Rezoning to aid request to help fund roads, water, wastewater
by Mike Pare | Chattanooga Times Free Press
Hamilton County is seeking to rezone a large portion of McDonald Farm to manufacturing to help woo millions in state money for roads, water and wastewater systems to prep for new business.
Also, another large parcel on which commercial rezoning is sought could hold park and recreation space, including annually hosting the county fair, according to a proposal.
The rezoning plan for about half of the 2,170-acre site in Sale Creek is expected to go before the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission in January. The county purchased the property nearly two years ago for $16 million.
A site plan for rezoning 871 acres for manufacturing shows five conceptual structures, including two at 1 million square feet each and another at 800,000 square feet.
Nathan Janeway, the county’s director of development services, said in a phone interview that landing new manufacturing at McDonald Farm is realistically still two years out.
The proposed rezoning “will show the public and the Hamilton County Commission what the potential of the site is,” he said.
Janeway said rezoning will help the site become state certified so Tennessee’s economic developers can market McDonald Farm to businesses.
He said he recently spoke to the state Department of Economic and Community Development about securing $5 million for infrastructure at the site.
“They like to see it be site certified,” the county official said.
Also, Janeway said there’s potential money from the state Department of Transportation for an access road off U.S. 27, which cuts through McDonald Farm.
“TDOT may design and build a road for us,” he said. The road could include bridges over a rail line and a creek, the official said.
For the 238 acres potentially rezoned for commercial use, the proposal submitted to county planners generally identifies parks and recreation activities.
“Hamilton County Parks and Recreation could potentially have office space on the old homestead site and would need to entertain the need for an onsite restaurant,” the proposal said. “This area could also host the county fair annually.”
All the land eyed for rezoning is east of U.S. 27. The rezoning request doesn’t affect the 500 acres west of the road, which Janeway said could be earmarked for residential.
A faith-based nonprofit focused on combating sex trafficking and veterans’ issues such as homelessness is eyeing McDonald Farm as the potential location for a roughly 100-acre complex it wants in Hamilton County.
In addition, McDonald Farm includes about 400 acres in adjoining Rhea County, which doesn’t require zoning, Janeway said.
“In Rhea County, we’re open to different possibilities,” he said. There’s a small tract for potential industrial use, or there could be a commercial headquarters on that site, Janeway said.
“A building could straddle the county lane. A parking lot could go on the Rhea County side,” he said.
The $16 million from Hamilton County was only seen as an initial investment in a process that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, according to consultants.