The November financial report presented to the Collegedale Commission Monday night was readily approved with a positive vote. Revenue was received as anticipated at 42 percent of the way through the fiscal year and expenditures are right on track at 41 percent of the amount planned for, said City Manager Ted Rogers. Building permits, however, are already at 121 percent of the amount projected in the budget. This is a direct reflection of the major level of construction taking place in the city, he said.
Updates were given by Strategic Planner Kelly Martin and Building Codes Officer Andrew Morkert, on the commercial development that is in progress in Collegedale.
The city is getting close to issuing permits for a five-unit office plaza to be built on Little Debbie Parkway. It has no committed tenants yet, said Mr. Morkert, but when leased, the units will be built-out according to the tenants’ needs.
Apison Pike is being widened to accommodate all the new building in the area. Collegedale Station, a mixed use development of housing, shopping, restaurants and banks, is being built along the road and construction of a 286-apartment complex will follow. The “North American site” also is being aggressively marketed by the owner to commercial interests. There is also ongoing interest with property at the elementary school site. Another five-unit office center is getting ready to break ground on Lee Highway, said Mr. Morkert. Permits for it have just been issued.
The company hired by Collegedale to market the city to retailers has been gathering data with the help of Mr. Martin. Demographics have done nothing but improve since beginning the project, he said. After the first of the year, representatives from that company plan on meeting with the commissioners to show what they have done so far to bring businesses into the city.
The commissioners voted unanimously to continue participating in the Hamilton County water quality interlocal agreement. City Attorney Sam Elliott said the small municipalities in the county have joined to form the water quality management program to deal with stormwater regulations and controls that have been imposed by the federal government.
Several amendments to ordinances regarding the city’s zoning were passed on second and final reading. One authorized the city to participate in the national flood protection plan developed by FEMA. This was required in order for citizens of Collegedale to be able to buy flood insurance.
Another amendment cleaned up the zoning ordinance that deals with MT-TC (Metropolitan Urban Town Center) which formerly had references throughout, dealing with the prohibition of billboards. Mr. Martin told the commissioners that regulations for billboards are in the sign ordinance rather than in zoning.
Another “housekeeping” item eliminated the definition of multi-family units from the zoning ordinance because it duplicated the definition of apartments.
Alex Loza, an artist and resident of Collegedale, was given approval for a mural he has designed. It will be painted on the bridge underpass on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road by the greenway next to Veterans Park. It is meant to honor veterans from all five branches of the U.S. military. This is the first of three murals that have been planned. Another will be positioned beside the playground, Imagination Station and will represent the Collegedale community. A third is planned to honor Native American heritage. A site has not yet been identified. Work on the one beside Veterans Park will begin when weather allows in spring 2016.