Commission approves rezoning and site plan for retail building at 1170 Rock Springs Road

Smyrna — The Planning Commission approved a request to return a vacant parcel at 1170 Rock Springs Road to C-2 commercial zoning and recommended approval of the accompanying site plan for a 9,000-square-foot general retail building that could serve up to six tenants.

Mitch, planning staff, told the commission the property had previously been zoned C-2, was changed to a PCD when an Enterprise rent-a-car and private car wash plan fell through, and now the applicant seeks to revert the parcel to C-2 to allow the proposed retail building. The applicant’s revised site plan added a second access onto Rock Springs Road to satisfy fire-truck maneuvering requirements raised by staff.

Staff said the proposed site has 22,810 square feet of vehicular use area, requiring 2,281 square feet of landscaping; the applicant shows 5,500 square feet. The plan requires 45 parking spaces and shows 53; handicap parking requirements are met. Architectural elevations submitted to the commission show a mix of tilt-panel concrete, stone and glass, and staff noted all faces must meet design-review primary-material standards (75% primary materials for the visible fronting face).

Mitch said the building will be limited to a maximum of 1,500 square feet of restaurant use across the building footprint based on the site’s parking count; staff flagged that to avoid overconcentration of restaurants that would exceed available parking.

Commissioners voted to approve the rezoning and to approve the site plan with remaining staff comments on vision-clearance for landscaping and some minor technical stormwater and permitting items to be addressed before permits are issued.