Smyrna BZA denies homeowner’s request for larger detached accessory building

The Town of Smyrna Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request in May 2026 from a homeowner at 603 Rock Glenn Trace seeking a 400‑square‑foot increase above the R3 district’s allowed detached accessory maximum.

Staff told the board the lot measures approximately 29,913 square feet, which under the municipal zoning ordinance allows up to 800 square feet of detached accessory structures; the applicant sought to reach roughly 1,200 square feet. Staff reviewed variance criteria under Section 7.08, described the lot’s angled shape, the 12‑foot elevation drop from front to rear and the presence of a rear public utility/drainage easement, and concluded that the conditions presented did not amount to the kind of unique physical hardship required for a variance.

Applicant James Elliott told the board the extra space would be used for family activities and vehicle storage and said the structure would be designed to match the house’s siding and roof so it would not be visually intrusive. “It’s a place for me and my son to bond,” Elliott said. He also said he had discussed the plan with an adjacent neighbor who had no objection.

Board members questioned whether grading and elevation would affect perceived structure height and whether future council work to revisit detached accessory square‑foot thresholds might change outcomes for similar applicants; staff said such ordinance changes are under review at the staff level but would require planning commission and council action before taking effect.

After deliberation and citing staff’s finding that no physical hardship was demonstrated, a board member moved to deny the variance. The motion was seconded and the chair announced the request was denied. The transcript does not record a roll‑call tally. The denial leaves in place the current 800 ft² accessory‑structure limit for this lot under the existing ordinance.