Lookout Mountain leaders grapple with growth plan

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. — The prospect of residential growth has officials here considering rules to regulate residential and mixed-use development in this mountaintop community of 1,600 people.

“The (City) Council is passionate about doing this right,” Mayor Tommy Gifford said.

The proposed Planned Unit Development, or PUD, ordinance “would set a level of control over land use within the city that doesn’t exist at present,” the mayor said.

More than 200 residents attended a public hearing Monday night.

Opponents said a PUD would allow high density development that would overtax the local infrastructure. Proponents said that without a PUD ordinance there is little way to guide growth.

The ordinance was spurred on by two recently proposed developments: Town Center and Chapelbrow.

After the Mountain Market was destroyed by fire in August 2007, property owner Scottie Maclellan proposed development of a town center on the land, which also had City Hall and some other retail businesses.

Chapelbrow is a proposed community of 150 to 200 single-family and multifamily homes, independent and assisted living units, amenities and retail services built adjacent Covenant College.

Frank Brock, one of Chapelbrow’s developers and a former president of Covenant College, offered “an apology for stirring this mess up.”

He said current zoning laws would not support a complex that incorporates recreational, residential and commercial use on one site, he said.

“We need a process to grow,” Mr. Brock said. “I’ve always been in favor of planning, and the questions raised tonight are very important. What does Lookout Mountain really want? What does it want to look like in the future?”

Many residents organized to oppose the ordinance.

“Our main concern is not that we object to a PUD — it is forward looking — but we feel this is being rushed,” said Gail Bryan of the group Lookout For Smart Growth.

Members cite concerns that storm water runoff, sanitary sewers and traffic were not adequately addressed.

Supporters said the ordinance would preserve their beloved community.

Henry Glasscock, a mountain resident and real estate appraiser, said a PUD ordinance could be an asset but it needs to be tightened.

“Please, look before you leap,” he advised the council and mayor.

Council members decided to discuss the ordinance during work sessions in April and hold more public meetings before taking a vote.

Thompson Pettway, a newly appointed member of the city’s planning commission, said he doesn’t know all about how the ordinance was drafted, but said growth in the area is a certainty.

“Change is not always good — look at the stock market,” Mr. Pettway said. “There is a lot of land to be developed. We’ve got to do something with a PUD-type ordinance to control what can happen when that development comes.”