Soddy Daisy To Begin Work On Long-Awaited Fire Hall; Great Eastern Trail Planned Through Hamilton County

  • Friday, November 8, 2019
  • Gail Perry
Historical presentation
Historical presentation
photo by Gail Perry

Soddy Daisy is beginning work on a long-awaited new fire station. At the commission meeting Thursday night, City Manager Janice Cagle was authorized to pay architect Louis Wamp $30,000 to reconfigure and design additions to an existing building. The interior of the old, smaller fire station will be gutted and it will be re-built. The existing bays will remain and new ones will be added. Extensive cosmetic work will be done on the exterior which will be made to resemble the city’s fire station number 2.

After planning is complete the project will be bid out before construction can start.

 

About 10-15 families came together at the public hearing and commission meeting to voice their opposition to a rezoning of property at 1230 Thrasher Pike. The proposal to change zoning from R-2A Rural Residential to A-1 Agricultural drew the large crowd which fears a decline in their property values and increasing mis-use of the property. The Hamilton County Planning Commission recommended not going forward with the project. The Soddy Daisy commissioners followed and also denied the zoning change.

 

A representative from Greer Management previewed a housing project the company is proposing in Soddy Daisy. It would have 60-80 units at the end of Dayton Pike at the entrance to Highway 27. The 24-acre site would hold the one- and two-story buildings, ranging from two- to four-bedroom homes with a clubhouse, common laundry, exercise areas and a playground among other amenities. If rezoning is approved for the property, Greer Management will apply for tax credits that are intended to encourage affordable housing. Rents would be limited to 60 percent of the area’s median income. The company would retain ownership and management of the units after they are built. This would be a $13 million-$15 million development contributing to the city’s property taxes.

 

Linda Hixon came to the commission meeting to ask for support for the new Great Eastern Trail Association. This is the newest long-distance trail in the country and it is being made up using existing regional trails. A group has evaluated all options for connecting the Cumberland Trail through Hamilton County to the Georgia Pinhoti Trail. The city of Soddy Daisy will send a letter to encourage Hamilton County to include it in the new comprehensive parks master plan.

 

Steve Smith from the Soddy Daisy and Montlake Historical Association presented the city with a framed presentation board to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Hamilton County. It features a photo of Poe’s Tavern, the first courthouse in the county in 1819, a coin from that year and a written history.

 

Mikayla Creasman, a student at Soddy Daisy High School, recently won the Miss Tennessee Teen contest and will now compete for the USA National Miss Teen competition.

 

The Soddy Daisy Christmas Parade will be held on the first Sunday in December which is Dec. 1 this year. And Christmas in the Park will be on Dec. 7 from 3-6 p.m.

 

Breaking News
New Hope Fire Department Disputes TWRA Report On Kayaker Rescues
  • 3/28/2024

New Hope Fire Department Corey Comstock disputed a report by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency about the rescue of 33 kayakers from extremely high winds near Nickajack Cave on Monday. ... more

Woman Dies After Being Seriously Injured In House Fire Thursday Afternoon
Woman Dies After Being Seriously Injured In House Fire Thursday Afternoon
  • 3/28/2024

A woman died after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a house fire on North Moore Road Thursday afternoon and was rescued by Chattanooga firefighters. Hamilton County 911 received a call ... more

Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
Motorcyclist Hit Speeds Of 170 MPH; Posted Video Of Outrunning Police
  • 3/28/2024

A motorcyclist fled on Sunday, from a Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempting to make a lawful stop on Highway 27. Since that time, the deputy has been working leads to identify the ... more