Not sure if this is possible, but a chunk extension loader. When the chunk the extension is in is loaded by a player, it acts like a regular chunk loader, so chunks that are just out of range of the player might be able to be loaded. When the chunk the extension is in is not loaded, it also does not load the extension's assigned chunks.
I notice my forest area is slightly out of range for all the trees to be in loaded and simulated chunks, so this might be neat so it's not always active, only if you're in range. Say a mob farm that you don't want to be running all the time, but when you're in the area, it is. Not sure if this is a good idea or not, but wanted to share. Sorry if the wrong place or format or something heh!