Proposals amid Plan Hamilton debate inspire different reactions
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The ongoing controversy over a plan to redefine the future of unincorporated Hamilton County was brought to the forefront due to two proposals designed to slow growth in front of the Hamilton County Commission.
Commissioner Mike Chauncey commented, “I’m just getting frustrated because we just keep putting it off and putting it off.”
Two proposals struck at the heart of the controversy in Plan Hamilton.
One proposal would halt new construction from Ooltewah to Birchwood.
The other would base permits on buildable land, not total acreage.
For example, if a property is ten acres, but was deemed to only have three acres of buildable land, then the owner would only be allowed to build on those three acres.
On one side of the debate were realtors and homebuilders, who were represented in a large number during Wednesday’s Commission meeting.
They argue the proposal would drive up costs in a time where affordable housing is becoming harder to find.
Julian Bell of the Chattanooga Homeowner’s Association said, “We are losing people. People that work here are now living outside of our county because they can’t afford it. Our children and our grandchildren, my grandchildren don’t here but they couldn’t afford to do so and they have good jobs.”
However, there were a couple of residents who actually supported these proposals, saying that while they don’t necessarily oppose growth, they want to see it done responsibly.
One resident, Barry Glasscock, said, “It will also help protect the rural characteristics of many areas of the county by limiting overdevelopment and protecting open spaces.”
Some commissioners, such as Warren Mackey and David Sharpe however, say that growth is inevitable.
Commissioner Mackey said, “You can’t have it both ways. You can’t have the luxury of all this expanded land without development and want city people to pay for it.”
“If we want lower taxes, we need higher density. If we want improved or consistent services, we need higher density. It’s just how it works, it’s math, can’t argue with it,” added Commissioner Sharpe.
The Commission will discuss these proposals at their February 26th meeting.
Plan Hamilton is planned to be presented sometime in the Spring.
