The city-county Planning Commission on Monday afternoon denied a Planned Unit Development on Lake Chickamauga after a number of neighbors were in opposition.
Frank Basadre said he had wanted a gated community of "affordable" lake homes on 91 acres on Thatch Road at Crestwood Trail.
The planning commission approved a move from A-1 to R-1 on the property, while denying the PUD request. Officials said there are more restrictions on a developer under the R-1 than the A-1.
Neighbors said they like their rural setting.
E.T. "Bud" Schaerer, who is next door to the property, said, "This is one of the few areas where wildlife has any habitat. I'm not excited about driving down my driveway and seeing plastic pools and swing sets."
He said 20 of the lots back up to him.
Mr. Basadre said he had planned to have some units as low as $400,000, while others would be higher.
Officials said with the R-1 zoning, he still can put in a regular subdivision. He could get about 180 lots on the property.
Residents raised questions about how sewage would be handled at the large development. Mr. Basadre said he had gotten brochures about on-site sewage treatment facilities but did not have any permits yet. He said the system would be monitored by the county's Water and Wastewater Authority.
Planning Commission member Don Moon said he did not like the fact that some of the smaller units were on the edge of the development. He said normally they would be in the center away from view.
In another case, residents also won a victory against a planned grocery store at the corner of Shallowford Road and Jenkins Road in East Brainerd.
GBH and Associates said it wanted to put a grocery and pharmacy at the site. The firm already has the go-ahead on the pharmacy, it was stated.
However, the zoning for the grocery was not recommended for approval.
Mike Price, speaking for the developers, said he had never given the name of a grocery and no contract was signed. He said there was "interest" from a grocery.
However, City Councilman Jack Benson said, "You're playing a Marti on us."
Mr. Price said he never mentioned the name Publix, but Councilman Benson said, "it came from one of the developerrs and I heard it myself."
Neighbors said they want to keep the area residential.
They said the area already has a Publix as well as two BI-LOs and a Wal-Mart.
The site is across from Grace Baptist Academy.
Neighbors noted there are traffic problems on Shallowford and Jenkins. They said Shallowford is set to be widened to three lanes, but not until 2009 or 2011.
One neighbor said one-time governor candidate Jake Butcher has bought 10 acres in that vicinity.
Mr. Price said the group had planned to build berms and have rows of trees to shield the property.