This letter is regarding the potential high density development on Snowhill Road in Ooltewah.
Growth is good. But it needs to be responsible growth. It would be instructive to see studies by other communities who have already gone through this so we can understand just what is the taxpayer cost burden of these high density developments. Additional taxes to add infrastructure, schools, roads, etc. is cast upon existing residents in addition to suffering slower traffic, more accidents, temporary inconveniences of construction zones, and slower services in general.
Our county commissioners are a group of intelligent, hard working individuals. I’ve met several of them. They are good people. However, if this passes their upcoming election opponent’s campaign slogan might be, “Commissioner xyz raised massive taxes on you in order to give their developer friend(s) massive profits”.
It’s time for impact fees. (Unless you really enjoy paying higher taxes.)
Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s process seems to be:
1. Build expansion projects.
2. Plan.
3. Rebuild infrastructure to fix expansion headaches.
As points of reference - we perennially dodge road construction cones and barrels downtown and the ill-advised sewage plant attempt on Mayhan Gap Road.
We can do better.
Alan Hintz