Votes at a glance: Smyrna council approves zoning text changes, several ordinances and routine contracts

The Smyrna Town Council voted on several ordinances and routine items during its October meeting. Where recorded in the meeting transcript, outcomes and brief notes are listed below.

Accessory-structure setback amendment — approved The council voted to amend multiple sections of the Smyrna Municipal Zoning Ordinance to change the minimum building setback for detached accessory structures in residential districts from 8 feet to 5 feet and to clarify PRD treatment. Planning commission recommended approval; staff recommended approval. (Vote: council “aye”s; tally not specified.)

Addition of ‘‘tourist home’’ to C-4 Neighborhood Service Business District — approved The council approved a text amendment adding ‘‘tourist home’’ (definition: up to five sleeping rooms for transients) as a use allowed by right in C-4. Planning commission recommended approval 6–4–1 against (recorded as recommendation); staff recommended approval.

Annexation and R-3 zoning, 5198 Lee Road (CLQ land / Chow Windong) — approved Council approved annexation and R-3 zoning for approximately 21.7 acres at 5198 Lee Road; sewer main extension and off-site easement will be required at developer expense. The planning commission and staff recommended approval.

Rezoning: Unicoi TN LLC parcel west of Alamo Road to C-2 — approved Council approved rezoning of a 0.91-acre parcel (tax map 55 parcels 11.12) from PID to C-2; planning commission recommended approval and staff recommended approval.

Police department policies and procedures — approved The council approved new and revised Smyrna Police Department policies, including unmanned aircraft systems (drones), appearance/uniforms/equipment and procedures for transporting individuals with behavioral or mental-health needs; the ambulance service clarified it would not transport non-medical mental-health incidents and the policy was adjusted accordingly.

Modified public transportation vehicles (school buses/large passenger vehicles) ordinance — approved The council amended municipal code Title 15, Chapter 6 to restrict parking of modified public-transportation vehicles and similar vehicles on residential lots and front yards, with exceptions for lots of five or more acres or enclosed storage out of view. Council removed language that previously required a vehicle to be physically modified from its original appearance to be covered by the ban.

Consent agenda — approved The consent agenda passed and included routine contracts and approvals: Motorola radio purchase for the fire department; two amendments for Kimberly Horn for right-of-way and landscape services on sidewalk projects; a contract with Barge Solutions for a corridor study; a tourism enhancement grant of $41,000; wastewater plant metal storage building contract; a one-year First Horizon Bank extension for banking services; surplus items for online auction; a memorandum of understanding with neighboring jurisdictions on a unified communications center study; and an agreement to encrypt police radios with NASHCOM.

Notes on procedure and next steps Where the transcript recorded only a voice vote or general ‘‘aye’’s, roll-call tallies were not specified. Several items had been reviewed and recommended by the planning commission or staff before council action. For the PRD amendment concerning Saddle Grove (public comment before the meeting) staff advised that an administrative review remains pending; council provided direction but did not take a formal vote on that amendment during the meeting.

Why it matters: The zoning and code changes will affect property owners’ development options, land use patterns and short-term rental (tourist home) availability in C-4 districts; the vehicle-parking ordinance clarifies enforcement on large vehicles in residential areas.