The Council has voted for stormwater ordinance changes on the first of two readings required. These ordinance changes were fashioned by the Homebuilders Association of Chattanooga unbeknownst to other stakeholders including South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance that helped fashion the existing ordinance.
These changes do not benefit any of Chattanooga Creeks and especially exacerbates pollutants and sediment in already impaired streams like South Chickamauga Creek. Citizens have asked for rejection of the proposed ordinance changes or a deferment until all stakeholders can come to the table to work to explore alternatives to protect our waterways as Chattanooga moves forward with use of green infrastructure methods in homebuilding. Protect our waterways. Avoids being out of compliance with the ongoing consent decree and the MS4 plan now in place.
The second reading is Tuesday, Nov. 26. Fees in the ordinance may be too high for homebuilders, but we don’t need to throw the baby out with the bath water. Call your Council representative to remind them that clean environment is their responsibility not helping homebuilders profit.
Sandra Kurtz
Chair, South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance