May 16, 2022
I want the format of this newsletter to continuously evolve to better meet the needs of the community. If you have any suggestions on formatting, length, level of detail, or anything else please don’t hesitate to let me know. In particular I’m interested to know how many people are reading the full agenda breakdown and how many are just reading the highlights. If people are mainly reading the highlights, I may shorten the newsletter and release it earlier in the week. You can simply respond to this email with your feedback.
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HIGHLIGHTS
The proposed 2023 Fiscal Year Budget (July 2022-June 2023) is now available to the public. The full documents can be found here. The budget can also be viewed in an interactive chart here. A public input session will be held on May 31. The full budgeting schedule can be found here.
On May 10 the city council deferred the first of two votes on an ordinance to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in all residential zones within the city. Amendments are being made to the ordinance. The first vote will be held on May 24.
On May 10 the city council voted to pass the first of two votes on rezoning cases for the “Mill Town” development. The second vote will be on May 17
On May 10 the city council voted to defer a rezoning case for an affordable senior living development on N Moore Road due to opposition from the community. The first vote will be held on May 24.
On May 10 the city council voted to confirm the appointment of Michiba Smith to the Board of Sign Appeals.
On May 10 the city council voted to lease 301 N. Holtzclaw Avenue (the Chattanooga Zoo) to Friends of the Zoo, Inc. for 50 years at the rate of $1.00 per year.
On May 17 the city council will be voting to confirm Ryan King to the Sports Authority Board and Gordon Parker to the Industrial Development Board.
The city council is holding a series of focus group meetings to review Short Term Vacation Rental (STVR) regulations. The full schedule can be found on the city council website.
MAY 10 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting recording can be found here.
The meeting minutes can be found here.
Rezoning Requests – first reading:
For the sake of space, I will be listing rezoning cases only by address and applicant. There are often several versions of each rezoning application, which makes it difficult to succinctly summarize what is being requested. If you are interested in leaning more about any of these rezoning cases I recommend viewing the current city council agenda in the link above. You can contact your city council representative to find out more about any of these cases. I am also happy to do whatever I can to answer questions.
Passed: 100 West Bell Ave – Mark Hopkins
Deferred to May 24 to research public access to the riverfront: 702 Manufacturers Road – Beacon Acquisitions
Passed: 912 Birmingham Highway – Randy Chapman
Passed: 2067 Crescent Club Drive – Chattanooga Exteriors, LLC
Passed: 5867, 5871, 5893 Highway 153 – Hixson Investors, LLC
Passed with opposition and amendments: 6620, 6624, 6628, 6632, 6638, 6640, 6644 Sandswitch Road – ASA Engineering / Allen Jones
Passed: 7002 Hixson Pike – La Bella Associates
Passed with amendments: 7432, 7442, 7446 Min Tom Drive – Vinod Javer
Deferred to May 24 with opposition: 1115 North Moore Road – Tucker Baptist Church
Passed: 6238 Bonny Oaks Drive – David Gardner
Passed: 1733 Read Avenue – Josh Burr
Deferred to May 17: 612 North Greenwood Ave – PAK Star Properties / Sohail Aslam
Passed: 900, 910 East Main Street – Modus Build, LLC
Passed: 1497, 1521 Riverside Drive – Justin Dumsday
Denied with opposition: 800 block of Arlington Avenue – Jelani Herry
Passed: 805 Gillespie Road – Milton Muhammad
Passed: 1801, 1803, 1805, 1807, 1809 Duncan Avenue – David Fidati / Wise Construction
Passed: 3726, 3805 Grace Avenue – Wallace Fortson
Passed: 1619 Dodds Avenue, 1922 Watkins Street, 2270 East 21st Street, 2050 South Kelley Street,1803, 2111 South Lyerly Street – Collier Construction
Passed: 2318 East Main Street, 1506 South Lyerly Street, 1500, 1700 South Watkins Street, 1619 Dodds Avenue, 2512 East 19th Street – Collier Construction
Other Ordinances – first reading:
Deferred to May 24, pending changes: An ordinance to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in all residential zones within the city.
Passed: An ordinance to close and abandon an allay on the 2100 block of East 26th Street.
Passed: An ordinance to close and abandon an alley on the 800 block of Dodds Avenue and the 2700 block of Kirby Avenue.
Passed: An ordinance to close and abandon alleys on the 1800 block of Vance Avenue and the 800 block of South Orchard Knob Avenue.
Resolutions:
Passed: A resolution confirming the appointment of Michiba Smith to the Board of Sign Appeals
Passed: A resolution to lease 201 North Holtzclaw Avenue (the Chattanooga Zoo) to Friends of the Zoo, Inc. for 50 years for an annual rent of $1.00.
Passed: A resolution to declare 3303 Crestone Circle as surplus property.
Passed: A resolution to accept and distribute ~$3M in HUD block grants.
Passed: A resolution to provide longer day services for 16 children through Hope City Academy for $36k.
Passed: A resolution to appoint Ariel Soriano as a special unarmed police officer for the Land Development Office.
Passed: A resolution to appoint Jamie Evers as a special unarmed police officer for the Land Development Office.
Passed: A resolution approving a permit for a new liquor store at 804 Riverfront Parkway, suite 110.
Passed: A resolution to approve a change in a ~$54k contract with Bliss Properties, LLC for Summit of Softball Complex improvements.
Passed: A resolution to approve a change in a ~$685k contract with Wright Brothers Construction Company for Brannon Avenue Drainage Improvements.
Passed: A resolution to increase On-Call Design and Plan Production contracts with 11 consulting firms by $800k for a total of $1.05M.
Passed: A resolution to renew a geo-environmental consulting and material testing contract with 7 consulting firms for $750k.
Passed: A resolution to renew contracts with Capital Waste Services and Republic Services for landfill services for $125k.
Passed: A resolution to make a ~$44k payment to Tennessee One-Call system for underground utility location services.
Passed: A resolution to enter a $420k contract with CTI Engineers for landfill deficiency recommendations and repairs.
Other:
Passed: 7 routine purchase agreements.
A budget education session will be held on May 17 from 10am to 3:30pm.
A budget public input session will be held on May 31.
The Economic Development Committee met for a presentation on TIFs for a project in districts 2 and 3.
The legislative committee met to discuss legislation and decided not to move forward with that legislation.
Evergreen Real Estate received a liquor license for 804 Riverfront Parkway, Suite 110.
The city attorney announced a ~$29k settlement to be paid by the city in a lawsuit regarding a vehicle wreck.
Robert Ledford addressed the council asking them to restrict scrappers licenses due to an increase in thefts in the area.
Emily Matthews addressed the council representing the SEIU union asking that more of the 2023 budget be put towards increasing city employee pay to account for high inflation. She also asked that the city implement a STEP payment plan to increase transparency in pay rates.
Cantus Griffith addressed the council asking that the Mayor’s goals of early learning access, growing household income, building economic vitality in the black community, and promoting affordable housing be implemented in the 2023 budget.
Josh Kapellusch addressed the council to advocate for unsheltered citizens in Chattanooga and asking the council look in to changing zoning code to allow for smaller dwelling units and allowing for tiny houses for low income housing. He also asked that the council approve the low income senior housing project on N Moore Road.
Sharron Pryor addressed the council asking for a more transparent and straightforward pay plan progression.
Monty Bell addressed the council about being harassed at the homeless encampment he lives in.
A citizen who did not give their name addressed the council asking for speed bumps to be installed in the westside area.
Stephen West addressed the council asking for a more transparent and straightforward pay plan progression.
MAY 17 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting agenda can be found here.
Rezoning Requests – second reading:
100 West Bell Ave – Mark Hopkins
912 Birmingham Highway – Randy Chapman
2067 Crescent Club Drive – Chattanooga Exteriors, LLC
5867, 5871, 5893 Highway 153 – Hixson Investors, LLC
6620, 6624, 6628, 6632, 6638, 6640, 6644 Sandswitch Road – ASA Engineering / Allen Jones
7002 Hixson Pike – La Bella Associates
7432, 7442, 7446 Min Tom Drive – Vinod Javer
6238 Bonny Oaks Drive – David Gardner
1733 Read Avenue – Josh Burr
900, 910 East Main Street – Modus Build, LLC
1497, 1521 Riverside Drive – Justin Dumsday
800 block of Arlington Avenue – Jelani Herry
805 Gillespie Road – Milton Muhammad
1801, 1803, 1805, 1807, 1809 Duncan Avenue – David Fidati / Wise Construction
3726, 3805 Grace Avenue – Wallace Fortson
1619 Dodds Avenue, 1922 Watkins Street, 2270 East 21st Street, 2050 South Kelley Street,1803, 2111 South Lyerly Street – Collier Construction
2318 East Main Street, 1506 South Lyerly Street, 1500, 1700 South Watkins Street, 1619 Dodds Avenue, 2512 East 19th Street – Collier Construction
Other Ordinances – second reading:
An ordinance to close and abandon an allay on the 2100 block of East 26th Street.
An ordinance to close and abandon an alley on the 800 block of Dodds Avenue and the 2700 block of Kirby Avenue.
An ordinance to close and abandon alleys on the 1800 block of Vance Avenue and the 800 block of South Orchard Knob Avenue.
Rezoning Requests – first reading:
612 North Greenwood Ave – PAK Star Properties / Sohail Aslam
Other Ordinances – first reading:
An ordinance to close and abandon right-of-way on the 200 block of Delawanna Terrace.
Resolutions:
A resolution confirming the appointment of Ryan King to the Sports Authority Board.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Gordon Parker to the Industrial Development Board.
A resolution of intent to review a TIF proposal for Access Road, LLC
A resolution to enter a ~$24M contract with SAK Construction for South Chickamauga Creek interceptor sewer improvements (a project to fulfill the needs of the EPA consent decree).
A resolution to enter a ~$1.7M contract with Integrated Properties, LLC for a new wood recycling facility.
A resolution to enter a $20k public-private-partnership agreement with Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center for the management and development of the Growing Resilient Neighborhoods Program.