The County Commission on Wednesday denied rezoning for a controversial tiny home farming project at Ooltewah.
In a separate vote, the commission approved a $25 million development with 396 apartments at Champion Road and Highway 58.
Mustard Tree Ministries, of the United Methodist Church, earlier had announced that it planned to withdraw its request in the face of strong opposition from the community.
The plan was to build 32 homes of 300 square feet each on 16.8 acres at Snow Hill Road and Mahan Gap Road.
Mike Purcell 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.
He said the aim was to have the residents living "in a safe community environment" and with an agricultural component.
Several members of the ministry and supporters were at the commission, along with a number of those on the other side.
Commissioner Joe Graham said the site chosen was not on the bus line or near a medical clinic or grocery store. He said Snow Hill Road is narrow and windy and he was fearful that one of the residents would wind up "getting run over."
A supporter of the project said the project was in a rural area by design, saying it would keep occupants away from their former haunts and temptations.
On the apartment project, Mike Price of MAP Engineers said the developer has agreed to pay for a new traffic light at the dangerous intersection of Champion Road and Highway 58. He said there will also be a left turn lane provided for those going north on Highway 58 who want to turn onto Champion Road.
Mr. Price said the developer will also pave Champion Road from Highway 58 to the first entrance to the development.
He said the traffic light would cost about $300,000 and the Champion Road paving about $200,000.
No work is to start on the apartment project until the traffic improvements are in place, it was stated.
Mr. Price said it will be a gated community with a pool, clubhouse, playground and other amenities.
Nearby residents told of the increasing difficulty of negotiating the narrow, windy roads in that vicinity, including Webb Road. It was noted that those are city streets, though the site of the apartment development is in the unincorporated county.
Pete Cooper said the planned entrance to the apartment complex is at the bottom of a long slope with a blind curve. He said, "They will need another light at the entrance to the apartments."