As promised in our previous communication, “Call to Action; Defeat Pratt’s PUD Plan for the Quarry”, the following information contains suggestions on how to promote our position with the City Council.
We will make a stand at the January 11, 2021 RPA Meeting but must be prepared for the second step of the process; at a later undetermined date when the PUD will be heard in City Council.
As reported to us by Councilman Henderson and Councilman Mitchell, Pratt and North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy have deluged the city Council with emails and phone messages supporting Pratt’s PUD Plan. We believe that very few of the so-called supporters of the PUD are Chattanooga residents or real stakeholders. Stakeholders are community members who own homes, pay local taxes, are concerned about preserving this greenspace and desire to defend the interests of the Mountain Creek community instead of the interests of a developer.
It is especially important that every stakeholder voice support for FOMC’s Opposition to Pratt’s PUD plan.
The following template is intended to assist everyone in preparing their message to City Council members.
Dear Councilman/Councilmember (name)
1. State your name and address
My name is ___________________ and I live at _________________________.
2. Very importantly if you do, state how close you live to the Quarry or if you are near or in the Mountain Creek area. Example: I live within a short walking distance from the Quarry
3. State why you oppose the plan in your own words. Last week’s “Call to Action” outlines several points. Please keep your discussion brief stating one or two points. Your reasoning may include something like:
a. the Mountain Creek community is already saturated with more than a fair share of high-density apartments. This space is zoned R-1 for the purpose of protecting the investments of homeowners and to maintain a balance of residence types.
b. Apartment complexes along Mountain Creek always have vacancies and exchanging the only remaining open green space accessible to everyone for empty apartments is an unacceptable plan and is poor use of the space.
c. The Quarry has been an accessible and used greenspace for generations. The new mountain bike and rock-climbing park does not augment the PUD and is not a substitute for accessible and usable open green space. It will be here regardless of how the Quarry is developed. The PUD plans “cram in as many doors as possible” leaving minimal accessible greenspace and degrades the neighborhood.
d. The surrounding area has a rural character. The PUD plans to “Cram in as many doors as possible” as promised by the developer will devalue the neighborhood. The natural assets will be eliminated, and the Post Oak space will become a parking lot.
e. Buildup of the property by Reads Lake will cause flooding for the adjacent homes and subdivisions. Pratt’s plan totally changes the spring fed ponds. It fills them in and builds directly in their place. Where will the water go from these springs?
f. Why does PUD omit the plan for the clubhouse? This is a huge unknown.
4. In conclusion, request that each Council member reject the PUD. Write something like:
I respectfully request that Chattanooga’s City Council members consider our concerns and reject this PUD. Sincerely, (your name)
Please address a separate email to each of the following members.
District 1 Chip Henderson, Council Chairman cchenderson@chattanooga.gov
District 2 Jerry Mitchell, Councilman jmitchell@chattanooga.gov
District 3 Ken Smith, Vice-Chairman kensmith@chattanooga.gov
District 4 Darrin Ledford, Councilman dledford@chattanooga.gov
District 5 Russell Gilbert, Sr., Councilman rgilbert@chattanooga.gov
District 6 Dr. Carol Berz, Councilwoman cberz@chattanooga.gov
District 7 Erskine Oglesby Jr., Councilman eoglesbyjr@chattanooga.gov
District 8 Anthony Byrd, Councilman abyrd@chattanooga.gov
District 9 Demetrus Coonrod, Councilwoman dcoonrod@chattanooga.gov
Sample Letter
The following two examples were prepared by an FOMC Board Member who has extensive experience in local politics. She emphasizes the need to keep the message brief and concise.
Dear Councilman XXXXXX
My name is XXXXXXXXXXXX and I live at 1234 XYZ Street.
As a concerned resident of the Mountain Creek community, I wanted to voice my opinion regarding Mr. Pratt’s latest proposal. While I try to remain reasonable and weigh the information carefully, it seems to me that the density proposed by this PUD is way out of character for our neighborhood. It proposes NO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. ZERO. The Pratt plan shows a total of 225 “Proposed Units” with NONE of them being single-family dwellings. Showing his level of arrogance, he is also planning for 140 apartments and 85 medium density homes. So, in his plan, rentals comprise 62% of the plan. He seems to be going backwards, not forward.
I strongly OPPOSE this PUD and ask you to do the same.
Concerned resident,
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Dear Councilman XXXXXX
My name is XXXXXXXXXXXX and I live at 1234 XYZ Street.
As someone who loves our neighborhood and walks our streets frequently, I’m extremely concerned about what is being planned by Mr. Pratt. I fear it will ruin the tranquility our environment provides, as well as endanger our natural wildlife. More importantly, I’m genuinely gravely concerned about our safety with the idea of 140 apartments so close to my home.
All you have to do is drive down Mountain Creek Road and you will see all the traffic. Many of us are concerned about the greatly increased traffic that will result from 225 units on Reads Lake Road and Westview which are very narrow and hilly streets with deep ditches and no shoulders or sidewalks. There are many reasons not mentioned in my letter to oppose this plan.
Please, I implore you to give my request your highest consideration for rejecting Mr. Pratt’s proposal and thank you in advance.
A resident of Mountain Creek neighborhood,
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Thanks for Supporting Friends of Mountain Creek in our mission to secure a favorable outcome for the Mountain Creek Community at the Quarry.