me and you got children who are going to be there," Ford said. "And you mentioned you got the money, which I know you do not." Some city and county leaders have also questioned whether the Cordova High School project's rejection could delay a plan to hand over Germantown Elementary and Middle Schools to the Germantown Municipal School District. WREG has reached out to local school leaders and state lawmakers about that issue. We'll let you know when we hear back.