Chattanooga Planning Commission Clears 300+ New Homes Across Four Developments

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission recommended approval of more than 300 new homes across four developments at its July meeting, including projects in Ooltewah and near Lee Highway in the Bonny Oaks area. The largest zoning case heads to the Chattanooga City Council on Aug. 11 for final approval.

What did the Chattanooga planning commission approve in July?

The headline case: a 48-unit townhouse and 46 single-family home neighborhood — 94 units total — at the Tyner and Kirkman roads intersection. That rezoning had previously been deferred at the direction of the City Council member for Brainerd Hills, who also sits on the commission, due to community opposition. After neighborhood meetings, the applicant added 10 conditions to win approval: a single entryway on both Tyner and Kirkman roads, no driveways facing the major roads, and sidewalks plus multiple crosswalks on both streets.

Also approved: Scoutview, a 77-home preliminary plat in Hixson at the corner of Middle Valley and East Boy Scout roads, on roughly 26 acres across from a driving range and adjacent to the existing Laurel Cove subdivision.

Who actually gives final approval?

The Regional Planning Commission makes recommendations in zoning cases and the final decision on neighborhood plats. Zoning cases go on to either the Hamilton County Commission or the Chattanooga City Council, depending on location. Beginning in July, the commission hears city and unincorporated county business in separate sessions.

Does Chattanooga need 300 more homes?

Inventory is rebuilding fast but prices are barely moving. Regional inventory jumped 25.8% to 4,048 homes while the median sale price rose just 1.2% to $350,000 — the definition of a market where supply is catching demand.

For national context, U.S. existing-home sales rose 3.2% month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million — the highest level since December 2025 — and the national median existing-home price climbed to $429,300, up 1.3% year over year, per the National Association of REALTORS®.

What this means if you own or buy here

• Hixson and Tyner-area owners: 171 new units between Scoutview and the Tyner/Kirkman project will add competing new-construction supply in your submarket over the next two to three years. If you have been planning to sell "eventually," the competitive picture is easier now than after delivery.
• Buyers: inventory up 25.8% with a median price up only 1.2% is the most negotiating room Chattanooga buyers have had in years. At 4.4 months of supply, you can compare homes instead of racing them.
• Sellers: with 4,048 active listings, pricing, condition and presentation decide whether you are in the 51-day group or the 100-day group. Buyers have options in front of them for the first time in a long while.
• Move-up sellers: the Catch 22 is real — more inventory to buy also means more competition to sell into. A guaranteed-sale plan* solves the sequencing so you are not making an offer that depends on a house you have not sold.

Sources: Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission, July 2026 meeting (Chattanooga Times Free Press, July 18, 2026); Greater Chattanooga REALTORS® June 2026 market report (Chattanoogan.com, July 16, 2026); National Association of REALTORS® existing-home sales report.

*Tracy and seller must agree on price and possession date