A 29-home subdivision proposed to be built on a Highland Park soccer field won't have any garages facing public streets.
The garages will be positioned toward alleys.
Emerson Burch, president of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association.That was one of the conditions under which GreenTech Homes LLC got the go-ahead Monday from the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission to build the subdivision on the 3.65-acre soccer field bounded by South Hawthorne Street, Bennett Avenue, South Orchard Knob Avenue and an alley north of Anderson Avenue on Tennessee Temple University's former campus.
"My concern - and it should be a concern of the neighborhood - is with narrow lots like this, there would be nothing but garage doors," said planning commission chairman Ethan Collier.
While GreenTech, a construction company that specializes in urban infill, planned to position the homes' garage doors toward alleys, Collier wanted that stipulation added to the agreement in case the property changed hands.
GreenTech plans to build homes that range in price from $189,000 to the low $300,000s, said GreenTech's representative, Mike Price, of MAP Engineers.
In response to questioning by Planning Commissioner and City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem, who represents part of Highland Park, Price said GreenTech would like to open up Anderson Avenue. That avenue currently has a fence across it, part of a perimeter security fence put in place by Tennessee Temple University.
"Our thought is to take the gate out," Price said.
GreenTech has held two community meetings with Highland Park residents to discuss such subjects as the exterior look of the new homes.
"They've been gracious enough to have two meetings with us that have actually been really productive," Emerson Burch, president of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association, told commissioners.
Next, GreenTech is expected to go before the Chattanooga City Council on Nov. 8 for approval of the subdivision.
Other GreenTech developments in Chattanooga include Madison Park "luxury townhomes" on Chattanooga's Southside and the company's biggest development, the 80-home North Shore Heights that's under construction on Dartmouth Street near Curve Street in North Chattanooga.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/MeetsForBusiness or twitter.com/meetforbusiness or 423-757-6651.