Officials of the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy said the developer planning a residential project at The Quarry property has come up with a new plan "that satisfies most of the stated concerns."

Tim Laramore, executive director, and Taft Sibley, president, said the new plan preserves a champion post oak, increases Walden's Ridge Park by five acres, preserves stream buffers, and provides a new greenway along Mountain Creek. 

Pratt Builders is involved in a lawsuit with the city over zoning of the property.

A host of neighbors turned up at City Council meetings in opposition to the initial Pratt plans. 

The statement from the two NCCC leaders says: "Since 2014, the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy has been involved in a project to bring a public park to the W Road and Mountain Creek neighborhood. Our neighbor to the south is a parcel known as the Quarry Golf Course, which is now owned by Pratt Home Builders and is slated for residential development. As you may know, the pending development has resulted in a lawsuit between the developer and the city of Chattanooga.

"In our effort to create a unique park for your community and the city as a whole, our organization has found itself immersed in dialogue surrounding the development, the Champion Post Oak, stream buffers and varying degrees of development density. We have worked closely with the Friends of Mountain Creek (FOMC) leadership to understand the concerns of the community as well as the best environmental outcome. In turn, we have engaged with Pratt Home Builders to seek a compromise that will address the conservation and community aims while respecting the rights of the property owner.

"We applaud the 2,800 members of FOMC for their diligence in advocating for the environment. We have shared their feedback with Pratt Home Builders, and they have been amicable to our requests for a revision to the original plan that addresses the concerns of the Friends of Mountain Creek.

"We want everyone in the community to understand that this property will be developed. Pratt Home Builders can complete an R-1 development throughout the entire parcel. Such a plan would potentially result in the destruction of the Post Oak and filling ponds along Mountain Creek. Additionally, the plan would maximize impermeable surfaces (roofs/driveways) on the property, which would potentially impact the runoff that would reach Read's Creek and Mountain Creek. 

"To that end, we would like to share with you a revised plan that satisfies most of the stated concerns. Thanks to the advocacy of FOMC and NCCC, Pratt Home Builders has released a site plan that does the following:

Preserves the Champion Post Oak.

Increases Walden's Ridge Park by five acres by protecting the area behind the clubhouse as a public space.

Secures stream buffers in accordance with TDEC regulations

Creates a Greenway along Mountain Creek with connectivity to Walden’s Ridge Park.Contains no plans for development of the clubhouse (no condominiums)

"It is the hope of NCCC that this plan can become a reality. We understand there are many variables remaining, and we seek your honest feedback so that we may continue our work to bring an incredible park as well as a suitable development on the remaining portions of the Quarry property.

"If you are inclined, please email contact@northchick.org with your comments and concerns. We will use your feedback to further our conversations with each party in our continued efforts to define the best outcome."