McDonald Farm receives grant as zoning debate continues

SALE CREEK, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County has secured important funding related to development at McDonald Farm in Sale Creek.

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development awarded a three million dollar grant for water infrastructure to be installed.

This is one of 12 grants awarded across the state totaling 18 million dollars.

According to a statement from the county’s director of development services, this project will “Use the grant toward extending the waterline on Coulterville Road and looping it back around to the main waterline on Highway 27, which will provide industrial grade water to the property.”

Janway says this water project will take two years to complete.

This decision follows debate on the future of the farm last week as initial approval for rezoning into commercial and industrial space was received from the Regional Planning Agency.

Janeway, told residents nothing has been set in stone on what kind of development could happen at McDonald Farm as he said at that meeting, “The comprehensive plan is not finished. We think it will be some time this spring when we have a draft document we can take before Commission.”

Some Sale Creek residents did voice their concerns about the rezoning and its impacts referencing initial events at the farm such as the Hamilton County Fair.

One resident, Kelly Bryson, said, “We’re not opposed to the construction and the development at all, but I would to say during the fair that we love, we’re two miles from where the bandstand was and we could hear 100 percent of everything, really clearly to my house.”

Jim Stewart of the Chattanooga Audubon Society, who owns some trails near McDonald Farm, said, “Many people visit or move to Hamilton County for its beautiful outdoors. Why don’t we leverage that instead of destroying it?”

Janeway reassured that making outdoor spaces is a priority for the county as he said, “That was part of the discussion with the RPA was how do we get the most flexibility for future use, but still maintain the ability to do the County, to do trails, to do connections to the Cumberland Trail.”

The Hamilton County Commission will have final approval of the rezoning to commercial and industrial space.