With all the discussions and controversy going on in our little town these days, I felt inclined to share some things that we should all think about. I’m sure everyone who has any interest in this town, the traffic problems, the overcrowding of school problems, and the ridiculous amount of over development occurring, has heard of Plan Hamilton by now. With Plan Hamilton a new term has come alive and is being used frequently. It is so popular newspaper articles are being written about it.
The word “NIMBY” is being used to describe life long residents of Hamilton County, if they disagree with the some changes in their community and voice their concerns, those who disagree with these opinions have resorted to name calling.
This act is supposed to shame residents or make them feel like their ideas or opinions are somehow wrong. NIMBY is the new word to use against residents. Warren Mackey threw this word out at a recent County Commission meeting. He directed this comment toward a tax paying citizen who was there to advocate for the majority of the residents in his district regarding Plan Hamilton. First of all, it was very unprofessional for a Commissioner to stoop to this level in a public forum. Name calling is something children do on the playground, not grown men.
The term NIMBY is being used frequently by those who want aggressive growth in Hamilton County, especially in the unincorporated areas. NIMBY is being used against residents who seek to protect their communities against high density growth. The use of the term is the pure hypocrisy. For example, Commissioner Beck (in favor of high density development) had a development proposed for a tiny home subdivision off Tunnel Boulevard that the neighbors did not want there. So he opposed it, he got the support of his fellow commissioners to stand with him. The plans for this development never made it through the Planning Commission.
In Eastdale, Commissioner Beck’s district again, a large apartment complex was proposed, however the homeowners in this area did not want an apartment complex encroaching the sanctity of their neighborhoods. The zoning change request for the apartments in Eastdale was denied due to the support from Commissioner Beck and his fellow commissioners.
Recently when Moccasin Bend mental hospital was looking to relocate, a piece of property off of Tunnel Boulevard was identified as a potential site for the new facility. This property is also located in Commissioner Beck’s district. The neighborhood once again spoke out against this area for the hospital’s relocation, They did not want it in their neighborhood. Commissioner Beck opposed it, his fellow commissioners stood in support, and it never made it through the Planning Commission. When talk of the mental hospital relocation then shifted to an area around Erlanger Hospital, better know as Lincoln Park, the neighborhood here voiced strong opposition to this option as well. This area is Commissioner Mackey’s district. The decision to rule out Lincoln Park came quick. Interesting that the Lincoln Park area made sense due to the geographic location being so close to Erlanger Hospital. So would these two commissioners and their constituents not be guilty of NIMBY?
Joe Graham (in favor of high density development) is another example. Let me just insert a quote from him in a recent Times Free Press article. “He said he worries the plan will drive development in incorporated areas, like Chattanooga. Developers, seeing attempts to slow growth in the county, are now buying up more land closer to the urban core, Graham said. “They’re coming further in,” Graham said. “Because Plan Hamilton, in my opinion, is going to kill the growth in the outskirts of the county. That puts undue pressure on the people in my district, and the ones that you’re excluding here — it makes our rents higher, it makes our property values, property costs higher.” Please note here how concerned he is about his district, his rent, property values and property costs. Which is some of the many reasons citizens in unincorporated areas are trying to slow development in their areas. If his statement isn’t “NIMBY” at its finest, I am not sure what is.
Another incident with Commissioner Graham was when a property owner in his district wanted to take his property located across from Black Creek to develop a camping area for RV’s, tent camping, etc., and on a separate request, the property owner wanted to add a restaurant to service the campers and the area in general. The citizens in Black Creek did not want these businesses located near their neighborhood, and fought it. Commissioner Graham fought with them, along with his fellow commissioners. This development request got denied by the planning commission. Another development involving Commissioner Graham and his district involved an empty hotel in Tiftonia where the city wanted to turn it into a long term stay facility when they closed the Budgetel in East Ridge. Commissioner Graham spoke out adamantly against the plan, saying it was not going in his District! His fellow commissioners backed him with their support. The plans for this development never passed.
My point here is you can say we are ALL NIMBY’s, or you can simply say we all care about our homes, our communities and, yes, our back yards.
In a previous county commission meeting, I heard the most gratifying statement ever. When it came time to vote, a commissioner said, “I don’t know this area that we are voting on today, but I do know the commissioner that represents this area, and I trust him to do what is best for the people in his district, therefore I am voting with him today in opposition of this Resolution.”
What a powerful statement and course of action. Instead of name calling, this commissioner chose to work with his colleague and support the needs of residents in another district. Isn’t it time for all of us to work together, stop name calling and support the vision of the lifelong residents in Hamilton County?
Becky Murray