The East Ridge City Council met Thursday at City Hall and once again issues pertaining to the Jordan Crossing development dominated the discussion.
The council voted on first reading to adopt an ordinance which would give a small parcel of land in the 600 block of Camp Jordan Parkway to Exit 1 LLC, the developers of Bass Pro and Jordan Crossing. And, after a lengthy discussion, the board opted to move forward with “amenities” in the city-owned right-of-way along Camp Jordan Parkway.
John Healy, a principal with Exit 1 LLC, told the board that the developers received permission from TDOT to place a four-rail split wood fence on the property bordering Bass Pro and Interstate-75. He said the fence “has visual appeal and is relatively inexpensive.” Healy passed out photos of examples of fencing used in landscaping in other cities.
Mayor Brent Lambert said that he had spoken with City Manager Scott Miller about the proposal and they both expressed concerns about continuing maintenance on a wooden fence.
Miller said that he would prefer a wooden fence along the area near a retention pond on the northwest side of the development. He said a fence would create a barrier. Miller said he would prefer a hedgerow on the remaining right-of-way.
Councilman Jacky Cagle said he would like to see costs associated with the “amenities.” Miller said the money would come through bonds. The cost of the bond could be submitted to the state as part of the reimbursable costs associated with the Border Region Act, he said.
The council discussed landscaping that would incorporate both hedgerow and fencing. They seemed to have questions about which option would be more economical.
Mike Price with MAP Engineering, a consultant for the developers, explained to the board that any design proposal brought forward by his firm would include a cost-per-foot of both hedgerow and fencing. He said the council could vote to move forward to get the design, then vote separately on what option the city would desire.
The small parcel of land the city would “abandon” to the developers consists of about one-third of an acre that is currently the road on the northeast side of the development which leads to Camp Jordan Parkway. The land was given to the city in the 1990s by the developers of America’s Best motel for the purpose of a road. Once the new interchange is completed on I-75 and Ringgold Road bringing traffic straight into the parkway, that road will no longer be used. Exit 1 LLC wants to re-purpose the property and use it as part of a parking lot for a “national restaurant” which wants to relocate near where the motel is being razed.
Councilman Cagle had “legal questions” about the 1990s deed which said the property should be used as a road “forever.” Interim City Attorney Mark Litchford said there was no language in the deed which would prevent the city gifting the land to Exit 1 LLC.
“How much is one-third of an acre worth there now?” Cagle asked. “Whatever a fool is willing to give?
Cagle then asked the developers how much having the one-third acre would help them in getting the restaurant to enter into a contract.
The developers told the council that the land was too small for someone to buy it and build on it and that there would be no access to the property in the future.
The council voted 4-1 to give the property to Exit 1 LLC. Cagle was the lone vote against.
The council passed resolutions to accept grants that would help the city purchase new body cameras for police officers and help pay salary and benefits for more firefighters in the future.
The council formally adopted a resolution that asks the Hamilton County Commission to waive reappraisal costs which may be assessed to the city in the future.
