Food City is still planning a new 54,000-square-foot grocery and fuel center on Lee Highway despite a zoning setback on Tuesday night.
Steven C. Smith, Food City president/CEO, said, "We have been working to replace the existing very old store on Shallowford Road with a new, larger modern Food City store.
"While our preferred plan was denied by the City Council because part of the property owned by the Baptist Children’s Home needed to be re-zoned, we have an alternate plan in place that requires no change in zoning.
"It will allow for the same size modern supermarket to be constructed on site with good parking and a Food City Gas n’ Go fuel center. The project should create close to 100 new area jobs and enhance the Chattanooga tax base.”
The store will go on a 6.5-acre tract at Ballard Drive.
City Councilwoman Carol Berz said neighbors to the project were given two options, and they did not opt for the site sought for rezoning, but land that was already zoned commercial.
She told an official of the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home, which preferred the sought sought for rezoning, that she was going with the wishes of the neighbors.