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Smyrna council approves Arrow Waste temporary site permit despite resident and riverkeeper objections
Summary
The council approved a special land‑use permit allowing Arrow Waste to keep a temporary modular office and storage container at 6310 Riverview Road; the state fire marshal previously approved a 6,000‑gallon fuel tank. Residents and the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper warned of proximity to the river and public‑safety and environmental risks.
Smyrna Mayor and Council voted 6-1 to approve a special land‑use permit allowing Arrow Waste to maintain a temporary modular office and storage container at 6310 Riverview Road. The permit request also referenced a 6,000‑gallon fuel tank that the state fire marshal had already approved; the council’s action covered only the local land‑use permit for the modular office and storage container.
Community Development summarized the request as a temporary use on a property zoned heavy industrial while the site awaits redevelopment. Applicant Scott Roberts told the council Arrow Waste has met or exceeded state and city recommendations and has addressed some of the state fire marshal’s conditions.
Multiple residents and representatives of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper opposed the permit in public comment. Opposition themes included the site’s proximity to the Chattahoochee River and Riverkeeper’s concern about potential leaks or spills, the property’s lack of sewer service, local rodent and litter issues, and long‑term compatibility with nearby residential and mixed‑use conversions along Riverview Road.
Council debate acknowledged resident concerns about cleanliness and river risks but also noted property‑owner rights and the temporary nature of the permit. A motion to approve carried with a 6-1 vote; Councilmember Oglesby cast the lone negative vote.
Key clarifications recorded in the hearing: the state fire marshal’s approval pertains to fuel‑storage permitting, not the city’s land‑use action; the council’s approval authorizes a temporary modular office and storage container for up to 24 months, with the option to reapply if a longer term is needed.
Quote from a public submission read into the record: the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper warned that expanding industrial uses at 6310 Riverview Road “threatens the river with potential leaks and spills.”
The council’s action is administrative approval of a temporary land‑use permit; conditions in the staff recommendation address separation distances and UL tank specifications for fuel storage, and state fire marshal sign‑off remains a requirement for the fuel tank.
