General Rezoning Information

In the case of rezoning and special exceptions permits, property owners or their appointed representatives may apply. Adjacent property owners may apply for street and alley closures.

Visit this website and select item #4 “Additional Forms” then download “Property Owner Authorization” to fill out the required document allowing the property owner to give the applicant authorization to apply for a zoning application.

The appointed representative is a person authorized by the legal current property owner to represent the case as the applicant. As part of the application, the representative shall submit a SIGNED document by the current property owner stating knowledge of the request and acknowledging that the applicant is representing the owner.

See below.

Intent:

It is the intent of the RPA Site Plan policy to require site plans that will provide sufficient information for planning staff, planning commissioners, elected officials, and other interested parties to make more informed decisions regarding rezoning requests. Site plans promote greater understanding of the request and help to communicate the applicant’s intent for how a site is to be used and developed.

Site Plan Required:

A site plan shall be required for all rezoning requests and special permits. The RPA site plan policy does not apply if a site plan is already required by the zoning regulations. In those cases, the applicant must submit a site plan as required by the zoning regulations.

Exempt Zones:

The following zones in the various jurisdictions are exempt from the site plan requirements: Chattanooga: R-1 / Hamilton County: A-1, R-1, R-5 / Lakesite: R-1 / Lookout Mountain: R-1, R-2 Ridgeside: R-1 / Walden:A-1, R-1, E-1

Plan Submittal:

1.  All site plans must be submitted by the monthly application deadline with the application. No application will be accepted without a site plan, unless exempted as indicated above.
2.  A five day grace period from date of submission may be considered, on a case by case basis, when approval has been obtained from the Planning Agency Executive Director prior to filing the application. Such approval will extend acceptance for five (5) days from the stated deadline date.
3. Zoning applications are available at the RPA Development Services counter or online at www.chcrpa.flywheelsites.com.
4. Site plans may only be binding to the extent that a site plan is referenced in an ordinance or resolution or elements of a site plan are added as conditions to the rezoning.
5. A site plan submitted as required for the application review process is for informational purposes only and, unless specified by ordinance or resolution, does not constitute a “development plan” under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 13-3-413 or Section 13-4-310 and therefore does not establish a vested property right.

​Minimum Site Plan Requirements:

All site plans must contain the following:

1. Area for proposed zone request (labeled as such) with dimensions and point of beginning and
   ending shown. Only include parcels that are intended to be rezoned. Do not include parcels that
   may be part of an overall development plan. This can be submitted as an addendum to the site
   plan with the rezone boundary.
2. Include adjacent parcels with measurements for reference if only a portion of a property is to be
   rezoned.
3. Approximate location, size and dimensions of the existing or proposed building(s).
4. Property lines that contain the tract of land to be developed.
5. Vehicular and pedestrian points of ingress and egress, existing or proposed.
6. Landscape buffers as required by ordinance or otherwise proposed.
7. Any Proposed sidewalks
8. Approximate parking area design/redesign, including number of spaces
9. Location of dumpsters (if applicable)
10. Location of floodway, 100-year and 500-year floodplain as currently mapped by FEMA or
    Hamilton County GISMO
11. A legend with these items:

i. North arrow
ii. Graphic Scale (in feet)
iii. Area in acres (total area being requested for rezoning)
iv. Number of residential units, if applicable

• All site plans must be submitted on a minimum of tabloid size (11” x 17”) paper. Larger sizes
  may be requested or provided. If a larger size is provided at least one (1) copy must be of tabloid
  (11” x 17”) size.
• Only one (1) copy of the site plan is required. PDF files are also acceptable and may be emailed.
• All plans must be clear, legible, and drawn to scale.

Notification signs will be issued to the applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to post the notification sign(s) on the subject property.  No notification sign(s) should be displayed on the property until after five business days following the monthly application deadline.

For applications in the City of Chattanooga, adjacent property owners and the Presidents of registered Neighborhood Associations of applications within their neighborhood boundaries will be notified by RPA by letter no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the Planning Commission meeting.

A notice of the Planning Commission date, location, and time is also placed in the Hamilton County Herald.

The Planning Commission meeting is held the second Monday of every month on the fourth floor of the Hamilton County Courthouse, 625 Georgia Avenue, at 1:00pm. The Planning Commission reviews requests for zoning, special permits, closures/abandonments, and other mandatory referrals. They vote on each case after it is heard. Except for certain special permits, the Planning Commission vote is a recommendation to the appropriate legislative body (Chattanooga City Council, Hamilton County Commission, etc.). This is only a recommendation.

Final action on Special Permits for single-wide manufactured homes is by the Planning Commission.  An appeal to the Planning Commission’s action may be made to the County Commission who will hear said appeal at the 2^nd County Commission meeting, which is held on the 3^rd Wednesday of the following month.  A request for an appeal should be made at the Planning Commission meeting the day of the hearing.

The public is invited to participate in the meeting and will be given an opportunity to express support or opposition to cases. Planning Commission discussion is typically focused on zoning and land use. Topics include the applicant’s request, site plan, site description, zoning history, plans and policies. Except for subdivision plats, the Planning Commission does not review or have authority to approve building or road construction plans, storm water plans, flood plans, or any other similar engineering-related issues.