Local architect Garnet Chapin said at a North Chattanooga Summit on Tuesday that the new form-based zoning now being developed is slanted toward developers.
He said it would allow eight-story towers along the Tennessee River between Coolidge Park and the Veterans Bridge. He said, "No one wants that."
Karen Hundt of the Regional Planning Agency, who was one of the presenters at the Summit sponsored by the North Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, said, "Nothing is in stone" on the new form of zoning.
She said there has been extensive chances for public input and there will be more opportunities as the process goes on to completion next spring.
Mr. Chapin, who is active in several North Chattanooga neighborhood groups, said he fears allowing towers by the river would cause a developer to buy the nearby Chattanooga Theatre Centre, thereby closing it.
He said, "There has been no notification to the residents and no input from them." Ms. Hundt said letters were sent out to all within the planned districts at the start of the process. She said additional letters will be sent and it will also include those close to the district.
In North Chattanooga, the form-based zoning area goes from the Olgiati Bridge to Veterans Bridge. It extends up North Market Street to Peak Street.
Ms. Hundt said the consultants on the new type zoning are making final changes, which will be reviewed by the RPA staff. Then, she said, "There will be lots of opportunities for comment early next year." She said it goes back to the Planning Commission and then to the City Council next spring.
On building heights, she said near residential sections it would be lower, perhaps two stories right beside a neighborhood.
Mr. Chapin recommended that North Chattanooga be left out of form-based zoning, saying that the C-7 zoning process is working well. The new zoning also will be in four different areas downtown, including the Southside.
He said, "This process blatantly disregards the input of the neighborhoods."
A Bell Avenue resident said she and her neighbors had never heard of form-based zoning until recently.