Smyrna council defers rezoning request for Lee Victory Parkway parcel amid floodplain, access and design concerns
April 14, 2026 | Smyrna, Rutherford County, Tennessee
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Council deferred action on a rezoning request for roughly 2.21 acres on Lee Victory Parkway after extended discussion about floodplain constraints, access across a private drive, traffic-signal warrants, and building design.
Kevin, covering for planning staff, said the request would reclassify the property from C2 to a PCD to allow a quick-service oil-and-lube and other C2 uses. He told council the parcel is "in the 100-year floodplain" and that an updated signal-warrant analysis shows a traffic signal at the private-drive intersection with Lee Victory Parkway would be warranted; installation would be subject to Tennessee Department of Transportation approval and would be expected to be installed by the developer if approved.
Kevin also said the planning commission recommended approval with three conditions, including that the bank building elevations be revised to meet design standards and that a floodplain development permit accompany grading and permitting. Councilmembers expressed concern about whether a written access agreement exists with the church that owns the private drive and whether the roadway is above mapped flood elevations.
Councilmember questions focused on potential public-safety implications of allowing emergency ingress/egress across a private drive that FEMA maps in the 100-year floodplain. One councilmember said staff should confirm whether the private road can be raised or modified and whether doing so could create drainage impacts for neighboring properties.
After discussion the council voted to defer the item "until those items are worked out," citing the need to confirm (1) a written access agreement with the church, (2) revised bank elevations that meet design review, and (3) a staff review of the roadway/flood-elevation question before returning for action.
No formal vote tally with member names was recorded in the meeting minutes; the motion to defer carried by voice vote.
Kevin, covering for planning staff, said the request would reclassify the property from C2 to a PCD to allow a quick-service oil-and-lube and other C2 uses. He told council the parcel is "in the 100-year floodplain" and that an updated signal-warrant analysis shows a traffic signal at the private-drive intersection with Lee Victory Parkway would be warranted; installation would be subject to Tennessee Department of Transportation approval and would be expected to be installed by the developer if approved.
Kevin also said the planning commission recommended approval with three conditions, including that the bank building elevations be revised to meet design standards and that a floodplain development permit accompany grading and permitting. Councilmembers expressed concern about whether a written access agreement exists with the church that owns the private drive and whether the roadway is above mapped flood elevations.
Councilmember questions focused on potential public-safety implications of allowing emergency ingress/egress across a private drive that FEMA maps in the 100-year floodplain. One councilmember said staff should confirm whether the private road can be raised or modified and whether doing so could create drainage impacts for neighboring properties.
After discussion the council voted to defer the item "until those items are worked out," citing the need to confirm (1) a written access agreement with the church, (2) revised bank elevations that meet design review, and (3) a staff review of the roadway/flood-elevation question before returning for action.
No formal vote tally with member names was recorded in the meeting minutes; the motion to defer carried by voice vote.
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