Rendering of Collegedale Station
Collegedale is growing. Rezoning of a 100-acre tract and approval of a new zoning designation at the commission meeting Monday night will allow for the new development named Collegedale Station.
Property along Apison Pike at Pattentown Road and in front of The Summit, a sports complex owned by Chattanooga, was rezoned to Planned Commercial Development Overlay. This will permit mixed uses of commercial and residential on the same property. The site plan submitted to the city’s planning committee and commissioners provides spaces for small restaurants and banks fronting Apison Pike, a location for a large grocery store and a space that will be available for large retailer.
An apartment complex is planned on an elevated area in the middle of the retail businesses. The developer is also considering the potential for building a hotel at the site. The project is adjacent to an existing nature preserve and will have a greenway that can connect to the Collegedale Greenway, said David Coe with Kimley-Horn, a design consulting firm making the presentation on behalf of Berkley Hall Construction. The land also sits next door to apartments that are currently under construction.
Aesthetics have been considered in planning this development, with the various sections being visually unified by signage, lighting and the architecture. An unexpected problem occurred when the original plans for the apartments exceeded the design requirements established in the city’s ordinance. The buildings were designed to be 100 percent brick versus 50 percent specified in the written regulations. Staff recommendations were compelled to go by the ordinance. However, the commission could override it, which it did. The original plan for the all-brick buildings was approved with a several modifications.
David Barto, representing the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation, asked for the city to make a “heritage donation” of $2,500 for the purchase and renovation of the old spring house. The historic site in Collegedale is 150-160 years old and the size of the lot is just two tenths of an acre. Work will be done to clean up the spring and the area around it. The names of heritage donors will be put on a plaque at the site. Once the project is finished, ownership will revert to the city, said Mr. Barto. It was decided that more discussion of the matter will take place when all members of the commission are present.
An update was given to the commissioners by Rodney Keeton, director of public works, about the request for permission to paint murals throughout Collegedale. At a recent meeting a citizen asked for permission to paint murals at underpasses on Interstate 75 and under a railroad bridge in the city limits. Mr. Keeton said permission was given by TDOT that owns the underpasses but was refused by the railroad. The city would be required to assume full responsibility for the murals under the interstate, he said. He recommended that the paintings be done on large boards that could be attached or removed if needed.