Planning commission approves rezoning for self-storage at 657–698 South Lowry Street

The Smyrna Municipal Planning Commission on March 6 approved a rezoning request to allow a three‑story, climate‑control self‑storage facility at 657 and 698 South Lowry Street.

Kevin (planning staff) told the commission the applicant seeks a PID (planned industrial development) for a 78,277‑square‑foot self‑storage building with associated parking, setbacks and landscape modifications. The proposal included requests for exceptions to the Flower Street overlay (front setback and awning/canopy dimensions), adjustments to street‑tree locations because of utility conflicts, and a modified Type D buffer along the northeastern property line adjacent to nearby townhomes.

The developer’s representative, Rob Olson, SCC, said the project team reduced the building from roughly 98,000 square feet to about 78,000 square feet, increased parking compared with the prior submittal and added upper‑floor glazing to meet the overlay’s transparency intent. "We're down to 78,000 square foot. That allowed us to get a little extra room for parking," Olson said. He also said the team removed split‑face block and revised the building to be brick across the façade, and that they would provide a six‑foot privacy fence along the back of the site adjacent to townhomes.

Kevin told commissioners the zoning ordinance’s parking metric for self‑storage would require 26 spaces; the project shows 22 and staff indicated they were comfortable with that count for the proposed building type. Staff also recommended the applicant provide a sidewalk within the public right of way along South Lowry Street and noted outstanding technical details—parking layout, awning dimensions under the Flower Street overlay (LSO) and final landscape detail—would be reviewed at site‑plan stage if the rezoning were approved.

Commissioners discussed the facility’s appearance, window tinting to mask roll‑up doors visible through windows, the functional difference between conventional one‑story drive‑up storage and multi‑level climate‑control facilities, and whether the town’s parking standard should be revisited to reflect the newer building type. Several commissioners complimented the applicant for the revisions. Commissioner Charles moved to approve the rezoning with staff comments and to require a sidewalk along Lowry; Commissioner Steven seconded. On a voice vote, the motion carried.

Why it matters: The rezoning changes the property’s allowable use from a planned residential development (PRD) to an industrially zoned planned development to permit multi‑level self‑storage, a use that can change traffic, appearance and buffering needs along a corridor designated in the town’s land‑use plan as a mixed‑use center.

Next steps: Staff will process final site‑plan submittal materials, verify LSO compliance for awnings and transparency where applicable, and confirm landscape buffering and sidewalk locations before issuing permits.