Signal Mountain residents discuss ways to preserve endangered plant species at the Hangstefer Property while examining the land on Aug. 2. A small development of single-family homes has been proposed for the site.Town of Signal Mountain Planning Commission officials and several community members addressed environmental concerns related to the proposed development of the Hangstefer Property on Shackleford Ridge Road, during a site walk Aug. 2.
If approved, the development, proposed by GreenTech Homes, will bring eight single-family houses to the 19.3-acre property by 2018. The company has created several other local developments, such as the Madison Park and Highland Park communities in Chattanooga, but naturalists on the site walk worried this one would destroy the two endangered plant species currently inhabiting the land: small whorled pogonias and large-flowered skullcaps.
“We have people who are very sensitive to environmental conservation and will make sure that every step is taken that can be taken to protect these seeds,” said Mayor Dick Gee, in reference to the concerns expressed by many of those on the site walk.
Small whorled pogonias, found on one of the eight proposed lots so far, are listed as endangered under the Tennessee Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act of 1985, and large-flowered skullcaps, found on two, are listed as threatened.
Though site walk attendees expressed concerns about both species, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Natural Heritage Program Manager David Lincicome said skullcap has been transplanted successfully in the past, making its relocation less of a concern.
Suggestions to save the plants included moving them to a nearby plant nursery or to another area of the property, but most of the discussion revolved around the pogonia, which TDEC biologist Andrea Bishop said is fragile and might not survive the moving process.
“We don’t know how successful that will be because it’s an orchid, and orchids are pretty unique and finicky,” Bishop said. “So it’s a plea. Really, we’re doing a plea to try and save it.”
While suggestions to protect the pogonia included creating a buffer around the orchid to prevent development in that spot, the property is located on private land, which Gee said puts limitations on the restrictions local government can create and what it can impose on the landowner.
Despite these limits, Mike Price, owner of MAP Engineers, said he and the developers are willing to listen to residents and protect the natural area.
“We’re not just out here to rake and pillage,” Price assured those on the site walk, adding, “We want to do the right thing and do what is environmentally responsible as it relates to the property.”
Other concerns addressed included protection of an intermittent stream and the natural slopes on the property. Price said his team has already identified where the stream starts and ends and will place a 30-foot buffer at either side to prevent it from being developed.
The slopes are covered under the town’s conservation easement requirement, which applies to all development, and must be conserved since they carry more than a 25 percent grade, to prevent erosion issues. Price said the developers will discuss deeding that land to a qualifying group, such as the Chattanooga River Gorge.
The Planning Commission met to discuss the concerns on Aug. 4 and will meet again to decide whether to recommend the plans for approval by the Town Council. That date is not yet set, as the developer needs to first submit a preliminary plat showing exactly where the lots will be.
Contact Myron Madden at mmadden@timesfreepress.com or 757-6423.