Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission Meeting - July 16, 2026
Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission Meeting - July 16, 2026
The Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission met on July 16, 2026, at 1:29 PM to consider two certificate of appropriateness cases, approve minutes, and hold officer elections. The meeting was live-streamed.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The minutes from the previous month were approved unanimously as written.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A member of the public inquired about building on a property at 3540, but staff clarified the property is not within a local historic district, so the commission had no jurisdiction. The individual was directed to a pre-submittal meeting.
Discussion Items
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Old Business Case HZ2617 – 4401 St. Elmo Avenue (St. Elmo Historic District): The applicant presented a revised proposal for a rear/side addition. The original plan was to expand an existing second-floor addition, but during pre-construction, inadequate foundation issues were discovered, requiring removal of approximately 1,000 square feet of non-historic structure and rebuilding with 1,300 square feet. Changes include expanding the second floor outward and adding skylights (existing precedent). Staff noted the addition is located at the rear but visible from West 44th Street. The applicant confirmed matching roof lines, siding, and windows, with vertical trim to delineate new from old. The addition is distinguishable from the historic building. No public comments were received.
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New Business Case HZ2670 – 4617 Florida Avenue (St. Elmo Historic District): This case involved a stop work order issued because work began without a certificate of appropriateness or building permit. The project removed a carport and constructed a 10-by-14-foot addition (less than 150 sq ft, but due to the stop work order, it required full commission review). The applicant's representative (the owner's son-in-law) was present and deferred to the commission on materials. Staff noted the addition is subordinate, at the rear, and the primary facade is untouched. The existing siding is aluminum, and windows are non-original. Commissioners expressed confusion over a submitted elevation drawing (one photo appeared AI-generated), but agreed the addition's size and location are acceptable. They discussed materials: vinyl was deemed inappropriate; aluminum or HardiePlank were preferred. Foundation columns were noted as odd but acceptable. The commission decided to approve with conditions for staff review of materials.
Key Outcomes
- Motion on HZ2617: Approved as submitted pursuant to City Code and Historic Guidelines, with no conditions. Motion carried unanimously.
- Motion on HZ2670: Approved subject to conditions: (1) add vertical trim between old and new work, (2) exterior materials, including screening under the addition, to be staff reviewed. Motion carried unanimously.
- Officer Elections: Chip Pond was re-elected as Chair, and Cliff McCormick was elected as Vice Chair, both unanimously.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned with a motion and second.
Note: The commission uses both old and new design guidelines; old guidelines applied to the first case (St. Elmo), new guidelines to the second. Staff reminded that applications for Lupton City local historic district designation are expected, potentially for August or September review.
Meeting Transcript
Cliff McCormick. Also let's use your mics as we go around because we're live streaming this morning. Cliff McCormick. Present. Piper Stro Matt. Brandon Peng and Eben. Present. Todd Morgan. Present. John Cavit. Present. Cassie Courtney. Present. Nate Then Bird. Present. Matt McDonald. Present. Skip Pond. Present. All right. Can you do our swearing in for us, please? Sure. If you plan to speak, will you please stand and raise your right hand? Do you sound like swear from the testimony you're giving today? With the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you guide. Thank you. Sorry. All right. Our rules of procedure for the meeting today. The order of business for hearing certificate of appropriateness cases will be as follows. Each case will have a staff presentation, followed by an applicant presentation of no more than 10 minutes. After which we'll have comments by others for or against the project for five minutes total. The applicant will have an opportunity for rebuttal if necessary of no more than five minutes, after which the commission members will discuss the case and make a motion. A certificate of appropriateness will be issued within a week of this hearing. If you defer your case or if you have conditional items to bring back before the commission, you must contact staff and ask to be added to the agenda for the next meeting. You will not automatically be added to the agenda. If you plan to speak, you must be sworn in and please sign in at the podium when you come up. If you would like to defer your case to be heard at a later date, a deferral must be requested prior to the statement of the case's motion. If you leave the meeting, please wait until you exit the wooden doors to speak or use your cell phone. All construction work must meet the certificate of appropriateness and design guidelines as approved by the Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission or staff. If plans change, a new application will be required. If work is not started within six months of the issue date, a new COA will need to be issued. As COA is not a building permit or a land disturbing permit, please contact the land disturbing office or the building permit office prior to starting the project. The COA must be posted in visible location or on file on the property until the project is completed. Applicants are respectfully requested to ensure that they have submitted the required application and supporting documents prior to this meeting and to adhere to the time limits as previously explained. Board members are requested to limit questions and comments on the case to only those within the purview of the board. Code setback variants and zoning issues are not within the purview of the commission and will have to be addressed by the applicant with the appropriate personnel within the city. Reminder this meeting is being recorded and live streamed today. Next we need to approve the minutes from last month's meeting.
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