The Chattanooga CCIM Chapter Board of Directors said it has concerns regarding the proposed changes to the Stormwater Management Ordinance of the Chattanooga City Code.
The group said, "We fully support adherence to the strict standards set forth by TDEC, which is tasked with overseeing Chattanooga's Stormwater Management System. We support enacting legislation to maintain compliance with the required standards and implementing regulations designed to encourage environmentally sound practices, for the betterment of future economic development and smart growth of our great city.
"However, we caution against, and urgently request the Mayor's Office and the City Council, to refrain from unnecessarily imposing additional strict regulations that go far above and beyond the required standards set by TDEC, which add undue logistical and economic constraints limiting reasonable future development.
"We are joined by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Home Builders Association, the General Contractors Association and others, and call attention to these seven issues, which need to be addressed prior to the approval of the new ordinance."
"Buffers" should remain the size as defined in the TDEC permit (30 or 60 feet).
A variance board should be appointed.
The 5-year moratorium on property development, if trees are harvested from a site, should be removed.
The regulations should be applicable to development that disturbs land of one acre or more, not parcels as small as 5,000 square feet.
A Grandfather Clause should be established for existing permit holders.
The excessive 1.6" Stay-on-Volume requirement in the South Chick watershed should be reduced.
A step by step procedure that offers a pathway to compliance should be enacted following TDEC standards.
The statement is from Jelena Butler, CCIM 2014 president; Lee Harper, CCIM immediate past president; Josh Fox, CCIM; Bill Raines, CCIM incoming president; Robert Fisher, CCIM; Jason Lehn, director; Sally Bacon, director; Brian Eades, MAI director; Judy Webster, director, and Joe del Valle, director.