Hamilton commissioners OK residential zoning, new firehalls funding

photo Hamilton County Commissioners conduct business during a commission meeting in this file photo.

Hamilton County commissioners on Wednesday agreed to spend $540,000 for three new volunteer fire halls, to settle a claim by a county resident struck by a bicycle and to narrow zoning in parts of the Flagstone subdivision in Ooltewah.

The zoning change for parts of Flagstone from M-1 industrial to R-1 resident should help raise property values, said David King, secretary for the Flagstone Community Association.

He earlier said that there were pockets of M-1 zoning amid the R-1 residential lots, and this caused concern, because many more things, such as manufacturing plants and commercial medical waste, are allowed on M-1 property than on R-1 land. The M-1 zoning could also have allowed for the construction of apartment complexes, which are prohibited under R-1 zoning. R-1 allows only single-family dwellings.

King said he and the association's president, Joe Rich, found out about the zoning issue during a routine inspection. They then went to the commission to request it all be switched to R-1. He said it was probably just a mistake as bits of the nearby industrial complex were turned into homes and converted into R-1 properties.

"We felt it was in the best interest of the entire neighborhood," King said.

Commissioners also settled a claim against the county from John Doub, agreeing to pay him $60,000 in compensation for an accident in which he was struck by a county ambulance near Erlanger while riding his bike.

The commission went on to approve agreements with architects for the Dallas Bay Firehall #2, Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department Headquarters and the New Tri-Community Firehall #3. Those contracts are for $178,511, $226,500 and $125,983, respectively.

Duane Pitts, fire chief for the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department, said the new firehall will replace an old one, which was too small to meet the needs of the community. The new facility will be able to fit six people in live-in apartments, rather than two. He said his department has been pushing for a new facility for several years.

"We've broached the subject with them several times in the past, and it was just never a good time apparently to consider it," he said. "Now, it seems to be."

The architects are Artech Design Group, Inc., for the Dallas Bay Firehall; Michael Brady, Inc., for the Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department Headquarters; and Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, PLLC, for the New Tri-Community Firehall.

Also, commissioners approved the purchase of one mobile command center from Beeler Impression for Emergency Services. Commissioner Graham said the command center is to be used by responders in an emergency.

"What it will do is create ID badges [after] a tornado or catastrophe ... and also keep track of where the workers are," Graham told the commission.

Commissioners also approved several budget measures and voted to extend several school programs, including a rape prevention education program. Several programs aiming to reduce smoking in Hamilton County also were approved.

Contact staff writer Hannah Smith at hsmith@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6731.

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