Hamilton County Commissioners conduct business during a commission meeting in this file photo.IN OTHER BUSINESSIn other business at a Hamilton County Commission agenda session Wednesday, commissioners considered:• A request to rezone two properties on the 8150 block of Standifer Gap Road from R-1 residential and R-5 single-wide manufactured home to A-1 agricultural• Accepting a $148,245 grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Office for DUI enforcement• Clarifying language in the Hamilton County Employee Handbook to better explain medical benefits for retired employees• Accepting a bid from Morton Salt to buy road salt for the winter months through a state contract
Hamilton County commissioners next week will debate whether to relax the distance requirements between stores that sell beer and churches, schools and other public gathering places in the unincorporated county.
The move would bring the county's 750-foot distance requirement in line with Chattanooga's 200-foot buffer zone and those of other local municipalities.
One commissioner Wednesday voiced concern about the proposal, but others said the measure could make the unincorporated county a bit more competitive for development.
Commissioner Tim Boyd cautioned against loosening the requirements, acknowledging his district was made up mainly of two municipalities -- East Ridge and Chattanooga.
Citing a store he said was "right in the front door" of East Ridge Elementary, he opposed letting beer sales get closer in the outer county.
"Generally, these public gathering places -- churches, parks and schools -- are in place, and there's a lot of land out there to develop not next to these places," Boyd said.
But Mayor Jim Coppinger said the unincorporated county is growing fast, and the current rules even prohibit grocery stores from opening near schools and community centers.
"We have been contacted, not just this one time, but at least two or three occasions, where people are trying to develop -- whether it's grocery stores or multi-use buildings," he said. "The more consistent that we can be with the larger municipalities ... it would just make sense in listening to these developers who come in here and say it's confusing."
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor reminded commissioners that passing this resolution would allow the Hamilton County Beer Board only to consider allowing stores to open closer to schools, and that commissioners still would have final say in zoning matters.
Joe Graham noted that as a reason to pass the measure.
And District 3 Commissioner Marty Haynes, who represents a swath of the unincorporated county, said he was all for it.
"This helps the unincorporated area be more competitive to bring businesses to the unincorporated areas. ... Again, jobs and money don't trump everything, but when a business wants to move in, I think it will be a good thing for growth," Haynes said.
Commissioners will vote on the measure Wednesday.
Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.