Council approves rezoning for four single-family homes at Belmont Circle

Smyrna Mayor and Council voted unanimously Oct. 20 to rezone about 1.5 acres on Belmont Circle from R-15 to R-10 conditional to allow four single-family detached homes, a move staff recommended and the council approved as presented.

City planner Billy (presenting for Community Development) told the council the noncontiguous parcel is approximately 1.5 acres and currently vacant; the applicant, Brookwood Home Designs, proposed four front-entry homes at a density of 2.61 units per acre. The planning commission recommended approval.

Staff and the applicant described the site plan: Lot 1 is a larger lot with front-entry configuration; Lots 2–4 are front-entry detached homes that meet R-10 setbacks and will include stormwater detention at the rear of properties. Community Development listed standard and special conditions tied to the approval: required setbacks consistent with the R-10 district, a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, a minimum 50-foot lot width, a minimum driveway length of 22 feet, sidewalk and grass-strip requirements (a 5-foot sidewalk with a 2-foot grass strip on three lots and a 5-foot sidewalk on the constrained lot), responsibility for water and sanitary sewer improvements (Lot 4 connects to a sewer easement), a maximum building height of 35 feet, and that the approval be tied to the elevations and site plan submitted with the application.

Applicant representative Sean Murphy described the site’s history and said the applicant has built multiple homes in Smyrna; he said the subdivision will retain many trees along lot backs and that staff and the developer worked through utility and sewer issues during review. He estimated sales prices in the low $600,000s, subject to market conditions.

Councilmember Wilkinson asked for confirmed elevations and noted the developer’s commitment to a mixture of materials including a brick water table and board-and-batten features on facades. No public speakers opposed or supported the item during the meeting’s public hearing.

Councilmember Wilkinson moved approval; the motion carried unanimously.

The rezoning ties development to the site plan and elevations and requires the developer to meet the listed conditions, including a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet and street-side sidewalk and curb improvements. The developer also agreed to tree replacement where specimen trees must be removed.