As Hillocks Farm developer Duane Horton’s rezoning request passed on first reading Feb. 11, District 1 Chattanooga City Councilman Chip Henderson said he would like to see the community review committee he and fellow Councilmen Jerry Mitchell and Ken Smith set up continue to assist with future developments.
The Hixson Community Review Committee consists of area business and community leaders as well as representatives from neighborhoods surrounding the development and from local organizations such as the Friends of Hixson and North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy.
The group held six meetings with the developer and city representatives to help iron out a plan for a development that better fit in with the surrounding community. Many neighboring residents had concerns about the original plans proposed by Horton for the 190-acre development at Highway 153 and Boy Scout Road. Originally referred to as “Chattanooga Village,” the revised project has been dubbed “Hillocks Farm.”
Committee members such as Jerry Jones, who was once vocally opposed to the project, helped Horton establish 39 conditions relating to issues such as stormwater concerns and installing a buffer zone around the development, which ultimately satisfied the opposition.
“We spent hours battling out these conditions,” Jones said, speaking in support of the development, before the Feb. 11 vote.