County commission debates future use of McDonald Farm

SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF) – The future of McDonald Farm was a hot topic of debate Wednesday at the Hamilton County Commission. 

Hamilton County purchased the McDonald Farm back in 2021.

However, there is still debate nearly three years later on what the county wants to do with the property. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp announced last week his office withdrew a request to rezone the farm into industrial space.

Despite ongoing concerns from community members in Sale Creek, several commissioners seemed more concerned about the consequence of not developing new jobs on the McDonald Farm site.

Commissioner David Sharpe said, “Let’s not take up very valuable space that has access to rail and highway and natural gas.”

Mayor Wamp says his office is reviewing how to incorporate recreational space while maintaining the economic angle of the 871-acre property.

He said, “We feel a need to be more specific with the community about what makes up that 871 and be more surgical in our next proposal.”

The farm’s location is also raising questions about the need for recreational investment.

Commissioner Warren Mackey said, “I would hope that we wouldn’t give false hopes that we’re going to build playgrounds for their neighborhoods. The McDonald Farm is way too valuable, and I would say to the people of Rhea County, Rhea County! No, we’re not building a park for them.”

Commissioner for the District McDonald Farm sits in, Gene-O Shipley says he hopes the commission listens to a recently formed committee on their ideas for the site.

He said, “They’ve got great ideas, but every one of them know there’s going to be some development there… They may have better ideas than we do, they may not, we know it’s not going to be a playground.”

Director of Hamilton County Parks, Karen Shostak said over 40,000 patrons went to the Hamilton County Fair at that farm in November. They also plan to do a follow-up edition of the fair at the farm.

Mayor Wamp believes a more comprehensive plan will be presented by the end of spring as more studies on the area are conducted.