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Council approves annexation and mixed-use rezoning near I‑840 after developer agrees to deliver design details
Summary
Council approved annexation and zoning for large parcels near the I‑840/Jefferson Pike interchange — including mixed commercial and industrial zoning for roughly 70.8 acres — after asking the developer to supply elevation renderings, sight-line studies and traffic-signal coordination with T‑DOT before second reading; residents also raised floodplain and stream-buffer concerns on a separate annexation.
The Smyrna Town Council voted to approve annexation and rezonings for multiple parcels near the I‑840/West Jefferson Pike interchange, including a request that would rezone roughly 70.8 acres to a mix of commercial (C2) and light industrial (I1) uses. Council approval was conditioned on planning and staff comments and a developer commitment to supply elevation views, sight-line renderings and traffic-signal coordination prior to second reading.
Planning staff summarized the request and noted several technical conditions: a required floodplain development permit for areas in the 100-year floodplain, off-site water and sewer improvements, and a traffic-signal warrant analysis that showed a signal at McCormack Court could be warranted pending T‑DOT approval. Council members pressed the applicant for design details to ensure buildings and buffers would present appropriately from I‑840, and to protect line-of-sight and safety at the Jefferson Pike approaches.
Developer representative Chris Maguire of (engineering firm) told the council the industrial buildings were likely to be concrete tilt panels similar to nearby projects and that the team would provide elevation and line-of-sight renderings before second reading. He described a likely access approach that would consolidate Jefferson Pike cuts (right-in/right-out at frontage) with primary ingress and egress on McCormack Court; left turns would be handled at an eventual traffic signal if T‑DOT traffic warrants are met.
Separately, the council approved annexation and I2 zoning for a 54.5-acre parcel at 8200 Safari Drive (Smyrna River of Life Assembly). A nearby county resident, Lee Chafin, warned that current logging and tree debris in Stewart Creek and future grading on the annexed land could push floodwater onto his property. Planning staff responded that floodplain development permits require cut-and-fill balance and on-site flood storage so as not to increase downstream impacts, and that the county retains enforcement while the parcel remains unannexed.
Council votes on the Jefferson‑area annexations and rezonings were recorded by roll-call with the requests approved with the planning/staff conditions; the developer agreed to provide more design detail in advance of the next council hearing.
