(upbeat music playing) - [Narrator] You're watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting, a production of WTTCI PBS.

- Okay, good evening everyone, and welcome to our Tuesday, October 11th City Council Business Agenda meeting.

I will call this meeting to order.

Thank you for that.

And I will now turn the floor over to Mayor Tim Kelly.

- Thank you Chairman Ledford.

I appreciate it.

And again, my apologies to those who've heard this before, but Chairman Ledford and a couple of other council people thought it was important enough for the collected symbol crowd night to hear it.

So I appreciate you giving me a little bit of your time today.

I always enjoy coming to council and speaking to you guys.

And this is an important topic.

I want to address some of the concerns and anxiety specifically I've heard in the community about a very important step forward we are about to take to address homelessness and blight in our community.

Last year, this council demonstrated genuine leadership approving a purchase of an old extended stay motel only highway.

And the motel had fallen into disrepair.

It had become an eyesore and a nuisance for the entire community.

And the fact is that many structures of this nature still operating as motels in the space continue to plague our community as hotbeds of drug use and crime.

And that's a problem we'll have to address going forward.

But the bones of this building were good.

And of course, with your help, we seized the opportunity to turn blight into a positive asset for the community.

And that's why together we agreed to purchase the building to fix it up and to turn it into apartment housing with onsite services for those who need it the most in our community.

As we all know, homelessness has grown to a pretty epidemic problem here and elsewhere across the country, increasing nearly 250% in the last year alone.

And Chattanooga again is not alone in this, all across America, demand for shelters and vouchers have doubled or tripled since the pandemic.

Meanwhile, here in Chattanooga, the number of beds available for temporary shelter has actually decreased over the last several years.

And our infrastructure to deal with mental health and addiction issues also sadly has not been able to keep pace.

But with your support, Chatanooga can lead on this issue starting by approving the necessary zoning changes to move forward on the Lee highway housing project.

But we can't do it without your continued leadership.

I understand that there's some folks here this evening to express concerns about this project, and I know that many of those concerns are heartfelt, and these are good people who love Chattanooga, and love their neighborhood and want what's best for it.

But at the same time, a tremendous amount of misinformation has been circulating and unfortunately many people are letting fear of unknown get in the way of the facts.

So first, I want to thank Councilwoman Berz for her leadership and addressing many of these issues in the past few months.

She's had the thankless task of taking the phone calls and taking some frankly unfair criticism around this issue.

And I'll be the first to say we should have done a better job in the mayor's office communicating what the project is and what it isn't.

And we're going to take a more proactive approach in doing that going forward.

And that's on me and my staff, and I'm sorry councilwoman Berz for the abuse that you've had to endure.

But I want to clear up a few things for this council so that you all have the facts you need to understand where we're headed as an administration and as a community.

This project is an essential part of our strategy to create more housing units for people currently experiencing homelessness who want to take the steps to rebuild their lives.

Right now, we just don't have enough housing units that is essentially the problem.

And we see that where there are units, we have been able to house more people than ever before.

Over a hundred in the last quarter alone and 2000 housed together with our partners since the beginning of this administration.

But we also know that the longer you've been homeless, the more services you need to adjust and re-acclimate.

And that's exactly what this project is designed to provide.

This is not a homeless shelter, again, let me repeat, this is not a homeless shelter, it's an apartment complex with supportive services on site to help keep people housed for good.

I've had the pleasure of visiting an apartment complex in Southern California, run by an organization called Step Up.

This organization was a part of the ARP spending plan you all unanimously approved, and they are the national experts on how to move people from homelessness to successfully reintegrating into society.

And what I saw there was very powerful.

From the outside, as you walk up to the building, I couldn't distinguish it from any other apartment building on the block.

The sidewalks were clean, the neighborhood was vibrant and was in fact next door to an elementary school in Los Angeles.

But once we were inside, there was a lobby with a team of dedicated staff who were there on site 24/7 to help provide care, and case management, and counseling services to the tenants.

Otherwise, it looked like just any other apartment building.

Inside, I was able to talk to a tenant who lived in a modest studio apartment who shared how this apartment had fundamentally changed his life.

He had been in and out of homelessness basically all of his life since he'd entered the foster care system.

But the stability of having a place to call his own and a safe place to keep his things after work gave him tremendous peace and much needed stability.

He talked about how people begun to look him in the eye again, treat him like a human being, something that he had forgotten was possible.

He had returned to work and dedicated his life to serving others and sharing his story with those who needed to hear it.

And let me tell you folks, it was powerful and it was very real.

And that's exactly what we're trying to build here in Chattanooga.

Nothing more, nothing less.

We are building a temporary shelter elsewhere because our community certainly needs one in this crisis until we get caught up on on housing stock, that is not what this building will be.

This is not a temporary homeless shelter.

These will be tenants just like any other apartment building, except these residents will have the services they need to make sure they get back on their feet on site.

And from the outside you won't be able to tell that the people living there have lived lives that are any different from yours or mine.

And that is exactly the point.

And here's the benefit to everyone in the surrounding community.

There's one less dilapidated fleabag motel attracting crime and blight.

In fact, since we bought this building, 911 calls in that area have decreased 47% already.

I know there are motels in the neighborhood there that are causing Silverdale problems, but this is not that.

This is quite literally the opposite of that.

And if we're successful here, I feel confident we will be, we can use this momentum as a model to convert others.

As I told you in the afternoon session, I'm reminded of some scripture from Luke, whoever has two tunics to share with him who has none.

If you observe the Christian faith or really most any faith, you don't have to be a biblical scholar to know what we're called to do here.

And we can do it while improving the entire community at the same time.

So here's the bottom line.

This is a win for the community.

This is a win for the future residents, and it's a story of renewal and how we turn the community problem into an asset for the community.

And to be sure this isn't the only thing we're going to do to tackle homelessness in our community, we're standing up a low barrier shelter, as I said, and we're stepping up our data collection efforts through the regional homeless coalition to better understand how to serve the different segments of those experiencing homelessness in Chattanooga.

At the same time, I have to say for the record, my administration is not going to tolerate aggressive or threatening criminal behavior from anyone.

And we've had some productive meetings with homeless services and the police lately.

To that end, Chief Murphy is also forming an expanded crisis intervention unit and we'll be expanding the bike patrol unit downtown.

We are taking essentially an all of the above approach and we will make progress.

We're going to meet regularly on the topic in the mayor's office to make sure that we do with community partners who are also involved in the work.

So I won't take up much more of your time, but I did want you to hear from me directly that this administration fully intends on moving this project forward.

And I'm asking for your continued leadership and support of the important project.

Our administration will hold a public meeting at the Family Justice Center on Wednesday, October 26th at 6:00 PM and we invite the entire community to attend.

I want to make sure that people understand, again, broadly what this is and what it isn't.

And we'll take this opportunity and we'll create some materials to illustrate that between now and then.

I'll also be asking the chairman to place the relevant reselling items on the agenda following that meeting for a first reading on November the first.

So I'm happy to take any questions you have that you weren't able to get answered this afternoon, but thank you for your leadership, and hope we're going to be able to move forward and get this done.

Thank you.

- [Chairman] I do have one, two lights now, Mayor, let me thank you again for accommodating the request to come.

I know there's a lot of people here who really wanted to engage and hear what you had to say firsthand.

I felt it was important that you be here with us this evening and share that information.

So my thanks to you sir for coming here.

- Yeah, you're quite welcome.

- [Chairman] Madam Vice chair, I see your light, you have the floor.

- [Madam Vice Chair] Hey Mayor Kelly, again, thank you so much for coming, and I'm just going to ask the same questions I asked earlier.

- Yes ma'am.

- [Madam Vice Chair] In regards to this apartment complex that hopefully the city will be invested into, what kind of people would be moving into those areas?

Will they have services?

Could you just talk about that a little bit more?

- So this is not a walk up facility.

Again, this is not a low barrier or a high barrier homeless shelter.

It's an apartment building.

So they would be getting referrals from nonprofits who are working in this space, and referrals to presumably step up with a nonprofit partner for the housing.

- [Madam Vice Chair] Okay.

Thank you so much.

And I just appreciate the efforts on this that, a lot of times people come and say, what is the city doing?

What are we doing?

And we hear that every week from all types of people.

And this is one of the cases that we can say that we are doing something that we recognize the humanity in people, we recognize that everyone wasn't born with a silver spoon in their mouth.

That some people just need a hand up.

And so this is the opportunity for us as a city to step up and be a true one Chattanooga.

So I appreciate the efforts, I appreciate your staff and just wanting to let you know that I do support this project because we have to begin to realize that everybody's circumstances are different, and when we can make a change this way, a big impact, a root cause change, that's going to make a big difference for our city.

So thank you so much.

- Thank you vice chair woman.

And again, I think it's important for the community to understand that this is not some kind of a dumping problem.

And again, the facility is at the end of the road where there are a series of motels, many of which are still in operations, some of which are still causing the community problems.

And we've talked to the police department about increased presence there.

And again, this facility will have private security.

It will be gated and it will have cameras again, which we can't say for the current motels, which are causing the problem.

That's a different problem.

Which we're also happy to work with the community to address further, but this is not that.

- [Chairman] Mayor Kelly, have one more light for you.

Councilman Hester please.

You have the floor.

- [Hester] Yes.

Thank you Mayor.

Thank you all those who've come.

These are the times that try men's souls.

I'm kind of puzzled because my Lord, he saw the lame, the hurt, the withered and he made them whole.

He said greater work that you should do than I, we're trying to successfully re-enter folks in society.

That's all we're trying to do.

And I appeal to your consciousness, I appeal to your hearts.

That's all we're trying to do is re-enter folks back into society so they can be made whole.

And we can be like words of Christ, greater work we should do than he.

Thank you.

- [Chairman] Thank you Councilman.

Mayor Kelly once again, thank you for coming this evening.

I know you rearranged your schedule and I appreciate you coming and addressing this council.

- [Mayor Kelly] Happy to do it.

- And everyone who came here tonight to publicly voice their opinions and express their concerns, your presence here was very important.

- [Mayor Kelly] And I should say thank you Mr. Chairman.

And we'll continue to listen to those concerns.

Again, that's why we've sort of slowed this process down, and we'll have public input sessions to listen and address those concerns.

Sort of fill that void where there hasn't been sufficient explanation of knowledge.

So thank you.

- Yes sir.

The first meeting's October 26th at the Family Justice Center at 6:00 PM.

- [Mayor Kelly] That is correct.

- Thank you sir.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you.

- Yes ma'am.

Dr. Berz, hang on Mayor.

(people clapping) Carol do you need the mayor?

- Yeah, I do need the mayor.

- [Chairman] I'm sorry Mayor, you're almost.

- You're almost free.

- [Chairman] You'll be two more minutes later.

- [Mayor Kelly] No, I'm good.

- [Chairman] I appreciate you.

Thank you.

- [Mayor Kelly] I'm still fine.

- Thanks so much.

I want to thank all the people that showed up tonight.

I know that your concerns are sincere.

I know from looking at the petitions and things that many of you don't even live in the city.

That doesn't mean that you're less sincere about your concerns.

And I appreciate your being here.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Mayor, you did a great job, and I think you alleviated a lot of concerns, and for that I'm grateful.

I hope you'll stay around and listen, and if you have any other concerns, I hope you'll share with my colleagues tonight.

I know you've been sharing with them for several weeks now and they would like to hear again tonight if you have something else to say.

Thank you so much.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you very much.

- [Chairman] Thanks mayor.

- [Mayor Kelly] Thank you.

- Ordinances on first reading Madame clerk item I please.

- [Madame Clerk] In ordinance to the Chattanooga city code part two chapter 38 zoning ordinance.

So as the rezone property located at 107 South Germantown Road from R1 residential Zone to RTZ residential town has zero lot lines on subject certain conditions.

- Is the applicant present?

Is there any opposition present?

I can't count that high.

Council woman Coonrod.

Hit your light for me please.

(indistinct chatter) - [Coonrod] This is the.

- Council woman will you go ahead and hit your light for me?

Thank you.

Karen.

- This is the last set of slides so if you'll bear with me for a moment.

And we did cover this in committee last week.

So I will review the main items.

This is a request to rezone 107 South Germantown to RTZ residential townhouse zero lot line with conditions.

The applicant did propose two conditions for the rezoning.

The proposal is for single family detach residential uses.

The site is zoned R1 as is the adjoining property.

And I did mention last week at committee that this case may be look similar, and not to be confused with two prior rezoning requests at the site.

One was withdrawn at council and one case was withdrawn prior to planning commission.

The existing development form immediately surrounding the site primarily consists of single family residential homes on lots ranging from quarter acre to two acre lots.

There is not a specific land use plan for the area.

The development policy from the county wide comprehensive plan identifies the site as having potential for infill and redevelopment that is urban and walkable with the most potential for future public services.

Staff found that the proposed single family residential detached uses were compatible with the adjacent single family residences and development form and staff recommending conditions limiting the use and the minimum lot size to ensure compatibility with adjacent land uses and development form.

So as mentioned, the applicant had proposed two conditions but the staff recommended slightly different condition.

The first one being two single family detached residential dwellings only, one single family detached residential dwelling per lot town homes and zero lot line dwellings are prohibited.

So that is part of the use conditions under the first condition and that each lot shall have a minimum lot size 7,500 square feet.

There was opposition at planning commission.

There had been opposition to the two prior cases that were for more intense development than this proposed case.

Opposition mentioned items such as spot zoning, protecting the historic brainer community, concern about additional rental units, and that two houses fitting into this location did not work.

Planning commission determined the request is not compatible with adopted development policy in front the countywide plan adjacent land uses or development form.

And this comes with a planning commission recommendation to deny.

- [Chairman] Thank you Karen.

The applicant will have seven minutes for presentation.

Opposition, nine minutes total, and then the applicant two minutes to respond.

I noticed a lot of hands.

So at planning commission we tend to elect someone who may want to speak for the group.

So be thinking about that in your nine minutes.

Sir, thank you.

- Thank you, Mike Price, MAP Engineers.

And if I might, I have a drawing I'd like to pass out that you can be looking at members of the council as this discussion is underway.

So this is the third request that has been looked at for this property.

And so the first request came with a proposed of seven town homes after meeting with the neighbors prior to coming before city council, we withdrew that request and truthfully that was probably a bridge too far in terms of what was proposed on the property as it related to seven town home units.

The next request that we came forward with was then going to four town home units.

Subsequently at that point there was a meeting that was held at my office with Mayor Littlefield, and members of the community.

And it was a good meeting during which at that meeting it was stated that why don't we come back forward with two single family residential lots, which is what we have before you now.

The only thing that is different in the recent asking for the RT Z zone is this.

Both of these lots have a minimum of the 7,500 square foot area.

They are the same sides or larger as many of the other lots in the neighborhood in the area.

The only difference is, is we do not have the lot frontage.

So if you put the two staff recommendations as it relates to conditions of them being only allowed for single family use, it's exactly what was discussed in my office.

So I believe that this is a plan that is in keeping with the neighborhood and with the area.

And if you look at the drawing that I passed to you, you will see that there is, various types of units within the area from duplexes to apartments to single family.

So putting two single family homes in this particular area actually is very compatible and very much in keeping with what's going on within this community.

It will not destroy the fabric of this community and we certainly have a need for housing.

And so with this particular plan, we think we have reached the point where this is the appropriate plan for the area by simply rezoning it with these conditions.

And if there's any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

- [Chairman] Thank you Mr. Price.

I am seeing no lights for questions for the applicant.

Opposition, if you want to come forward please.

You have nine minutes total.

- Mr. Chairman and members of the council, I'm Ron Littlefield.

I reside at 3420 Glendon Drive.

I have been a resident of Glendon place for 51 years and in my 50 years of planning experience, I've learned a few things.

One is that a leftover lot, which this is, is usually left over for a reason.

And frequently it's topography and drainage issues.

And that's a serious issue with this property.

More rooftops and more pavement means more drainage problems.

Now, I sent each of you, I hope you received it somehow.

I've sent it about seven different ways.

Two videos of drainage affecting an adjacent property here.

Actually it sits within that little notch that you see and the property gets all the flow that flows off of this property.

And I was called not to, well, just a few days ago.

And one of those heavy rains that we've had since the seasons have been changing, and becoming more challenging.

And he said, "the water is lapping at my door, what do I do?"

And I said, well, we talked about a few things.

I said, sandbags, whatever.

Finally I just said pray maybe the rain to stop, it did it, it came that close to coming into his house.

So my point is that drainage is something that has to be considered.

The second point there, on your paper is the city has a comprehensive zoning study presently in process.

And that's the appropriate way to address general issues of density and neighborhood context and affordable housing.

I don't know the status of that.

I've signed up to be a part, an advisor, citizen advisor to it.

Haven't heard from it.

I know that the consultant is working on it.

There's a right way and a wrong way to produce affordable housing and density and doing scattershot spot zonings like this is not the proper way to do it.

You address some problems and create others.

And finally, the third item in this case, the developer bought the property.

Because we have concerns about people too.

Developer has a right and a reason to develop the property.

He bought it a very reasonable price.

And he can build a home with an accessory dwelling unit at an attractive and profitable way, and not affect the community.

He can go ahead with the present zoning, he can come back later and add the other house in the ADU, which this also includes the accessory dwelling unit option, which was recently adopted by this council.

And so far as I know, no one's done anything with accessory dwelling units.

This would be a great opportunity for a house, and an accessory dwelling unit, then if he is able to successfully address the drainage problems.

Then he could come back a year later if you deny it tonight and apply to have the second unit added.

So what has changed?

We took a closer look at drainage with the recent rains.

We did not see a plan addressing the problem, if they're going to put in retention basins or anything of that nature, we need to know it, and who's going to manage and maintain them and all of that.

And believe me, friends, this is a serious problem.

And when people would call me and say, Can you do this?

Can you do that?

I would say, well, I can do a lot of things, but I cannot affect the Laws of Physics.

This is a Laws of Physics issue.

And just allowing a developer to go forward in ignoring the Laws of Physics.

We do so at our peril.

- [Chairman] Councilwoman Coonrod, I see no other lights.

If you want to hit your light for me please.

You have the floor, ma'am.

- Okay, thank you chair.

I've read the emails, I've listened to the concerns on both sides.

The developer has, tried consistently to work with the community on, changing his plans.

He went from seven to six to four to now he's willing to do the two single family homes.

Also the guy next who lives next door, is the guy who lives next door to the property here?

So the flooding is happening on his property, which was an issue prior to him even buying the property.

And so that's a whole nother legal issue that has nothing to do with this property.

But the developer did, offer to help mitigate that on that end.

They have agreed that anything that they do is not going to make it worse.

We have that noted publicly here in the record.

Chair, I like to also offer an additional amendment to that outside of the staff recommendations, I'd like to add no ADUs.

- An approval with an additional condition of no ADUs.

- [Mike] So there'd only be two units?

- That is correct, sir.

We have a motion to approve as amended.

It's on the floor.

Questions, comments before we vote?

All those in favors say aye.

- [Council Members] Aye.

Opposed?

One no Madame Clerk.

- [Madame Clerk] Yes.

- Item carries as amended.

- [Narrator] You've been watching highlights of the Chattanooga City Council meeting, a production of WTCI, PBS.

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