The city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County are working through next steps after the latter decided to withdraw from a shared planning agency for housing and development.
The Hamilton County Commission voted earlier this month to give County Mayor Weston Wamp the authority to sever a contract with the Regional Planning Agency, a jointly funded bureau that provides staff reports to elected and appointed officials on proposed developments and rezoning cases.
“The county is currently working through key details and developing a budget,” Haley Burton, press secretary for the County Mayor’s Office, said Friday. “An interlocal agreement with the city of Chattanooga will outline the future share of responsibilities for the Regional Planning Commission.”
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Zoning and subdivision cases worked on by the planning agency are brought to the Planning Commission, a 15-member volunteer body with equal representation of appointees from both mayors. The commission makes the final decision on subdivisions and votes to make recommendations in zoning cases. Depending on where the case is, the recommendation is given to the County Commission or the City Council for ultimate approval.