The East Ridge Planning Commission on Monday night recommended approval for rezoning of a 60-acre tract in a low-lying section despite concerns about damage to wetlands as well as traffic problems.
Scott Miller of the commission suggested a 30-day delay to allow nearby residents to become more familiar with the proposed layout of the site that is being planned by Bob Martino, the owner of the new Chattanooga Red Wolves team.
However, other commission members said there would be time for that, noting it will have separate readings at meetings of the East Ridge City Council on June 13 and 27.
It is planned to have a 5,500-seat soccer stadium, a hotel, residential and commercial on the long-vacant tract near Mack Smith Road.
Jeff Sykes of ASA Engineers said the location "is challenging without a doubt." He said, "We are on step 1 out of 100."
A nearby resident, Jane Sharp, said the site was cleared 65 years ago, but no one has figured out how to develop it.
She said, "I think this is a great development for East Ridge" if the developer can pull it off. She said she does have concerns about narrow streets and said more citizen input is needed.
Earlier Monday, members of an environmental group said they oppose development of "a 100-acre wetland" in East Ridge.
Chattanooga property owner Henry Luken afterward said the entire site is not a wetland. He said the Martino project is to go on 44 acres that is buildable and out of the wetlands. He said it is part of 60 acres he is selling Mr. Martino.
He said Mr. Martino is buying 40 acres from the Fletcher Bright estate. He said that is wetlands and not buildable.
Mr. Luken said, "I am trying to find out who this group is that is coming in at the last minute and spreading misinformation. I can't find anything about them anywhere."
Sandy Kurtz of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance, said residents were not aware that the East Ridge Planning Commission was meeting Monday on the issue. Her group handed out fliers to nearby residents on Monday morning.
At the meeting, she said that wetlands provide a valuable service in holding and filtering water and as a vibrant ecosystem. She said her group meets monthly at Wally's Restaurant in East Ridge after being launched in 1994.
Ms. Kurtz said, "The whole area lies in the 100-year flood plain area and serves as a flood storage capacity area for the several hundred homes at the wetland edges."
One resident says flooding occurs at the location where the buildings will be erected.
Mr. Sykes said he is in close contact with the Army Corps of Engineers and TDEC and they will dictate much about what can happen at the site.
He said the developer would have to "mitigate" any wetland area that is taken away. However, he said a string of wetlands would remain and there would be a buffer of large trees and undergrowth.
Mr. Sykes said the only incursion into the wetlands would be for an entrance road. He said it has not been determined where the main access points would be. The construction road would be off Mack Smith Road.