Get Involved with NCNA this spring!

Our programming is dependent on neighborhood engagement and participation. Let us know what ideas are of interest / exciting to you!

Interested in Learning More about NCNA Initiatives: We have a lot of programs coming up in the next few months. Use this form to get emails with more details about the ones that you are interested in.

Here’s the list:

• Play Streets (a monthly Friday evening gathering when we close down a street for play)

• Emergency Preparedness Group (Establish a support network for neighbors)

• Saturday Sidewalk Workdays (to clear debris and overgrowth, and do some sidewalk repairs)

• Love Local Initiative (support local businesses via interviews and "NCNA Nights Out")

• Dallas Road safety audits and suggestions to the city

• Sylvan Park Bird Sanctuary Work Days to remove invasive plants (quarterly)

• New Neighbor Postcards (quarterly mailings to new neighbors)

• Traffic safety in school zones (especially for students walking to/from local schools)

• Help organize Neighborhood Wide Trash pick up and Potluck on April 25th

• Response to Development and Rezoning (might include attending RPC meetings)

• Wyatt Community Center Support (ex: community garden, arrange snacks for a movie night, etc)

And speaking of Wyatt Community Center…

Starting Friday, Feb 13th — Free Basketball Skill Clinic

Butch Leftwich and Marcel Hawthorne at the Wyatt Community Center on Colville St in North Chattanooga, will be leading a BEGINNER basketball skills development series (SKILLS DRILLS)  for kids aged 7-9 starting on February 13 and running weekly until March 6, 2026.

• Program to run for 4 weeks, on Friday nights from February 13-March 6, from 5:30-7pm. Sign-ups start at 5:15pm each night.

• This is targeted at coed beginners from ages 7-9. Maximum we can handle is 40 kids.

• This will be a drop off program, although we encourage parents to stay and watch the skill drills.

• There will be a sign up sheet for each night with your child's name, age, parent's name, phone number, and any medical information the coaches would need to be aware of.

Pickleball Lessons

The Wyatt Community Center director, Butch Leftwich, is leading Pickleball lessons and skill development drills for beginners M, W, and F each week from 1:30-3. Drop in - no reservation required. Participants to bring a paddle and some balls. Free to all!

Snacks for After School

The community center has become a spot that many kids head to play pick up basketball, soccer and more to as soon as they finish school in the afternoons. If you’re driving, be on the lookout for them as they walk from Normal Park along Forest Avenue on their way to Colville. Also, Butch and Marcel like to be able to provide snacks, so if you can drop gatorades or snacks by, they would be appreciated!

Meeting to Discuss Proposed 1010 Dallas Road Project

On Monday evening, May 19th at 6 p.m. NCNA members are invited to meet at the small building at Wyatt Community Center, 406 Colville St, to learn more about a proposed development at 1010 Dallas Road (the area pictured here — just past Hair A Go Go).

Proposed Development

The vision for this six-acre site is to bring mixed-income, multi-family housing in response to expressed community needs for greater housing affordability, particularly in the North Chattanooga community. The first phase of this potential project could include up to 169 rental apartment units. The project is being co-developed by Chestnut Development and led by Steen and Courtney Watson (who are D2 residents). The six-acre site encompasses five parcels of land, one of which is in process to seek rezoning from I-L (industrial) to C-C (residential). Come meet the project leads and learn more.

Navigating Development in Our Neighborhood

An example rezoning notice

How do we learn about Zoning or Alley Change Requests?

Recently the NCNA Responsible Growth Team has been engaged in helping neighbors respond to the yellow "change in zoning or alley" notification signs that are posted 30 days in advance of a decision by the City.  Many times we have had to scramble to learn about what the zoning or alley use change entailed, pull together impacted neighbors or interested parties, and engage with the developer or the city to share concerns and try to have the request modified or dropped. We have attended the Regional Planning Authority meetings where we can speak to any opposition or ways to address our concerns with their projects.

Some recent efforts in our neighborhood:

• Development request by GreenTech for 14 homes on Franklin St and assuming rights to the never opened Ann Street. We worked with the developer and the city to address the challenges, and the result is now a plan to develop 7 street facing homes, with a conservation easement on the back portion of the property, which is a wooded steep slope.

• On Normal Avenue, neighbors were instrumental in documenting the opposition to the 4th rezoning request to reduce the property setbacks on a small, unusually shaped lot and were successful in having this rezoning rejected by the city.

Here is what we have learned that might be helpful to you if you have questions about development in your part of the neighborhood:

Building in Chattanooga

Property owners in Chattanooga have a lot of flexibility to develop or modify their property to suit their needs, as long as it meets current building codes and zoning requirements.  They submit their project scope to the city, and the city conducts a comprehensive review, which can include:

• Does it meet current zoning requirements for that property? If not, will they request a zoning change?

• Are there storm water concerns for the planned development?

• What is the vehicular access plan for the property?

• Is it approved by the Fire/Safety organization to ensure access to residents from named roads, and ability of rescue vehicles to navigate the adjacent roads?

• Does it request change of use for existing closed or opened alley ways? If so, will they submit an "alley use change request"?

North Chattanooga Architectural Design Requirements

In North Chattanooga, we do not have architectural design standards in place. If the building permit follows zoning and building codes, they are free to build the design they choose. Over the years, all types of property design (single family, multi-family,  commercial office, shops and restaurants) have been built or improved. A previous homeowners' association decided against having design restrictions in this neighborhood, resulting in all varieties of uses and design styles overtime. We have evolved into a very eclectic and interesting neighborhood! 

How to Formally Support or Oppose Rezoning Cases (including Alley use changes)

Citizens can submit written support or opposition utilizing the RPA's (Regional Planning Authority) public comment form (https://chcrpa.org/public-input/#pubInput) by emailing rezoning@chattanooga.gov, or in-person at the RPA office at 1250 Market Street, Suite 2000. Please provide name and address for the record. The Staff accepts written opposition ahead of the meeting up until the end of  the day Friday before the Planning Commission hearing. The Staff will compile the comments and forward to the Planning Commission ahead of the meeting. 

Also, the cases and agenda for each month are posted https://chcrpa.org/zoning-subdivisions/agendas-case-information-2/

Citizens are also welcome to attend the Planning Commission hearing (see schedule and location below) to speak in opposition to a case. The opposition is given a total of 9 minutes to speak on a case (i.e., if 20 community members show up in opposition they are given 9 minutes total to speak).

If you'd like to learn more about development in North Chattanooga, please let us know. The Responsible Growth team is focused on helping residents engage in a timely manner when there are zoning or alley change requests. We want to work together to address neighborhood opposition or concerns. Having our neighbors involved leads to better outcomes across our neighborhood.

• Diane O’Sullivan and Alex Close (Co-Leads - Responsible Growth Committee)