Residents urge rigorous public input and protection for Enterprise South Nature Park
November 13, 2025 | Hamilton County, Tennessee
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Melissa Ray, representing Save Enterprise South Nature Park, asked the county to apply the same rigor used at McDonald Farm — including third-party data collection and clear quantitative survey results — to the Enterprise South public input process. She said the county’s current online comment form does not capture basic quantitative breakdowns (for/against/neutral or geographic distribution of respondents) and warned that state and federal deed restrictions connected to prior TDEC grants require documented public input as part of any conversion or deed-swap application.
"We would ask that this public input phase be given the same resources and the same rigor as the decision making around McDonald Farm," Ray told commissioners, citing TDEC procedures that require survey documentation and noting that "if a simple majority of the public input is not in favor, the request may not be approved."
Other speakers described personal and ecological concerns: Lane Orlick said Enterprise South provides recreational access for seniors, families and wildlife; Dawson Aaron (a military veteran) said he and other veterans oppose actions that would reduce park land; Chris Cloutier raised pollution and proximity issues related to Novonix’s planned operations at Vernon Peak and asked commissioners to consider the park as a buffer for nearby schools and neighborhoods.
Chairman and administration representatives said the county has posted a public input page on hamiltoncounty.com and that comments are being collected and will be compiled after the public comment period closes. Commissioners asked staff how the collected comments will be processed and whether commissioners can receive copies; staff said they will compile and present results after the comment period ends.
No formal action was taken Nov. 12; residents requested more rigorous survey design and transparency to satisfy state TDEC requirements if a deed conversion is pursued.
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