Mountain Creek Road subdivision clears planning commission hurdle

Mike Price, owner of MAP Engineers.
Mike Price, owner of MAP Engineers.

After learning their vote wouldn't make much difference in a subdivision's lot size or traffic impact, a divided Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission on Monday approved a developer's request to rezone 9.8 acres on the south side of Mountain Creek Road near Browntown Road as a planned unit development (PUD) to allow a 43-home development.

Southeast Land Partners got the planning commission's approval to rezone 5440 Mountain Creek Road, despite neighbors' concerns about increased traffic the development would bring to the rural area and that its lot sizes would be smaller than the surrounding neighborhood's lots.

Tara L. Gifford, who lives on Browntown Road near the proposed subdivision, said she chose to live there because houses aren't stacked on top of one another and you're "not looking into someone else's window."

"Making this change opens up the idea that houses shouldn't have a minimum lot size," said Gifford, who presented a petition with 62 signatures against the zoning change.

Another neighbor in opposition told commissioners, "Basically sardines in a can is what they're going to try here."

He said the subdivision would double traffic in the area, which he said already is a problem because drivers use Browntown Road to get to Hixson and bicyclists ride on Browntown Road in groups of 20 to 30 at a time.

The planning commission's staff had recommended commissioners deny the rezoning - but that was based on an initial request of 49 homes.

That was scaled back to 43 units to help win over planners. Mike Price, owner of MAP Engineers, said the proposed development has one house less than the 44 homes that would be allowed under the site's current R1 zoning.

The reason the developer sought a PUD, Price said, was because it allows more flexibility in lot size and use. For example, the PUD would let the developer use some smaller lots as common areas, which Price said would establish green space along two thirds of the subdivision's Mountain Creek Road frontage.

Since the developer could come back and do a regular subdivision with just as much traffic if the rezoning was denied, planning commissioner Yusuf Hakeem made a motion to approve the PUD, which was seconded by T.L. Coker. It passed with three commissioners opposed: Velma Wilson, Donna Williams and Mary Kay Hiatt.

Next, the matter is expected to go to the Chattanooga City Council at its Nov. 8 meeting.

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/MeetsForBusiness or on Twitter @meetfor business or 423-757-6651.

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