Another businessman connected to the controversial Cowart Street apartment project, which was pushed forward by Chattanooga City Councilman Chris Anderson, has been revealed to be a member of Anderson's re-election committee.
Anderson met with residents about the project, which is in his district, and said his constituents supported the project 80-20. He gave interviews in which he said the apartment complex would create jobs and provide housing. At the City Council, he passed an amendment to address opposition to the building, and said that "today's a day where almost everybody is happy," after his amendment passed.
"I hope it's the beginning of a trend where we start building up," said Anderson ahead of the vote.
But City Councilman Larry Grohn, who has butted heads with Anderson in the past, said that Anderson's 'vigorous promotion' of the controversial project over the objections of architects, city planners and even the city's own planning agency, combined with his acceptance of fundraising support from several businessman affiliated with the project, could violate the city's ethics codes.
Cowart Street Development renderingKevin Boehm, the businessman who bought the property at 1200 Cowart Street for $700,000 in 2014, was to have sold it to the developers who would build a seven-story building, several stories higher than zoning codes allow.
Boehm is also a member of the host committee for Anderson's re-election campaign fundraiser, as is Mike Price, the local engineer who spoke on behalf of Belle Investment Group, the would-be developer of the project.
The potential conflict of interest first came to the council's attention after Helen Burns Sharp, a local activist, wrote a complaint alleging that Anderson should have disclosed his tie to Price before voting in favor of a proposed zoning change sought by the developer.
The complaint refers to Section 2-752 of the City Code, titled "Disclosure of personal interest by official with vote:
"An official with the responsibility to vote on a measure shall disclose during the meeting at which the vote takes place, before the vote and so it appears in the minutes, any personal interest that affects or that would lead a reasonable person to infer that it affects the official's vote on the measure." It continues, "In addition, the official shall not lobby any official or employee of the City of Chattanooga or vote on matters in which they have a personal interest."
The council will vote on whether to ask City Attorney Wade Hinton to investigate the complaint at tonight's meeting.
Other members of Anderson's fundraising group listed on a private Facebook page include Bob Chazen, Gary Chazen, Lee Davis and Heather Ott, Martin and Mary Gadd, Carl Greene, Mark Hite, Dale Hixson, Adam and Monica Kinsey, Michael and Liz Mallen, Mitch Patel, Judy and Mike St. Charles, Jim Steffner, Albert Waterhouse and Nick Wilkinson.