Members of the Regional Planning Commission have previously approved the plans presented by Polestar Development for a proposed grocery store for the Middle Valley community. The project will now go before the Hamilton County Commission for final approval on Wednesday, March 4.
Representatives from Polestar, an affiliate of the Chattanooga based Hutton Company, shared their plans for the project at Friday’s public meeting at Middle Valley Church of God. The 41,00-square-foot grocery store and fuel center will provide a resource for Middle Valley residents who purchase their groceries and prescriptions from Soddy Daisy or other Chattanooga stores, located more than five miles from the community, said officials.
Current market analysis, performed by ESRI, states that within a one mile radius of the site, 96 percent of every grocery dollar spent “leaks” from the Middle Valley Community and is spent/collected in other municipalities. The result of this project is to recapture that leakage back in to the Middle Valley area, said officials.
It’s estimated that combined property and sales tax revenue could generate $500,000-$600,000 annually. In addition, approximately 95 new jobs.
Polestar’s Matt Phillips said, “Our goal with this project is to provide a place that the Middle Valley community will appreciate both now and in the future. Once complete, the grocery store will be the go-to place for many seniors and families alike who won’t have to drive five plus miles to get food or prescriptions.”
As requested by the Planning Commission, a traffic study was completed as part of the project’s due diligence. It is currently under review by the Hamilton County Traffic Department. Any improvements required, including a dedicated left turn lane, will be 100 percent funded by the developer.
Here is the list of frequently asked questions and answers from the developer:
1. How large is the store?
The store will be 41,117 square feet and will include a pharmacy.
2. How large is the site?
7.87 acres
3. What is the re-zoning request?
2.04 acres is currently zoned C-2, General Commercial District. The request for rezoning is for the remaining 5.83 acres to become C-2 commercial. The request was approved by members of the Regional Planning Commission on January 12, 2015.
4. Has there been any research regarding the store’s effect on traffic in the area?
A traffic study has been performed and submitted for review to the Hamilton County Transportation Department. A dedicated left turn lane from Middle Valley Road in to the site will be installed as part of the project, funded 100 percent by the developer.
5. My home is near the proposed site and I’m concerned about potential light pollution.
It is a requirement of Hamilton County that all site lighting be confined within the property borders of the site. Modern site lighting fixtures are installed with “shoebox” covers and individual LED bulbs both of which give the ability to direct the light to a specific spot and in this case to ensure that it does not leak off the site.
6. How will the site handle stormwater?
All stormwater that hits impervious surfaces such as asphalt or concrete is collected by inlets and will run through an underground system that will feed into two detention ponds, one each at opposite ends of the property. They release stormwater back in to the ground at a slowed rate. These are detention ponds, not retention ponds and will remain dry a vast majority of the time; however, they are designed to hold enough water to accommodate a 100-year event so overflow is unlikely.
7. How many deliveries will be made each day and where will they be made?
Typically there are two deliveries made, via an 18-wheel truck, as well as a couple of direct store delivery trucks that will bring in items from companies like Pepsi or Frito-Lay.
8. What type of landscaping will be used?
Our landscape plan includes 32 various species of trees, shrubs and annuals that exceed the requirements of the Hamilton County Ordinance. will remain as natural buffers.
9. Will the additional tax revenue go to the City of Chattanooga?
No. All tax revenues generated (100%), in both sales and property taxes, will be for Hamilton County to be used at their discretion. In fact, we believe that this fact is one of the biggest reasons why this store will benefit the community. Currently, $.96 of every $1.00 spent on groceries by the households within the Middle Valley Community is done so in other taxable municipalities. That amounts to an annual tax revenue loss estimated to be between $500,000 - $600,000. With this store we hope to recapture that revenue to be used for the local community’s benefit.
10. What will the store hours be and how many jobs will be created?
The store will be in operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Ninety-five permanent jobs will be created by this project that we hope will be filled with individuals from the Hixson and Middle Valley communities.