A subdivision with 129 single-family homes and 95 townhomes proposed near Ooltewah Elementary School by developer Jay W. Bell got a thumbs up Monday from local planners even though some neighbors at the McKenzie Farm subdivision next door didn’t like parts of the proposed development.
“We’re just trying to work with what the market seems to be wanting right there,” Bell told commissioners.
But during a public hearing Monday, McKenzie Farm homeowner Jeffrey Tyndall objected to the townhomes proposed to be built in Bell’s planned unit development.
Jay Bell with Bell Development spoke during a business roundtable discussion at the Times Free Press on Tuesday. Area business leaders discussed several topics, including the economy, the real estate market, and the potential effect of health care reform on their companies. “A smaller amount of townhouses may be appropriate,” said Tyndall, who works as a planner. “What I’m against is the proposed density, which is much more than anything you’ve seen in the area.”
But planning commissioner Eric Myers, an architect who described himself as an “urbanist” or someone who’s focused on urban design, said it made sense to have dense housing near the elementary school so students could walk there – like he did while growing up.
“This is density right next to a public school – which is great,” Myers said. “I really think this is good planning.”
Chattanooga City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem made the motion to approve the project, which got unanimous approval.
The planning commission staff had recommended that the new subdivision provide a pedestrian connection off Sweetfern Drive through a proposed community lot – something that Bell didn’t want. Hakeem sided with the developer over planning commission staff, and struck that from his motion.
Bell has tentatively named the subdivision Snowy Owl.
“We’re going to name it ‘Snowy Owl,’ or something,” Bell said. “We don’t know yet, but we’ll come up with a great name.”
In other business:
* The planning commission declared as surplus property the old fire station at 1600 Central Ave. that’s housed the YCAP Boxing Club since 2006. That means that instead of renting the building for a nominal fee of $1 a year from the city, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga can buy the building from the city for $10. Once the YMCA owns the building, it will pay for repairs to it, such as fixing a leaky roof, YMCA President and CEO Janet Dunn said after the meeting.
* Young Life Chattanooga, a group whose mission is to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ, had sought to rezone a residence 912 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. from an R-1 residential zone of an R-4 special zone, so it could be used as an office. The planning commission staff recommended denying the rezoning, stating in a report it was “not compatible with surrounding uses.” That was OK with Young Life Director David Haskins, since neighborhood representatives had objections.
“We’re in the business of building bridges with neighborhoods, not building walls,” Haskins told commissioners as he asked them to deny the project.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/MeetsForBusiness or twitter.com/meetforbusiness or 423-757-6651.