Smyrna planning commission backs temporary permit for Arrow Waste modular office, sends decision to mayor and council

The Smyrna Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 13 voted to recommend approval of Special Land Use Permit Z25‑013, forwarding the matter to Mayor and Council for a final vote in November. The permit would allow a temporary 60‑by‑12 modular office, a 40‑by‑8 storage container and a UL 2085 series diesel fuel tank with a maximum capacity of 6,000 gallons on a roughly 2.06‑acre property at 6310 Riverview Road.

Joey Stobbs, planner II in Smyrna’s Community Development Department, told the commission the property is zoned heavy industrial and the request is for temporary structures only. Stobbs said the structures, if approved, would be allowed for a 24‑month period and would require separate approval by the state and city fire marshal. "The fuel tanks shall have minimum separation of 5 feet from any structure and a minimum separation of 15 feet from any property line," Stobbs said, summarizing the applicant's compliance with the stated setbacks.

Scott Roberts, representing Arrow Waste, described the site as a vehicle‑parking and operations location for the company and said the firm would install a UL 2085 tank as directed by the state fire marshal. "These are diesel tanks. They're not gasoline tanks," Roberts said, and added the company plans a fence and locked gates around the tanks. Roberts said the applicant intends all installations to be removable and that the firm would vacate if and when the property is rezoned to residential.

More than two dozen neighbors spoke during a lengthy public hearing, nearly all urging denial. Residents raised safety and environmental concerns, cited proximity to homes, apartments and school bus stops, and warned of potential effects on property values and planned riverfront trails. "It could create a fire explosion, soil and water contamination," said Cody Hugley, a resident of Flint River Place. Kemi Gitmeid, who gave a detailed technical statement, said federal public‑health guidance links benzene exposure from fueling sites to health risks and urged denial: "Given the adjacency to residences, the prudent course is not to squeeze any more fuel storage into a neighborhood buffer at all."

Other speakers noted past problems with trash, truck traffic and maintenance at the site, the property’s closeness to the Chattahoochee River corridor and a nearby gas transmission pipeline, and questioned whether the area should still be treated as heavy industrial as the city advances mixed‑use development nearby. Natana Eady read a statement from the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper expressing concern about safety, health and traffic impacts.

Commission discussion emphasized that the property’s heavy industrial zoning makes the requested use allowed and that the commission’s role was to consider the temporary structures. Stobbs reiterated that fuel‑tank regulation and approvals fall under the state and city fire marshal. After a motion to approve the special land use permit and a second, the commission voted to recommend approval and forward the item to Mayor and Council for final action on Nov. 17.

The permit recommendation includes the conditions Stobbs listed: a 24‑month limit on the temporary structures, use of a UL 2085 series tank with a maximum 6,000‑gallon capacity, required separations of at least 5 feet from structures and 15 feet from property lines, and required state and city fire marshal approval. The commission closed the public hearing at 6:40 p.m. and adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m.

Mayor and Council will hold the final review on Nov. 17, where the council will make the ultimate decision on the special land use permit.