Smyrna council approves Ken’s Corner credit union plan and rezones Benson Poole Road; moves SPLOST funds and accepts $424,400 safety grant

The City of Smyrna Mayor and Council on Oct. 6 approved a zoning amendment to allow a 3,600-square-foot LGE Community Credit Union building at the former Ken’s Corner Grill site, rezoned a one-acre parcel on Benson Poole Road to general commercial with use restrictions, moved previously budgeted signage funds in the 2022 SPLOST accounts into the 2025 budget and accepted a $424,400 LMIC safety grant from the state, and approved a slate of routine items and board appointments.

The Ken’s Corner zoning amendment drew the most substantive staff presentation. Rusty Martin, the city’s community development director, told the council the proposal modifies building elevations and the site plan authorized in a 2022 mixed-use approval and reduces the previously planned floor area. Under the amended plan, the site would accommodate a roughly 3,600-square-foot building fronting Atlanta Road and Church Street, with 25 parking spaces, covered ATM and teller drive-up service, underground stormwater management and a proposed interparcel connection to an adjacent lot. Martin said the Urban Design Commission recommended approval on Sept. 19 and described one variance request tied to the zoning ordinance requirement that nonresidential uses not exceed 50% of gross floor area (section 720.9 of the zoning ordinance).

Chris Leggett, president and CEO of LGE Community Credit Union, described the applicant and its local presence and said the credit union had coordinated with neighbors. There were no members of the public who spoke for or against the application during the public hearing. Councilman Travis Lindley moved to pass the zoning amendment "as presented," seconded by Councilman Welch; the council approved the measure unanimously, 7–0.

On the Benson Poole Road rezoning (2351 Benson Poole Road), city planner Joey Stobbs said the property is about one acre and contains an existing 1,800-square-foot building. The applicant, Alejandro Sanchez, asked to change the parcel’s zoning from Office Distribution (OD) to General Commercial (GC) to increase leasing options. Staff recommended approval with specific use prohibitions (including major and minor automobile repair and sales, drive-through restaurants, service stations, adult uses, vape shops and similar uses) and conditional hours for event facilities and restaurants. The council approved the rezoning unanimously, with a motion by Councilwoman Wilkinson and a second by Councilman Pickens.

Votes at a glance

- Zoning amendment Z-25-010 (Ken’s Corner Grill property) — motion to approve as presented; mover: Travis Lindley; second: Mr. Welch; outcome: approved 7–0. Variance requested under zoning ordinance section 720.9 for nonresidential floor-area percentage; UDC recommended approval. Applicant: LGE Community Credit Union (Chris Leggett).

- Zoning request Z-25-009 (2351 Benson Poole Road) — rezoning from Office Distribution to General Commercial with conditional prohibited uses and hours; mover: Wilkinson; second: Pickens; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Z-25-007 (36-unit mixed-use item) — tabled to Oct. 20, 2025 at the applicant’s request; outcome: motion to table approved unanimously.

- Formal business A — move previously budgeted signage funds from the 2024 budget into the 2025 2022 SPLOST fund and add an LMIC safety grant; mover: Oglesby; second: Welch; outcome: approved unanimously. City staff said the LMIC safety grant is $424,400.

- Formal business B — approval of the recommended 2026 employee benefit insurance plans as presented by John Knopp of Oak Bridal Insurance; staff said there were no changes to the nine plan components; mover: Welch; second: Gould; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Appointments — Diane (last name not specified) approved to fill a board term through Dec. 31, 2027 (mover: Heiser; second: Pickens; approved unanimously). Mike Jones approved as a regular licensed variance board member effective Oct. 6, 2025 (mover: Gould; second: Wilkinson; approved unanimously).

- Consent agenda — minutes approvals, authorization of a quitclaim deed for 2631 Brown Circle and 2651 Brown Circle, and street closings for the Smyrna Parks & Recreation “Spooky Festival” (King Street from Stevens to Bank and West Spring Street from King to the fountain, Oct. 17, 2 p.m.–11 p.m.); outcome: approved unanimously.

What the approvals mean

The Ken’s Corner decision finalizes altered building elevations and a smaller commercial-only footprint than the mixed-use plan approved in 2022; standard stipulations from the original rezoning remain in force where applicable, and the applicant eliminated several residential-related stipulations tied to the prior plan. The city’s staff and the Urban Design Commission reviewed the new elevations and site plan before council action.

The Benson Poole Road rezoning allows a broader set of commercial uses but does so with a list of prohibited uses and operating-hour limits intended to reduce potential impacts on nearby residences. Stobbs said the site’s future land-use designation remains mixed use, and the rezoning changes only the parcel’s zoning classification.

Council members thanked city staff for recent large community events and noted that both applicants had engaged with neighbors; no public speakers objected during either hearing.

What’s next

Approved zoning amendments and rezoning decisions will be implemented according to the city’s permitting and site-plan processes; where the council approved variances or eliminated prior stipulations, applicants will proceed with design and permitting consistent with the council’s action. The council moved the Z-25-007 item to Oct. 20 at the applicant’s request, so that application will return to the next meeting for further consideration.

(Additional routine administrative items — the employee benefits package, several board appointments, a quitclaim deed and street-closing authorizations for an Oct. 17 event — were approved without extended debate.)