Dear Friends of Mountain Creek

Thanks to your support, things have been very quiet at the Quarry since the PUD Application was rejected at City Council back in March. The developer’s lawsuit against the city on the zoning of the clubhouse is now expected to occur in August. We remain confident in that outcome as well.

However, as you may have heard, the County Commissioners met last Tuesday July 20 and approved an initiative being pursued by the Homebuilders Association of Greater Chattanooga (HBAGC) that reduced the minimum square footage of R-1 lots from 7,500 square foot to 6,000 in the county. This “success “is likely to embolden the HBAGC to pursue this same change for City Ordinances and, if passed, this would impact development of the Quarry

Prior to this vote, some of our neighbors messaged our District 2 Commissioner Chip Baker and County Mayor Jim Coppinger among others to voice opposition to this measure. Additionally, a poll in the Chattanoogan soundly rejected the proposal. Mike Price, an Engineer who is normally a staunch advocate for any measure promoting development, denounced the proposal. Very few people seemed to be aware of this issue.

The existing city ordinance establishing rules for R-1 requires a minimum lot size of 7,500 square if the property is served by sewers. This is consistent with an urban setting.  In contrast, the smallest lots in the Spring Lake subdivisions adjacent to the Quarry are over 9,000 square feet and as many as 12,000 square feet. The Mountain Creek community has a desirable rural character. This character will be diminished by development of the Quarry by meeting the existing rules. If allowed to “cram in more doors”, which is the entire purpose of the reduction to 6,000 square feet minimum lot size, the desirability of the area will be devastated.

We agree that there needs to be a change to the zoning ordinance. The purpose of Zoning Ordinances should be to maintain uniformity and to respect and protect the established community. Other cities in our region employ multiple R-1 standards that accomplish this instead of a “one size fits all”. We would encourage a change that allows for established urban areas in the city to have an R-1 minimum standard of 6,000 square feet with reduced setbacks where appropriate. For infill of established rural R-1 neighborhoods, the minimum lot size should be consistent with those of the neighborhood.  In the case of the Quarry development, a 9,000 square foot (or more) lot size minimum should be established. Also, minimum frontage should not be reduced.

Please collect your thoughts and be prepared to help FOMC by writing to City Council members IF the HBAGC attempts to advance a similar change to city ordinances. We expect that our Councilman will keep us informed and there will be more to follow.

Thanks for Supporting FOMC