[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6123360,"mediaKeyId","2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b","parentId",2689992,"title","Votes at a glance: Smyrna council approves zoning changes, park and IT budget moves, and aquatic center contract","audioSeconds",759,"startMs",2061000,"endMs",2820000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b&start=2061&end=2820","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b/thumbnail_2061000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123360/Smyrna/Cobb-County/Georgia/Votes-at-a-glance-Smyrna-council-approves-zoning-changes-park-and-IT-budget-moves-and-aquatic-center-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123360-ab25f575a23cc7b35c4d2c2b17f15989/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189682&Signature=mEdle~SUG-R1Nb9Iv6UB0SEq1d35rA-MCR9DAkf2jW3imodoRptTUDc5TWRWOscLVKgG7CvSV-jhZGRjaif~voePrt8rlPqi9RkadvUUrjC7mTFKRAuQMHAjVcpkk10NTOEc8q2i2Ta-MTOOZC4DYCxwLcrYl1cIj~9r1E3R1pd9k4GEyjQz6RuYErC3IOg6W3rQ62-zL8MDj~3EkvCTvt91I~OJtl52Uox~CH~H9Z7H-8QcJCjHb~8BHRiStExv2F3To9VFtfK3vcrHIrDThb~Owrn0nUSJyNPcnaOTr5neg7z6UzSZikSqCVULO8WzejHezuVkP5duT0X312NHnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-18T15:09:41Z","article","The Smyrna Mayor and Council took a series of unanimous actions Monday night, approving zoning requests, budget amendments, a professional engineering services contract for the Tolleson Park Aquatic Center, personnel reclassification, and consent items including a seasonal street closure.

Key votes and outcomes

- Rezoning Z25‑003 (2201 Dixie Avenue): Council approved reverting a property previously rezoned to MU back to Light Industrial conditional to allow a storage building. Planner Joey Saabs said the structure the applicant intended for residential use was removed and the owner now proposes storage. Councilman Lindley moved to pass; Councilman Pickens seconded. Vote: 6‑0 in favor.

- Authorization to amend FY2025 parks budget for heritage celebrations ($12,000): Council approved moving general‑fund money into the Heritage Celebrations budget line. Motion to pass by Mr. Oglesby; second by Mr. Gould. Vote: 6‑0 in favor.

- Reclassification and transfer of public safety systems administrator to IT (no change in pay grade): Council approved transferring the vacant public safety systems administrator position from the Police Department to Information Technology, reclassifying it to a system administrator within IT to form a systems team overseeing city software. Motion to pass by Councilwoman Hines; second by Mr. Oglesby. Vote: 6‑0 in favor.

- Professional engineering services for Tolleson Park Aquatic Center ($1,218,395): Council authorized a proposal from Corey Engineering (address read into the record) to provide design, permitting, pool architecture and related services to redevelop the Tolleson Park Aquatic Center, to be paid from the 2022 SPLOST. Parks and Recreation staff and Finance recommended authorization. Motion to pass by Councilman Lindley; second by Councilman Pickens. Vote: 6‑0 in favor. Council discussion noted geotechnical/cleanup steps and outlined planned facility features described by staff and mayor: a heated competition pool, recreational pool with lazy‑river component, a separate water slide and a zero‑entry area for small children; demolition debris removal and geotechnical work were discussed as immediate next steps.

- Authorization to amend ARPA playgrounds repairs and maintenance budget (+$7,500): Council approved a change order to a previously awarded contract to allow removal of trees that were discovered to be on city property during pre‑construction. Motion to pass by Mr. Gould; second by Mr. Lindley. Vote: 6‑0 in favor.

- Consent agenda (approved unanimously): Items approved included minutes, the annual Crawfish Boil festival permit (May 3, 2025), a road closure at 1201 Hill Street for a decorative speed table (April 7–11, 2025), and a seasonal closure of King Street between Bank Street and Powder Spring Street from March 18, 2025 through Nov. 2, 2025 (Fridays 3 p.m. to Sundays 6 p.m.). Motion to approve consent agenda by Councilman Lindley; second by Councilman Pickens. Vote: unanimous 6‑0.

Votes at the meeting were uniformly 6‑0 in favor on the items recorded; Councilwoman Wilkinson was noted as absent for the evening. Several motions were made and seconded on the record as summarized above.

How the measures will proceed

Staff will implement the contract and budget changes per department procedures, schedule inspections and permits for the Tolleson Park Aquatic Center design work and begin geotechnical/cleanup work. The IT reclassification moves responsibilities to the IT department and preserves the pay grade while creating a cross‑trained systems team. The ARPA amendment funds a small change order to allow tree removal needed during playground work.

No votes at the meeting failed or were tabled.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 03/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March meeting the Smyrna Mayor and Council approved two zoning requests, four formal business items including a $1.218 million engineering contract for the Tolleson Park Aquatic Center, an IT position reclassification, ARPA playground amendment, and several consent items including a seasonal King Street closure.","taxTitle","Smyrna, Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",4148,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6123365,"Smyrna Fire Department presents strategic plan, cites community risk assessment and accreditation goal",404,616000,1020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b&start=616&end=1020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b/thumbnail_616000.jpg","/articles/6123365/Smyrna/Cobb-County/Georgia/Smyrna-Fire-Department-presents-strategic-plan-cites-community-risk-assessment-and-accreditation-goal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123365-020509dca998b529b45578d25844c7bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189682&Signature=cWom9fP3EJ5b22VcLS~tOZobBqr7~0THpy8ZbK1kp2LlZzvfto-UhTUrw68zFQ-0Gv-qQD7WIg1bQdLMlI9VPgNFplx89KvBZDTRk3mzOgFoC2hglg5fLHyI4eE5I1QQfI8oZsxnQ3GapOB~qt6RkErMf~Nk3K2-2F2KYdO~i49xwBZn332Y-1tk8g1E9rkEQdouCn9zozFJ-Rs7HPd38hKZ1IWek2gQq7RCaf2G3penzP~FD6ewzBM4sSGMcLf3K9fZstHKnMFuonlXJ-paHD-UHm-zRvtgFa2cKsRR~9UNM1gPPshkuOdl8SAFGhiNA-Q1gEVWA853y~152LKjNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Smyrna Fire Chief Brian Marcos presented the department's strategic plan to the Mayor and Council on Monday, describing it as the department's third strategic plan in its 127‑year history and the first informed by the city's community risk assessment completed in 2022.

Chief Marcos said the fire department surveyed citizens, engaged internal and external stakeholders and held workshops with department members and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce to produce 11 major goals that will guide operations and programs. \"Getting to them fast is important. Having the right resources is important,\" Marcos said, summarizing the public feedback.

Marcos told the council the plan and the department's self‑assessment make Smyrna a candidate for accreditation by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, a designation he said only about 13% of U.S. fire departments achieve. \"I hope within 18 months to 2 years, you're gonna see this fire department be the gold standard that we all know it is, but we'll have it proven and validated through the center of public safety excellence,\" he said.

Mayor Castle and other council members thanked the department for its work and for community engagement; the mayor recounted a personal experience with emergency response to underscore the council's appreciation. Marcos invited the public to review the plan online at spurnacityfire.com and to attend community open houses to ask questions.

The presentation did not include a council vote; it was received for information and staff said they would return with implementation steps and schedules as the accreditation process advances.","Fire Chief Brian Marcos presented a new strategic plan to Smyrna council that builds on a 2022 community risk assessment, outlines 11 major goals and begins a process toward national accreditation.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6123370,"Smyrna council approves rezoning to allow artist studios while preserving sanctuary",1073,847000,1920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b&start=847&end=1920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689992-12e916c97afc2a2c5d38481d7ee01d3b/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6123370/Smyrna/Cobb-County/Georgia/Smyrna-council-approves-rezoning-to-allow-artist-studios-while-preserving-sanctuary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123370-66d33e1157b84f4004d69cc067845067/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189682&Signature=D6dN61OwVt4M-Dmaa7du~FwFa0NCisohQQIDk4uuXIpSv~0F3whcrG2yXwiASEP6dp7HIJ3xc8TrkCKISqqHtbT3ZluFwSxWMR-B2Ldl-BrXQOa4z-rdCQm~z4W8DOoJ7vie~PjwfMKsXtIplLnuM20IrbJ-~R-Xsk0zovDn9IWyB3X4v-4MF2CBsfCNN9TMpoBhzHsOxwKLXNTbSQ02y0riH9aHzUxRnvuppSo9xr0GWnrbPKAn0VNEmETWVXXogIKDtjkO6do0R~v~t28R-lL7UYMqXG8xMsrJXpsUWqVMH3WuLCInQGVd-9b2ar9k5V-HcAre78O2sxljPc4vhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Smyrna Mayor and Council on Monday approved a conditional rezoning to allow artist studio space, a continuing sanctuary use and a residence at a former church property on Spring Street (Land Lot 559).

Planner Joey Saabs told the council the planning commission recommended approval and staff proposed conditions including restricting uses to those compatible with mixed‑use, bringing the existing building into compliance with life‑safety and ADA requirements, restriping the parking lot for ADA compliance, and requiring substantial compliance with the submitted site survey for any future development.

The rezoning application, filed by Robert Harrison, drew support from neighbors and community members during the public hearing. Harrison said the project will convert classroom spaces into eight artist studios in a middle building, later divide the fellowship hall in the rear into smaller studio spaces, keep the sanctuary for a resident congregation that will continue to meet every other Sunday, and preserve a house on the property for a long‑time resident. He also said the project had generated local demand: \"We had 24 reservations paid, ready to go from the neighborhood,\" he told the council.

Resident Lemmy Ward, who lives three doors from the property, testified in support and told the council the proposal would stabilize the neighborhood and avoid overdevelopment. \"I know Robert well, and I know he's going to be a good steward of this property,\" Ward said.

Councilman Lindley moved to approve the rezoning; Councilman Welch seconded. The council approved the measure 6‑0 (Councilman Lindley, Councilman Welch, Councilman Pickens, Councilman Gould, Councilman Oglesby and Councilwoman Hines voted yes; Councilwoman Wilkinson was absent). The staff conditions listed at the hearing require the owner to have the existing building inspected by the fire marshal and to bring it into compliance with ADA and life‑safety standards; parking to be restriped to meet ADA requirements; and any changes to the approved survey or new structures to return to council for approval.

Council members thanked Harrison for outreach to neighbors and for planning community uses, including a neighborhood garden and space for teaching and small public classes. Councilman Lindley said he appreciated the applicant's advance engagement with neighbors and the planning commission's review.

The rezoning was recorded on the council docket as Z25‑002 and will proceed with the conditions read into the record.

Details from the council record: the middle building will contain eight studio spaces plus a break room and ADA‑compliant restroom; the back fellowship hall is intended for future conversion into small (approximately 12' by 12') clean‑arts studios and at least one larger room reserved for classes; the sanctuary will remain a house of worship per a deed restriction and the applicant's plan; one on‑site house will remain occupied by an original congregation member.

The council opened and closed the public hearing on the item before taking the vote.","The Smyrna Mayor and Council approved a conditional mixed‑use rezoning for a former church property on Spring Street to permit artist studios, maintain the sanctuary, and keep an on‑site residence; council attached conditions including safety and ADA upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Smyrna council approves zoning changes, park and IT budget moves, and aquatic center contract

Smyrna Fire Department presents strategic plan, cites community risk assessment and accreditation goal

Smyrna council approves rezoning to allow artist studios while preserving sanctuary