The Planning Commission recommended denial on Monday for a tiny houses for the homeless project in Ooltewah after there was overwhelming citizen opposition.
Mike Purcell of Mustard Tree Ministries said the plan was to build 32 homes of 300 square feet on 16.8 acres at Snow Hill Road and Mahan Gap Road.
He said they would be aimed at meeting a need for affordable housing and would be rented by the non-profit group to those could not afford more expensive housing.
Mr. Purcell said the aim was to have the residents living "in a safe community environment" and with an agricultural component.
He said the concept has worked elsewhere, including Austin, Tex., but was new to Chattanooga.
Dean Moorhouse said, "I have never seen such an uproar in the community" over the idea.
He said 1,800 petitions in opposition had been quickly gathered, and he said there were fears about children at nearby Snow Hill Elementary and Hamilton County High School.
It would "contribute to a significant decline in property values," he stated.
He said it would bring "prostitutes, drug addicts, gang members and criminals" to Ooltewah.
Tammy Cotter said she had asked what would happen to problem residents and was told they would "put them in the van, take them to Chattanooga and let them out."
She said walls were planned around the development and it would be "a compound."
Debbie Petticord, who lives across the road, said it would be worse than looking out at a trailer park.
Another speaker said the residents would be getting visits from people who might be drug dealers and worse.
She said Ooltewah is one of the most affluent areas in the state.
City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem said it was "a noble cause," but in the wrong location. He said he was bothered by the implication that "we wealthy people are not going to have these people in our neighborhood."
Mary Hiatt, another member of the commission, said not all homeless people are criminals. She said it might be a young person just striving to put down roots or a down-and-out mother sleeping in a car with her children.
She said, "I have heard a lot of unkind things today."
Don Moon of the commission said, "I am very sympathetic to your cause, but this is a spot zone any way you look at it."
County Commissioner Sabrena Turner said she was opposed due to issues of property values and safety.
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