The staff of the Regional Planning Agency is now opposing a proposed
new open-air lifestyle center that has been proposed on 175 acres in Hixson.
The RPA staff originally recommended a deferral until the infrastructure was in place to handle the major project located near Highway 153 and Dayton Boulevard.
But planners said Thursday the recommendation has been changed to denial, saying it is "not in compliance with the Hixson-North River Community Plan."
RPA officials said a number of Hixson residents have called to oppose the project.
The matter comes before the Planning Commission on Monday at 1 p.m. at the County Courthouse.
There are currently three single family houses on the large tract.
The zoning request is for a mixed use planned commerce center.
Tom DuPre, who is handling the transaction, said the center will include upscale shops built in clusters as well as offices and condominiums.
He said there will be a large buffer area around the development.
Mr. DuPre said developers are willing to put in a new $5 million intersection that would lead to the site and also open up other land at Dayton Boulevard to development.
The intersection would involve a new overpass from Highway 153 leading to a new connection with Boy Scout Road.
Mr. DuPre said the new parkway would connect to the new interchange.
He said the development "is not a mall. It is unlike any other development that Chattanooga now has." He said it will be similar to The Summit at Birmingham.
Mr. DuPre said there will be a number of different architectural styles following a broad theme.
He said the actual development would be on a tract of about 90 acres, and there would be another 8-acre section of development.
He said the project may take 2 1/2 to 3 years before it is ready to open.
A number of retailers at Hamilton Place as well as elsewhere have expressed an interest in locating there, he said.
The land is owned by Jack Lonas.
Mr. DuPre said he is working with a couple of unnamed developers.
Here is the new recommendation of the RPA:
APPLICATION NO: 2002-098 JURISDICTION: Chattanooga Dist. #3
Hamilton County Dist. #3
APPLICANT: Cumberland Realty Group
DATE OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING: June 10, 2002
LOCATION: 116 Dodson Road
PRESENT ZONING: R-1 Residential Zone
REQUEST FOR: C-4 Planned Commerce Center Zone
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: Mixed Use Planned Commerce Center
SIZE OF TRACT: 175.72 Acres +
ACCESS TO TRACT: Good
SITE CHARACTERISTICS: Three Single Family Houses
SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT: Undeveloped
EXTENSION OF EXISTING ZONE: No
IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAND USE PLAN: No
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Deny
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:
Their request is not in compliance with the Hixson-North River Community Plan.
This was the earlier recommendation from the RPA staff:
APPLICATION NO: 2002-098 JURISDICTION: Chattanooga Dist. #3
Hamilton County Dist. #3
APPLICANT: Cumberland Realty Group
DATE OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING: June 10, 2002
LOCATION: 116 Dodson Road
PRESENT ZONING: R-1 Residential Zone
REQUEST FOR: C-4 Planned Commerce Center Zone
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: Mixed Use Planned Commerce Center
SIZE OF TRACT: 175.72 Acres +
ACCESS TO TRACT: Good
SITE CHARACTERISTICS: Three Single Family Houses
SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT: Undeveloped
EXTENSION OF EXISTING ZONE: Yes
IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAND USE PLAN: Yes
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Defer until the infrastructure (i.e., roads and utilities) is in place to support a large commercial development in this area.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION:
There has been no review or approval of TDOT for the improvements to Boy Scout Road or Tennessee Highway 153 at this time to support the needed road connections on the proposed site plan.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton Air Pollution Control Bureau has expressed concerns over large expansions of parking areas for the emissions of pollutants that could cause some concern for Chattanooga to not be in compliance with air quality standards.