Chattanooga is growing in popularity as a place to live. People move here from other states because of affordability, beauty, and freedom to live less hindered from bureaucracy–at least for now–than other states. Property tax increases are proposed in the City of Chattanooga, while there is expanded housing to meet demands of new residents of Chattanooga and Hamilton County.
The state of growth in our area means more development. We’re seeing it. We’ve been living through it.
As weather events occur–some of which include torrential downpours while others are just days of rain on a steady basis–the fact remains, water has to go somewhere. And this is where commonsense seems to have been silenced in fear, despite being readily available and pretty obvious.
Let’s look at a few facts, starting with the physical geography and topography of the area. The landmass is cut by the beauty of the Tennessee River. What a blessing of abundance and God’s resources. The rising mountains form a caressing bowl of beauty holding the carved up land and this majestic river. Chattanooga is unrivaled. What a blessing!
That makes all land in the valley part of the tributaries and watershed that feed into the river. Those are facts whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Independent, Black, White, Hispanic, or any ethnicity or of socio-economic standing.
The rain has to go somewhere.
Debates are ongoing about Hamilton County’s “Plan Hamilton,” which is aimed to be a planned growth roadmap. Existing neighbors and communities debate the obvious ongoing development that is changing the topography, which creates a different flow of water, land stability, and traffic. And now the case is being made publicly by the recently resigned Regional Planning Agency Executive Director that the 15-member Planning Commission favors development by trade and personal interests rather than the best interests of the people of Hamilton County and Chattanooga and their greatest investment, their own homes and lands.
Few officials are stating the obvious as residents in East Brainerd, East Ridge, and Brainerd are the most recent to demand answers on flooding, with all the significant changes and growth. These voices join neighborhoods in Hixson, Lupton City, and any area that feeds into the Tennessee River. That obvious statement is simple: The more you make surfaces impervious to water and build upon land that has proven for decades to be part of a watershed, there will be flooding or at least a significant change in runoff.
So, voices of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, you matter. It is a fact that the greatest investment of most which serves as a part of generational wealth is one’s home and land. As we know, the Good Lord isn’t making any more of it.
Speak up and get engaged. On the one hand, we’re told that Chattanooga is now a “National Park City.” On the other hand, we see development making significant changes to the contour and landforms of our hometown. The wise request is to employ commonsense and good stewardship.