Commissioner Joe Graham, District 11, recently made the statement, "This sends a message to everyone in the United States that Hamilton County doesn't want your business". This statement was made during the Hamilton County Commission meeting after a moratorium passed that will stop any new subdivision plats from being approved for the next 30 days, beginning on July 1.
It is hard to understand what is driving Commissioner Graham to make such a statement. He made a motion the week before to table Plan Hamilton that would guide development in the unincorporated areas of the county for the next five years. It includes the Area 9 Compromise Plan which is a responsible growth plan. He had plenty of time to ask questions and request changes to the area plans before the County Commission vote, yet he chose a motion to table. Does Commissioner Graham want the unbridled growth to continue for the unincorporated areas of Hamilton County, without any plan for the future? Is that why a 30-day moratorium is bothering him?
The fact is all our peer counties have plans in place to guide the growth of their counties. Their plans require larger minimum lot sizes in rural areas; they restrict higher density and actively encourage conservation neighborhoods. Yet, the census data shows that all of them are growing faster than Hamilton County. It appears their responsible growth models don’t seem to be telling the world that “they are closed”, as Commissioner Graham has stated.
All our peer counties seem to be aligning in a different direction than us. They are embracing the preservation of their rural areas. They are denying the predatory development of their agricultural land. Yet they are growing faster than Hamilton County. Are we really that much smarter than everyone else by allowing such aggressive growth? Or is it that our Homebuilder Association is more powerful than theirs. Does our Regional Planning Commission have the same demographic as theirs? Perhaps Commission Graham could gain insight by talking to planners in our peer counties. It would be more rational for Hamilton County to have a good plan in place that will allow responsible growth, respect the current infrastructure, and align with the current citizens’ vision for the community where they live.
But make no mistake, Hamilton County is open for business and the rest of the world knows it. It's up to us to protect it.
Cathy Faulkner
* * *
I have to agree with others who are questioning Hamilton County Commissioner Joe Graham's comments regarding new business. Commissioner, if you don't think we've already had enough unchecked growth in our county, I invite you to pay a visit to Ooltewah, Collegedale and Apison.
Rob Clapp
* * *
Joe Graham has shown in the past that he wants to turn the citizens of Hamilton County against one another. This was evidenced by past antics where he encouraged his constituents to sue the county if a vote on short term vacation rentals didn't go "his" way. That would cost taxpayers money to pay such settlements.
Joe won his last election by about 30 votes. Hopefully, someone can be found in the primaries to defeat him and send him packing.
Gary Boles