The Signal Mountain Town Council and Planning Commission have been working for a long time to alter the current zoning rules in order to allow property owners to subdivide empty lots while maintaining consistency within the town. The proposal has been before the Planning Commission three times for corrections and re-wording in an attempt to eliminate any unintended consequences or loop holes.
The property that started the debate is on Texas Avenue in Old Towne. When that part of town was developed there were no zoning laws in place and it remained that way until 1979. There are many houses that sit on one-quarter-acre lots. Minimum lot sizes were later changed to one-half acre, until two years ago when the minimum size was increased again to one acre. The only exceptions to the one-acre rule is for conservation developments, which allow half-acre homesites; however the left over half acre goes to make up common green space, so there is no difference in density from the rest of the mountain.
The amendment that is now being considered would allow vacant lots to be subdivided into “minor subdivisions,” with lot sizes that are smaller than one half acre but no smaller than one quarter. Some residents of the mountain are of the opinion this will change the character of the neighborhoods.
During the discussion Mayor Dick Gee said that the mountain did not have such strict requirements until two years ago and “we didn’t lose our charm.” A citizen who spoke said that the lots in question, if divided, will look exactly like the ones on either side of them. Additionally, there are many other requirements a builder must conform to, such as sewer and set-backs which further ensure consistency.
One person or group opposed to the change resorted to anonymously sending a 30-40 page packet of information to Town Attorney Phil Noblett and each councilman, postmarked from Dalton. Officials said they contained "malicious and private information" about a bankruptcy concerning the owner of the property that is being considered for the zoning change. The attorney and Council each "expressed disgust that was done, calling it shamefully pathetic, cowardly and despicable."
In a vote of four for and one against, the amendment to the zoning ordinance passed on first reading. A public hearing will be held prior to the next Council meeting on Aug. 10, after which will be the second reading.
Town Manager Boyd Veal was given permission to sign an extension to the contract that Signal Mountain has with Tennessee American Water for a water purchase agreement. The town maintains its own water lines and tanks, resulting in a lower rate than other municipalities receive. In negotiations it has been suggested that the cost may be lower for a long term contract. The town also has bargaining power because there is another source from which water can be bought. The 90 day extension of the current contract will give Mr. Veal more time to negotiate.
The town manager was also authorized to sign a contract with Southeastern Tennessee Development District for planning services for the town. They help with zoning regulations and more general code regulations, and are extremely helpful said Mr. Veal. This renewal contract for two years, at a cost of $12,500 per year, was given approval.
The Signal Mountain centennial will not take place until 2019, but the town is already making preparations. At the meeting Friday afternoon, a centennial celebration subcommittee was established. Councilman Bob Spalding was appointed as liaison to the committee that will be limited to seven people. Once it is set up other members can be appointed with the Council’s approval. The mayor said that involving as many citizens as possible would be a good thing.
The Council would like to make changes to Driver Field that is used for men’s softball. It is not regulation size now and the city manager has been researching the cost to add the 30 extra feet needed. Work would include moving and extending the fence and clearing trees, brush and brambles. Moving lights and poles, replacing the old ones with steel, would be a major expense of around $10,000, he said. That work so far will amount to around $15,000. To extend the site to accommodate a larger footprint will require a lot of fill because of the drop-off that is behind the existing field. The cost of fill has not yet been estimated and fill would not be a very stable base, said Mr. Veal. The estimated total cost is around $20,000 and the size would still not be regulation, so the Council was reluctant to go forward with the plan as is. Suggestions were made to reconfigure the entire field and extend it into the parking lot, and to contact Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Fields to see if he could help with the costs.
City Manager Veal reported that he found out that no school resource officer would be provided to Signal Mountain High School in the coming year. The Council is adamant that one will be present when school opens and decided to fund the position themselves, which will require a budget amendment. The mayor said that once the city accepts the responsibility, it will more than likely be passed off to it.