North Hickory Creek Development Raises Questions about Gas Pipeline, Traffic

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — On Wednesday, the Hamilton County Commission will vote on a rezoning request that will clear the way for several hundred new apartments being built off of Highway 58 and North Hickory Valley Road.

But the request has garnered enormous resistance from residents in the area, over one thousand of whom have signed a petition in opposition to the development, which would would be behind 160 town homes already under construction.

“Let the 160 town homes be completed, and see what impact it has on this intersection and on North hickory Valley Road before going on to rezone and build 700 additional apartments behind them,” said Lynn Buxton.

Near the development is a substation for a gas pipeline that runs parallel to Highway 58. The pipeline runs directly through the proposed development, and concerned residence aren’t confident that development is in compliance with federal pipeline standards.

Roughly half of residents in the development would have to cross the pipeline to exit in the case of an emergency.

“The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration from the Department of Transportation, they mandate that you cannot have islands or cul-de-sacs or one-way egresses that would make someone be isolated in the event of an emergency,” said Ted Pagett.

Residents believe this will compound the issue of increased traffic on North Hickory Valley Road.

“With 800 more apartments on this road, it’s going to cause 5,000 more cars in and out of our neighborhoods, every day. If we have a pipeline eruption or if there is a nuclear incident, we’re trapped on our peninsula. There’s no way in and no way out,” said Jerri Underwood.