Planning commission defers annexation of 54.5-acre Smyrna church property pending vacating of buildings

The Smyrna Municipal Planning Commission on March 5 deferred a request to annex and rezone about 54.5 acres at 8200 Safari Drive — a property currently used in part by Smyrna River of Life Assembly of God — after staff and commissioners flagged infrastructure and code issues that must be addressed before the town assumes responsibility for services.

Staff told the commission the parcel lies largely within floodplain and that a required traffic study would be needed before any site plan approval. The town’s water infrastructure will also need upgrading: an existing 6‑inch water line serving the property would have to be upsized to a 12‑inch main to meet fire‑flow requirements (2,000 gallons per minute at 20 psi) where sprinklering is required. Staff advised that the town should not annex the land until existing buildings on the site are vacated and removed.

"It would be our under recommendation that the property not be officially annexed into the town until such time as the existing buildings are vacated and removed," staff said during the presentation.

Commission discussion focused on whether the applicant could demonstrate the buildings would be vacated in time for council action. The applicant told staff they expect to vacate the buildings by June 1; commissioners noted that Planning Commission action would come before council and that additional conditions and studies (including floodplain permitting and a traffic study) remain outstanding.

Committee member (speaker 11) moved to defer the annexation to the May meeting to give the buyer and seller time to meet the vacating timeline; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The deferral directs staff and the applicant to return with any additional documentation requested by the town before a final annexation vote.

Next steps: the application will return to the Planning Commission after the agreed 60‑day period (two meetings) with required studies and evidence that on‑site buildings have been vacated and related utility improvements have been scheduled or completed.