HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- A controversial plan to guide growth in unincorporated Hamilton County could soon be back up for consideration.
Plan Hamilton has been a years-long effort on how growth for unincorporated Hamilton County should be guided.
Back in June, a version of that plan was tabled by Hamilton County Commissioners over various concerns including how much developers would be allowed to build.
Since the tabling of the previous resolution in June, a moratorium on the new developments being approved has since been lifted.
Wednesday, we learned where efforts to bring this plan back stand.
Commissioner Lee Helton says that he is attempting to broker a deal between the citizens who have worked on the plan, and the Chattanooga Homebuilder’s Association, whom he says have recently submitted several amendments to the plan.
Helton said, “I think we’re getting close to something, we’re not there yet, but we’re very close. When you have both groups terribly angry at you, you’re getting somewhere.”
Helton’s proposal calls for changes to density in agricultural and residential zones.
He says these reductions include only allowing 1.5 homes per acre on agricultural zones, 5 homes per acre in residential zones with sewer access, and only 3 homes per acre in residential zones on septic.
Helton said, “It also provides provisions for wider setbacks. It pushes homes further from the road. It also secures the right of way for future infrastructure improvements.”
Some residents say they are concerned about the demands brought by the Homebuilder’s Association. One resident here on Signal Mountain say they are concerned about several ongoing developments and their impact like the Santcuary at Signal Forest right behind me, and what it could mean for the population of the schools such as Thrasher and Nolan Elementary Schools.
Resident Woody Lester told commissioners, “I believe Area 7 and District 2 of Plan Hamilton is being exploited for profit at the sake of residents and their families… In five years, Nolan enrollment increased by 16.5% and Thrasher by 11.5%. We are double the estimated growth in just half the time. We are currently in a school crisis. Our classrooms are crowded and only getting worse. building more expensive homes at a greater density is not acceptable.”
The Homebuilder’s Association declined to comment today.
This plan may be on the county commission’s agenda as soon as next week.
