Rezoning an apartment complex on Fairmount Avenue to make it smaller only would mean the Chattanooga Housing Authority would renovate the property and add as many people as allowed, an attorney said Tuesday.
“CHA will take the appropriate action to protect its asset,” said Phil Fleenor, an attorney working for the Chattanooga Housing Authority.
The City Council voted three weeks ago on a four-month building permit moratorium in the area. The council also asked a rezoning study be commissioned, and that is under way. The property is zoned for apartments, but it could be changed to townhome use. That would allow for only eight to 10 townhomes in the area.
The housing authority has proposed building a $4.2 million complex with 36 units.
Mr. Fleenor asked the council Tuesday to lift the moratorium and abandon the study.
Council Chairman Jack Benson said that when he drove up to the apartments, he thought there might be a public safety hazard. Firetrucks would have to knock cars off the side of the road just to get into the complex, he said.
“I was horrified when I made my trip and saw where we were putting that high density,” he said.
But Councilman Andraé McGary questioned whether the road already was unsafe.
“That has nothing do with the housing authority and everything to do with the existing road,” he said. “We have a problem whether the housing authority does anything.”
CHA officials proposed Tuesday that a secondary road could be built into the complex. Fire Chief Randy Parker said the proposed road would be too steep for firetrucks and other heavy equipment to ascend.
The council took no action Tuesday. The rezoning study is expected to come before the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission in February.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
The Chattanooga Housing Authority said several requirements would have to be met for residency in the proposed apartment complex on Fairmount Avenue. They include:
* Criminal background check
* Establishing an escrow account
* Hold a job
* Establish educational goals for adults and children
Source: Chattanooga Housing Authority