Mayor Wamp announces proposal for land use exchange for McDonald Farm and Enterprise South Nature Park

The outline of the proposal for land conservation at McDonald Farm, showing 1,300 acres being designated for conservation.

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- The future of McDonald Farm has been the center of debate for years.

Since Hamilton County purchased McDonald Farm and surrounding land in 2019, there have been numerous discussions over whether or not it would become industrial space.

A plan soon to be presented by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp would preserve it in exchange for changes over at Enterprise South Nature Park.

Mayor Wamp said, “We believe that we’ve identified a path to save McDonald Farm, to preserve it for generations to come, but to also expand one of the great industrial parks in the South at Enterprise South.”

The proposal to pull off these moves is through a land use exchange that would change the deed restrictions at both sides.

The plan is to place restrictions on developing 1,300 acres at McDonald Farm in exchange for allowing future industrial development on roughly 535 acres at Enterprise South Nature Park.

The mayor says his office has been in contact with the U.S. Department of Interior since February as the federal government has to sign off on the land exchange through their Lands to Parks Program.

Support letters from Governor Bill Lee, Senator Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, and other representatives have been sent to the Department’s Secretary Doug Burgum.

Representative Greg Vital of Tennessee District 29 said that, “Real estate transactions like this are very complicated… We are excited to balance conservation with economic growth.”

Senator Bo Watson of Tennessee District 11 added, “We have been here to help facilitate conservations between the county and state… We are always open to working with our counties.”

The 500 acres at the Nature Park according to the county is underutilized adjacent to I-75, and not part of the most popular portions of the nature park.

It would act as an extension of the existing industrial park.

Mayor Wamp said, “If you enjoy Enterprise South Nature Park which is run by Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, your experience won’t change.”

That land could be along an extension of Hilltop Drive that is currently in the planning stages, which was proposed to help alleviate traffic congestion between exits 9 and 11 in Ooltewah, could now be a big part of this project.

Mayor Wamp said, “The possibilities and potential that’s unlocked for our region in this proposal, all of a sudden the extension of Hilltop Drive does have a direct economic development impact.”

Meanwhile, he sees the McDonald Farm site being a hub of agritourism as they look to increase recreation opportunities and potentially collaborate with the state for that work.

The 240 acres surrounding the primary farm on Coulterville Road, which has been used for the Hamilton County Fair among other events, would retain its current uses.

Mayor Wamp said, “Regardless of the future activation of the larger tract, which connects to the Cumberland Trail, and we would like to be further developed for recreational purposes, the county intends to continue operating that 240 acres as a county park like we have been over the past few years.”

The mayor added that this is the best use of this property from an economic standpoint, because the farm currently lacks the infrastructure to support large scale industry.

He said that it would cost well over $300 million to ready that site for industry.

The mayor says details are still being ironed out as this announcement had to be made early due to outside circumstances.

Mayor Wamp said, “We’re here, just for context, only because the Times Free Press chose to run a story that is incomplete and we asked them to wait until all the partners could participate and chose not to, and so we’re responding in a timely manner so they can learn about what we think is a really exciting project.”

He said that Commissioner Gene-O Shipley who represents McDonald Farm has been a part of negotiations, along with former Hamilton County Chairman Jeff Eversole.

Mayor Wamp says the finalized plan should appear in front of the Hamilton County Commission and Chattanooga City Council in the coming weeks by early November, as they must approve an initial agreement to be sent to the federal government.

If the federal government approves that plan, it will go back to both the County Commission and City Council for final approval.