Planning commission defers Bailey Equipment warehouse plan over design‑review concerns

The Smyrna Planning Commission voted on Jan. 8 to defer the Bailey Equipment & Intralogistics site plan for a warehouse and office on Trident Drive after planning staff identified unresolved design‑review issues.

Planning staff told commissioners the proposed building elevations and choice of primary materials did not meet the town’s design‑review thresholds. "Staff does recommend deferral, due to the elevations not meeting design review," planning staff said during the presentation.

What staff said: The applicant proposed a building with substantial metal façade components visible from I‑24 and Victory Parkway. Staff walked the commission through elevation‑by‑elevation primary‑material percentages and concluded the plans had not yet reached the 75% primary‑material threshold on all visible faces; staff also left a list of standard engineering and utilities comments in place (drainage, sediment controls, and utility reviews).

Commission reaction and motion: Commissioners emphasized consistency with existing design‑review standards and asked whether a short deferral would produce the required changes. Commissioner (Speaker 3) moved to defer the item to the next meeting so the applicant could revise elevations and material selections; the motion passed as announced by the chair.

Next steps: The commission directed the applicant to work with planning staff to present revised elevations and material samples that demonstrate compliance with the town’s design‑review standards before the item returns to the commission for reconsideration.