posted October 13, 2008
A New Orleans couple who said they faced the loss of their home for the second time found friends on the Planning Commission on Monday afternoon.
The commission voted unanimously to recommend denial for a request by the city engineer's office that the couple said would have put a road up next to their Chattanooga home.
In a complicated case that goes back several years, Assistant City Attorney Phil Noblett said developer Gibby Gilbert should have made the road go on through years earlier at Hewitt Lane in East Brainerd.
Mr. Gilbert's attorney, John Anderson, said the requirement for "connectivity" had been fulfilled by a wide cul de sac. He said the city had signed off on the project years ago.
Jim Smith said the hubhub had he and his wife caught in the middle.
He said they decided to settle in Chattanooga after losing their New Orleans home to Hurricane Katrina.
Mr. Smith said he told the realtor his main priority was a house not threatened by flooding. But he said the recent downpour sent high water to within a few feet of the house.
He said he was also faced with the city requiring that the long-platted but never-built road go up against his home.
The issue goes to the City Council for a final determination on Tuesday.
Councilman Jack Benson urged rejection of the city position.
He said, "I hope we never become a blind bureaucracy and put aside good judgment. It's a jungle where the city wants to put this road. This could cost this couple a half million dollars. I just think it's wrong."
A neighbor, Nathan Harris, said, "This road just needs to go away. There is nothing for it to connect to. There's no reason for the city to do this."
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