Study finds McDonald Farm not most ideal site for industrial development

McDonald Farm (Courtesy: Office of Mayor Weston Wamp)

SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF)- Five years ago, the Hamilton County Government purchased McDonald Farm in Sale Creek with the intention of developing industrial space.

However, a new study is telling them it may not be so easy to pull off that vision.

Several commissioners voiced their displeasure with the finding of industrial development being unviable at McDonald Farm.

Commissioner Warren Mackey remarked, “I got to tell you, your report was enlightening, and it’s good for Rhea County. You know part of McDonald Farm is in Rhea County and they are as happy as they can be… with our money.”

However, residents say they believe there is untapped potential in the agricultural history of the homestead that could lend itself to our tourism economy.

Consultant Randall Gross told commissioners that the farm’s remote location combined with infrastructure would make industrial development prohibitively expensive.

He said it would cost the county $360,000 per manufacturing job created to make it work.

Gross also said there’s about the half the acreage suitable for manufacturing than previously thought.

Gross said, “The industrial development is somewhat limited by the lack of interstate highway access, so it would be difficult, more of a challenge to attract industrial types of uses there, manufacturing uses. Much of the industrial development we are seeing in the region right now is in distribution types of uses.”

While some commissioners continue to insist that factories need to be built here at McDonald Farm to justify their purchase five years ago, supporters of McDonald Farm staying in its more natural state say there are other economic opportunities outside of just manufacturing.

Mason Esslinger says he is a descendent of the McDonalds.

He drove from South Carolina to be present for the discussion, as he says the preservation of the farm is very important to him.

He said, “McDonald Farm could be really one of the more unique places in East Tennessee. It is not just some field on the side of the road to develop… The educational and cultural opportunities, mixed with the recreation. There could be a very large recreational economic benefit to Hamilton County. Concerts, farm events, and actually utilizing agriculture once more, and you tie all of those in together.”

Other commissioners say the discussion has just started.

Commissioner Jeff Eversole said, “The doom and gloom as far as the county looks at it, I don’t know, in my mind do we need to just sell it?”

Gross says he is planning to do more studies on the property to further analyze its full economic potential.

The Commission will discuss the property more next week during an economic committee session.