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Former Chattanooga-Hamilton planning chair addresses county mayor’s comments

Staff file Photo by Seth Carpenter / Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Commission Chair Ethan Collier, center, speaks during a hearing. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly did not reappoint Collier to the position, which he has held for 12 years. Vice Chair Chris Anderson, right, will serve as interim chair. Staff file Photo by Seth Carpenter / Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Commission Chair Ethan Collier, center, speaks during a hearing. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly did not reappoint Collier to the position, which he has held for 12 years. Vice Chair Chris Anderson, right, will serve as interim chair.

By Raymon Troncoso July 13, 2026 4 min read

The now-former chair of a regional planning board issued parting remarks Monday as Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp prepare to select his replacement.

Ethan Collier, a prominent Chattanooga home builder, defended his tenure while accepting the mayors’ decision. Collier has been the head of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission since being tapped for the job by former Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke and former County Mayor Jim Coppinger over 12 years ago.

“Frankly, in that period of time, growth has gotten out of control in some parts of the county. People across the county are rightfully frustrated,” Wamp said in a video posted to Facebook over the weekend. “Residential growth has outpaced infrastructure investments. We haven’t thought enough about school capacity, and we don’t need a conflict — we don’t need a developer leading the Planning Commission.”

Collier addressed Wamp’s remarks Monday during the Planning Commission’s meeting.