The Chattanooga City Council voted Tuesday to pave the way for a $40 million apartment development in Alton Park.
The vote to rezone the property, located on the 4900 block of Central Avenue, from manufacturing to residential zoning, is the first step in a plan that Chattanooga City Councilman Erskine Oglesby, who represents Alton Park, hopes will revitalize the Alton Park community.
"This is a project that, in cooperation with an economic development plan, will bring jobs, bring businesses, and is going to make our area attractive for other economic development opportunities," Oglesby said. "I believe this project has that potential. We just have to put everything aside and work forward to make great things happen in this community."
Not everyone, however, believes the project will be a boon for the area.
The Chattanooga City Council considers giving more time for people to speak at the end of the body's meetings.Gil Shropshire, president of the Alton Park Piney Woods Neighborhood Association, was joined by five other residents to voice concerns about the proposed 264-unit apartment complex that is set to stand on the site of the former Frank Trotter School, across from the former Chattanooga Coke and Chemical plant.
"Homes build communities, not apartments," Shropshire said. "Homeowners will be there and have a voice in what goes on in the community."
Shropshire also raised concerns about possible chemical contamination in the soil and crime rates in the community, but Oglesby reminded everyone that the vote to rezone does not mean the building will begin immediately.
"It's conceivable that this project may not even move forward," Oglesby said. "There's a lot more that needs to be done to get to the actual construction part of it."
Also discussed during the council's planning and zoning committee was a proposal to amend the ordinance for the short-term vacation rental district that is set to have a first vote during the June 13 meeting.
Councilman Chip Henderson said he will present the amendment to extend the deadline for people who live outside the district to request a zoning change of their property for the purpose of permitting short-term rentals.
As the ordinance currently stands, short-term vacation rentals will not be permitted in R-3 and R-4 zones, meaning people who live outside the district will not be able to rezone their property for the purpose of short-term vacation rental once the ordinance is passed.
"People are caught unaware that we are about to do something that is going to affect or change what they've been doing," said Henderson. "My intent for this is sort of a wake-up call for anyone who is outside of this [district] to give them one last chance to come into compliance before we shut it off completely."
Several council members voiced their own opinions on the amendment.
"I think the ordinance as it is now is great," said Councilwoman Carol Berz. "The amendment gives me pause."
Opponents, including Cynthia Stanley-Cash, North Brainerd Neighborhood Association President, disagreed with the amendment, saying people have had "plenty of time to apply for rezoning."
Henderson pointed out that, "just because they apply does not mean they will be approved."
The potential of hiring a vendor to track homes that are listed as short-term vacation rentals was also discussed to help enforce compliance with the ordinance. The technology, which would cost $35,000, will automatically send cease and desist letters to the roughly 600 addresses listed. Those within the district will have to apply for a certificate.
People will have 30 days to comply. If people within the district do not comply, the issue will be taken to court and they could be levied fines of $50, at the court's discretion. However, if homeowners operating short-term rentals are outside the district, they will be fined the $50 automatically, which the council is working to make a daily fine.
Chairman Jerry Mitchel said that of the 600 short-term vacation rental listings in the Chattanooga area, only about 60 are within the district, which extends from Missionary Ridge to Lookout Mountain, and from the Georgia state line to the North Shore area.
Contact staff writer Rosana Hughes at rhughes@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @HughesRosana.