About 40 people turned out Monday to express worries to planners over traffic congestion and school overcrowding related to plans for new housing near East Hamilton Middle High School.
Ooltewah residents told Chattanooga planners they're concerned about proposed new housing on a 61-acre tract at 2207 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road adding to their traffic woes and overcrowding to schools.
Chad Jaynes, who lives in the area, said residents aren't opposed to development, but they want it done responsibly.
"Maybe it's time to catch our breaths," he told the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.
A developer originally wanted to put all single-family homes on the tract, but he's reworking his plan to include mixed-use residential development, according to the planning commission staff.
Developer Billy McCoy is slated to come back to the planning panel next month when it will consider both rezoning the property and a planned unit development.
On Monday, McCoy said he understands the need for more road infrastructure in the area.
But, he said, the area is getting more schools and added housing is needed.
Still, Jeff Hoilman, who also lives in the area, said that more traffic congestion could affect the response times of emergency vehicles. That, in turn, could boost homeowner insurance rates, he said.
Hoilman said he thinks it's in everybody's interest to delay further high-density projects until a traffic study is done.
Staff file photo / Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena SmedleyHamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley urged planners to drive out to the area, especially at school start and end times to check out traffic.
Also, she said, 1,000 lots for new homes already have been approved in the area.
"We're not going to be able to commute in this district," Smedley said. "At what point does growth outpace critical infrastructure to a degree it has a negative impact on the community and property values?"
In addition, she said, she understands that expansions to East Brainerd Road and Ooltewah-Ringgold Road may take eight to 10 years to complete.
"I need some help," Smedley told the planning commission.
McCoy, however, said that traffic congestion during school start and end times occurs in East Ridge and Lookout Valley.
Kelli Richardson of LDA Engineering told the planning panel that there has been interest in a pedestrian access between a proposed development and East Hamilton Middle High School.
City Commissioner Darrin Ledford told Richardson to check with the Hamilton County Education Department.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.