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Smyrna board approves accessory dwelling unit at 1101 Charliewood Court
Summary
The Smyrna Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception permitting an attached accessory dwelling unit at 1101 Charliewood Court for applicant Teresa Bankston, with conditions including payment of applicable fees, prohibition on rental use, and compliance with code and fire requirements.
The Smyrna Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception on voice vote to allow an attached accessory dwelling unit at 1101 Charliewood Court, the board heard at its April 2026 meeting. The request, filed for Teresa Bankston, was presented by town staff and supported by the applicant's representative.
Mitch, a town staff member, outlined the staff report, saying, “Staff finds the proposed use of an attached accessory dwelling unit should not negatively affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.” He told the board the 12,571-square-foot lot is zoned R-4 (medium-density residential) and that recent ordinance modifications (citing Section 7.06 and Section 5.051) permit accessory apartments in this zoning district under special exception review. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including payment of applicable fees, that the accessory unit not be used as rental property, and that all applicable building- and fire-code requirements be met.
Tom Mayhew, who said he is the applicant’s brother and a framing contractor, described the project’s design and scale and said the work would preserve the front elevation and not exceed the existing roof ridge. “It’s doubling or a little bit more on the size,” Mayhew said of the proposed addition, and he added that the owner is not interested in renting the unit.
Board members asked about proposed bedroom counts and square footage; staff and the applicant’s representative said exact finished-square-foot figures were not on hand but that the addition would substantially increase living area and fit within setback lines shown on the submitted plans. Staff also showed site photos and an overhead drawing indicating the location of the addition and setback compliance.
A board member moved to approve the request "with staff comments," and another board member seconded. The board approved the special exception by voice vote; the meeting record shows approval, but no roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript.
The approval includes the conditions discussed by staff: payment of applicable development and inspection fees, no rental use for the accessory unit, and compliance with all code and fire-department requirements. The board did not record an explicit enforcement mechanism in the transcript; staff identified the usual permitting and inspection process as the next steps.
