Hixson residents put off by zoning deferral

Hixson residents were all scowls at the Hamilton County Commission meeting Wednesday.

People opposing a rezoning at Thrasher Pike and Middle Valley Road came out in droves and left angry after County Commissioner Marty Haynes — their commissioner — deferred discussion on the issue for two more weeks.

Polestar Development, a subsidiary of The Hutton Co., is seeking to rezone four properties at the north Hixson intersection to build a 41,117-square-foot grocery store with gasoline pumps on 7.87 acres. The developer will not say who the planned tenant is, but Hutton Co. is the builder for Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Market grocery stores.

Residents at Wednesday’s meeting — and at several other public meetings — are concerned about traffic increasing in the area. And many say there’s no need for another grocery store.

“We have five grocery stores within five minutes. We have six or seven pharmacies within five minutes — one of them delivers. And we have six or seven gas stations. We don’t need a grocery store,” said Lenox Trace resident Susan Kile.

Kile was at the meeting Wednesday with several others from her neighborhood, a nearby 52-townhome development off Gann Road. Most of her neighbors would prefer a restaurant at the corner lot, she said.

Kile also said residents are OK with added traffic for the new Ganns Middle Valley Elementary School being built up the street. But the grocery store would put the roads at capacity.

Neighbors also are concerned about a possible increase in crime that could come with a larger development.

Haynes said after the meeting he understands all of their concerns, but half the people he’s talked to are in favor of the store going in.

“This is a no-win situation for me with this vote,” Haynes said.

The deferral was his way of trying to bring the community and the developer closer to some kind of compromise, he said.

“I understand the frustration today, but I think it’s important to talk about this because part of the lot is already zoned commercial. I know they want it voted down, but there are people who support it. More discussion is not going to hurt,” Haynes said.

He hasn’t made up his mind, he said. He’s still waiting to get information from the developers and school officials to determine how many more delivery trucks would be coming and going in the area.

He’s also meeting with at least two more neighborhood associations in the area this week.

“I’m trying to talk with as many people as I can. Nobody’s trying to hide anything. I’m trying to be as above board as possible,” Haynes said.

Haynes said he wanted to give neighbors and the developer more time to work out differences.

Also during Wednesday’s meeting, a developer seeking a 14-year tax break to build a 64-unit apartment in Chattanooga’s downtown took fire from commissioners.

UTC Five, a part of Walk2Campus Properties, is seeking to build a complex at 500 Lindsay St. It’s mostly single-bedroom housing geared toward young professionals, including 16 efficiencies the developer will rent for $750 a month.

According to River City Co. President and CEO Kim White, $750 is “affordable” for residents making $31,000 and under, which is 80 percent of the county’s median salary.

In return for the affordable housing, Walk2Campus is asking for a 10-year property tax freeze on the development — not including the school system’s cut — then a stair-step tax increase over the next four years.

Chattanooga City Council members narrowly approved the move Tuesday in a 5-4 vote.

It’s unclear if the county’s vote will be as close, but not all commissioners are on board.

Commissioner Tim Boyd questioned giving a private development a tax incentive when the project wasn’t going to add jobs. He added that District 8, which he represents, only ever pays for tax incentives.

“The rental rates across Hamilton County are around $1 per square foot across the board. That’s including property taxes. I’m having a really, really hard time with this particular one,” Boyd said.

Commissioners will vote on the housing tax incentive next week.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon atlbrogdon@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6481.