Collegedale commission advances PCD abandonment and rezoning of two apartment parcels over traffic-signal concerns

The Collegedale City Commission on Nov. 3 voted to advance three linked ordinances — 11-69, 11-70 and 11-71 — that would remove a Planned Commercial Development overlay and rezone two existing apartment properties to bring them into compliance with their current use.

Planning staff told the commission the measure would abandon the PCD overlay (Ordinance 11-69) and rezone 8645 Summit Peak Way and 5060 City Station Drive from Shopping Center Commercial (C-2) to Multifamily Residential (R-3) under Ordinances 11-70 and 11-71. The action does not approve proposed townhomes on a nearby 19.4-acre parcel (8440 Absinthe Pike), which staff said must return with a separate rezoning request.

The rezoning moved forward after staff and the applicant described the plan as a corrective step that puts existing apartment uses into a conforming zoning district. “The request before you tonight essentially abandons the PUD so this gets it into compliance by assigning the proper R‑3 zones to the existing apartment developments,” Mike Price of MAP Engineers said during the applicant presentation.

Why it matters: planning staff presented a traffic study that identified an immediate need for a traffic signal at the Patton Town Road/Absinthe Pike intersection to address current traffic volumes and turning conflicts. Staff recommended that any residential rezoning or development on the large, undeveloped Parcel 4 (the 19.4‑acre site envisioned for 109 townhomes) be withheld until that signal is installed or until the developer obtains TDOT approval and an installation plan prior to building permits.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on access, grades and safety. The applicant said a multi‑party meeting with TDOT, Collegedale, Chattanooga, the developer and the traffic engineer was scheduled to clarify jurisdiction and timing for the traffic signal.

The votes: each ordinance advanced on a 3–1 roll call. Vice Mayor Sadler voted no on all three items; three commissioners voted yes. Staff noted that if any of the three ordinances fails at second reading, the PCD abandonment would be void and property would revert to current zoning.

Next steps: staff announced the required second reading and public hearing for the three ordinances is set for Dec. 1, when the commission will consider final action.

Details and context: the proposals cover parcels identified by Hamilton County tax map numbers including parcel IDs discussed in the staff presentation; the larger Ab sinthe Pike parcel (the townhome site) was presented as a separate future request and was not approved or rezoned at this meeting.