Walden: Small Town, Big Beef - And Response

  • Sunday, October 6, 2024

Walden is a quiet, quaint, and picturesque community on Walden’s Ridge adjacent to the town of Signal Mountain. It is less than four square miles in area and less than 2,000 people. Next year, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary as an incorporated municipality. I was not a resident in 1975, but my guess is it was incorporated to avoid annexation without consent which was rampant under then-current state law. The town of Walden does not have a police force (contracts with HCSD), no sewer system (issue for commercial development), contracts garbage service, contracts public works and the main artery is a state highway which is already overcrowded…..not even a traffic light.

Then comes the beef.

Around 2018, a large local commercial tract of land was made available for sale and purchased by a limited liability company. The LLC, whose members remain undetectable, was established for developing the tract; primarily represented by a local attorney. The proposal was for a large supermarket and town center that was in excess of the town’s adopted Land Use Program size limitations. That program was awarded the highest award by the Tennessee American Planning Association in 2022. The LLC swayed/cajoled/hoodwinked a citizens advisory board to recommend to the Board of Aldermen unlimited square footage for development for Walden. The Board did not adopt the recommendation but retained the existing plan.

Then came attacks principally toward Vice Mayor Lizzy Schmidt. A multi-million-dollar frivolous lawsuit (later dropped), recall petition (went nowhere) and negative character attacks on her and her family were levied. Alderman Schmidt was one of the aldermen that rejected the panel’s recommendation because she had overwhelming response from residents against a development. An elected official is there to represent her constituents, not an advisory panel. And, for sure, not developers and realtors’ interests.

So now, one of the former members of the advisory panel that brought the unlimited square footage recommendation (and who hastily resigned from the panel after recommendation not followed) is running against Lizzy for her seat on the Board. His Facebook page states he is adamantly against uncontrolled growth. Hmmm, but what are his limits of “uncontrolled”? No limits equals no control; it leaves the community vulnerable to developers. How can you justify large development based on the infrastructure described?

The township is plastered with political signs for both primary and general elections and now, especially, for the seat on the Board of Alderman. Many folks moved and live here to avoid commercial development and live peacefully and quietly. We all moved here knowing the amenities…so what’s your beef?

Further, it is my understanding that a new super store will be built on Signal Mountain Road at the end of Mountain Creek; three miles from Walden. Maybe if that’s too much of a trip you should consider relocation due to other life necessities?

Please just vote for Lizzy Schmidt and let something stay the same. She has the community at heart…not developers. There are those who are trying to fix it till it's broken.

Yes, she is a relative of a long line of Walden’s Ridge (Summertown) folks. I consider myself a newbie as I’ve only been here 36 years. Until the infrastructure makes more sense, just leave Walden alone.

Vote Lizzy.

Bill Underwood

* * *

Thank you, Bill Underwood, for your very excellent explanation concerning the town of Walden, the issues concerning its potential development, and the requirement that any such development conform to the town’s adopted Land Use Program size limitations. You have nailed it. Absolutely correct.

Lawrence S. Nagle MD FRACP

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