Many residents were not happy with the original Area Plans in Plan Hamilton created by the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) and Ragan Smith Associates. Mayor Wamp and County Commissioners that represent Unincorporated Areas of Hamilton County paused Plan Hamilton after seeing that residents didn't feel like the Community's Vision to retain our rural areas was reflected in the Plan. Multi story Commercial Buildings and Large Commercial Centers on two lane roads aren't rural.
So, citizen committees were formed for some of the area plans.
The Place Types for the new Comprehensive Plan were created by the RPA. The 2016 Comprehensive Plan had a separate category for agricultural land, but the new Plan Hamilton does not. Agricultural uses are included in the Countryside Residential Place Type that was meant to mimic A-1 Zoning. Hamilton County's Zoning Regulations don't include a true Agricultural Zone that doesn't allow or limit Residential uses consistent with Agricultural Commerce land uses.
The A-1 Zone was changed in 1966 to allow two housing units per acre. Previously one per acre was allowed. Some counties in Tennessee have recognized a need to preserve their farmland and protect Agricultural Commerce by creating voluntary zones in their Zoning Regulations that are dedicated to agricultural uses and have lot sizes of 5 acres or more.
It would be a difficult process to down zone land in Hamilton County and many property owners would object to anything less than current A-1 Zoning of two per acre. The Area 9 citizen committee suggested a new voluntary zone and Place Type as an option that could be added simultaneously. A future Place Type dedicated to Agricultural Commerce could also be added.
For now, the Countryside Residential Place Type reflects the current A-1 zoning of two per acre which includes agricultural uses. Perhaps a better Place Type name could have been "Countryside" or "Agricultural."
The County Commission is set to vote on Plan Hamilton on June 18th. The Area 9 Citizen Committee created a plan that reflected the community's vision to retain the rural area and character. After receiving feedback from public officials a compromise plan was created that included feedback from the home building industry. The Area 9 Compromise plan struck a balance between what the residents wanted while allowing some growth of 2.5 per acre in certain areas near existing public sewer systems.
But, the Home Builders and Realtors Associations introduced five pages of last minute amendments for ALL of the area plans in Plan Hamilton.
One of those amendments would allow three housing units per acre on ALL property in the county currently zoned as A-1 (2 per acre) if a public or decentralized sewer system is used. Another amendment would allow amendments to the plan every month which defeats the purpose of a long-range plan.
Residents have already compromised on both of these and now the Home Builders and Realtors Associations want more.
The County should not allow an industry that makes a profit from development to dictate what is in the Comprehensive Plan. It's like allowing Big Tobacco to regulate nicotine.
Please contact the county Commission and ask them to vote NO on the Home Builders and Realtors Amendments.
And please support Area 9 residents and ask them to vote yes to the Plan Hamilton Area Plans.
Donald Johnson