Chattanooga leaders next week will consider “view zoning” to protect the city’s iconic views and historic landscapes.
On Monday, a proposed ordinance will come before the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Commission to protect the views of the crests, slopes and bases of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Orchard Knob, Stringer’s Ridge and Billy Goat Hill.
Sponsored by Chattanooga City Councilman Peter Murphy, the proposed ordinance will require special permits for any building taller than 35 feet within 1,000 feet of the defined base of certain historic and scenic high points around Chattanooga.
“In all the recent polls and surveys we’ve had, both Chattanoogans and visitors rated scenery as the No. 1 attraction for Chattanooga. And second (in ratings) is the city’s history,” Murphy said.
“We can’t protect every hill or every mountain, and the city doesn’t own every mountain that makes this a beautiful area,” he said. “So what I asked planners to look at were the most scenic and historic areas.”