Proposal of rural planning commission sparks tense debate over future growth in Hamilton County
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Will Hamilton County create its own planning commission?
That’s what some in county government would like to see.
However, others raised concerns about the message that could send.
Currently, Hamilton County and Chattanooga have a joint planning commission at the Regional Planning Agency.
However, some within county government would like to see county create their own planning commission, which would directly handle zoning cases in unincorporated areas like Sale Creek, Apison, Birchwood, and Harrison.
These are areas that saw much debate and controversy over the passage of Plan Hamilton, as numerous residents from those areas decried that resolution as too developer friendly.
However, some commissioners, like Warren Mackey, say that the continued efforts by residents to speak out against growth in these rural areas was counterproductive to the needed growth to sustain Hamilton County.
Mackey, whose entire district lies inside Hamilton County from the Highway 58 corridor to downtown, argued that in his opinion, these efforts reflected a selfish desire to prevent growth altogether.
He said, “You guys are trying to screw the city of Chattanooga. You guys are trying to get people in Chattanooga’s tax money for your benefit. To build playgrounds in Sale Creek… You don’t intimidate me.”
It is not the first time he has used this kind of rhetoric, calling McDonald Farm, recently designated as a state park, as a “playground for Rhea County”.
Residents of unincorporated areas like Jennifer Duvall say statements like this are disrespectful to those like her seeking a rural lifestyle.
Duvall said, “I don’t want to live in the city. I come from Florida. Name one state that’s been overdeveloped where their infrastructure has been solved. Where their overcrowded schools have been solved. Where their crime has not caught up with the influx of growth.”
Commissioner Joe Graham, whose district is mostly in city limits in Alton Park, St. Elmo, and Lookout Valley, said he’s concerned about the message this sends to city partners.
He said, “This is divisive in many ways, but this is disrespectful to our district. It’s disrespectful to anybody who does not have a district in the unincorporated areas we are talking about here.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp explained that he has had meetings with the city of Chattanooga about this subject, and that this move is not to villainize the city.
He says a new planning commission would be similar to the relationship between the Hamilton County Roads Department and Chattanooga Public Works.
Mayor Wamp said, “It is a change that I think will better serve unincorporated residents, but will also keep together the tradition of the city and county planning together. There would still be a Regional Planning Commission.”
Commissioners over unincorporated areas like Dr. Steve Highlander said this is something they’ve wanted for some time.
Dr. Highlander said, “I think they could concentrate on the city and we could concentrate on the county.”
The Commission to vote on this proposal next Wednesday.
