Chattanooga Historic Zoning Commission Meeting - 10/15/2026

Agenda Items & Discussion

  • The commission reviewed hearing procedures for certificate of appropriateness cases (staff presentation, applicant presentation, public comment, rebuttal, commission discussion and motion) and noted that setback, variance and zoning issues fall outside its purview. Minutes from the prior month were approved and staff reviews were listed.
  • HZ 26-96, 4313 St. Elmo Avenue (old business): New construction on a vacant lot in the St. Elmo neighborhood. A commissioner recused, leaving the commission at quorum, so the case was tabled until a quorum without the recusal was available. After another member arrived, the case was brought back off the table and the applicant's revised site plan, elevations and materials were reviewed; members found the proposal appropriate given the surrounding row of larger lots.
  • HZ 26-108, 451 Tennessee Avenue (circa 1920 historic home, St. Elmo): The applicant proposed a rear addition, a side shed dormer and a shed. Commissioners were not opposed to a dormer in principle but were concerned about its size and how it interacts with the original facade. The applicant agreed to have the rear addition approved while the side dormer was deferred.
  • HZ 26-110, 4613 Guild Trail: A driveway project in which commissioners asked about the surface and about a deteriorating historic retaining wall near the street; the applicant said the wall would not be disturbed.

Key Decisions & Votes

  • Minutes of the prior meeting approved.
  • HZ 26-96 (4313 St. Elmo Avenue) tabled for lack of a quorum without a recusal, then approved as submitted with no conditions; the motion carried.
  • HZ 26-108 (451 Tennessee Avenue): rear addition options approved; side shed dormer deferred; motion carried.
  • HZ 26-110 (4613 Guild Trail): approved with conditions that the driveway be concrete and the historic retaining wall remain undisturbed; motion carried.
  • Meeting adjourned after brief staff updates.

Note: This summary was generated from an automated transcript and may contain errors; vote counts were not stated. Consult official records for details.