Planning commission approves annexation process for 8200 Safari Drive with staff conditions

The Smyrna Municipal Planning Commission voted May 7 to advance the town's annexation and I-2 zoning request for property at 8200 Safari Drive, current owner Smyrna River Of Life Assembly of God, while attaching staff conditions tied to infrastructure and building vacancy.

Staff planning director Kevin told the commission the site lies largely within the town's floodplain and that any development would require a floodplain development permit, a traffic study and an upsized water main to meet fire flow requirements. "The fire flow minimum is 2,000 gallons per minute at 20 PSI, assuming a sprinkler system," Kevin said, adding the developer would have to install any improvements recommended by the traffic study.

The recommendation to proceed was conditioned on the commission's understanding that the church had indicated its intent to cease operations on the site and vacate buildings by June 1; staff said a forwarded communication from the owner that day indicated that timeline. Commissioners said they wanted the council to have the option at second reading to delay final annexation if the site remains occupied. Chair called for a motion to approve staff comments and the commission passed the motion.

The action does not itself annex the property; it forwards the plan of services and a zoning recommendation to the next steps in the municipal process. Staff told the commission that, before any site plan approval, the applicant must submit required technical reports, including a traffic study and floodplain permit applications.

The commission also noted existing code and fire-safety concerns on the property and directed staff to ensure those items are flagged for council consideration at second reading.

The council will take up second reading at a later date when the town will have clearer confirmation about the buildings' vacancy and any outstanding technical issues.