Say no to Hamilton County Planning Commission's recommendation on smaller lot sizes.
There are good reasons to maintain the lot sizes in Hamilton County to the current standards and they outweigh the reasons for it.
Builders claim it will make new homes more affordable, but I seriously doubt that. The builders and developers proposals are to create more buildable lots so they can profit more. That is fine for them. For the buyer it may create problems they never counted on.
Property density often brings an increased danger of neighbor disputes from noise, from adjoining property, to limited parking on the street. Environmental aspects sidewalks retain more heat changing the ambient temperature.
Changing the property density will destroy the ruralness of Hamilton County's outlying communities for the sake of developers' profits.
Say no to smaller lots.
Bob Koscinski
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Smaller lot sizes have an unintended consequence no one has mentioned. Smaller lot sizes mean building up instead of out. No ranch homes and single level buildings. Which means build up instead of out in order to get more than two bedrooms and/or bonus or garages or outbuildings.
Consider the necessity of single level dwellings for older individuals, unable or unwilling to negotiate multiple flights of stairs in order to remain in place. What this ordinance will do is discriminate against people 50 and older; people with physical limitations and handicaps. This proposal ignores the needs of a vast number of potential housing buyers.
As long as developers remain more concerned for the additional profits at the expense of the needs of middle- and upper-aged citizens, approving this ordinance change spits in the eye of a major percentage of our population.
Dave Fihn
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While I understand there is a current need for more housing in Hamilton County, is there really a need for 5’ setbacks on the side which are basically condos and townhomes in disguise. All I can picture in my head is the Grey Poupon commercial only with houses instead of cars.
My other concern is with more Ooltewah developments being pushed through and potentially higher density developments on the table, where is all the waste going to go? Last time I heard our current sewer system in Hamilton County was strained as it is with our single treatment facility. So which community is going to be the lucky winner of an additional treatment facility in the future as you can’t put six gallons of “pee and poop” in a five gallon jug. We learned that in kindergarten.
Maybe the planning commission members can volunteer their communities for the next treatment facility if all this high density construction is approved.
Chris Morgan