Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Smyrna public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Wastewater and Water Capacity Projections
The town is planning to accept an $8 million State Revolving Fund loan to upgrade the Mason Tucker-Hilltop booster stations, which supply water to the Sam Ridley corridor and the hospital. Officials say the project will add pump capacity, electrical variable frequency drives, and heating and cooling updates without raising customer rates.
TriStar Energy ownership change and store permits
TriStar Energy — the company behind Twice Daily and Sudden Service stores — is being taken over by a Shell-related ownership group, requiring new beer permits for all three Smyrna stores. Residents shouldn't notice any change: same stores, names, staff training, and signage.
New beer sales at 101 Vape and Smoke Outlet
The vape shop on Almaville Road will start selling beer to go. Owner Michael Naguib told the board he's operated since 2018 with zero underage-sale issues and uses an electronic age-verification device.
Smyrna Sports Pub ownership change
The pub on South Lowry Street got a new on-premise permit after co-owner Mr. Kiermeyer retired and Timothy Olsen took over his share. The venue is 21-and-up and checks IDs at the door.
Great American Road Rally fundraiser beer garden
Carpe Artista will host a 21-and-up beer garden at its November 19 fundraiser at Crusader AutoWorks, following its appearance on a national TV show. The nonprofit has run beer gardens before, including for Simply Smyrna, with Cedar Glade Brewing providing beer.
Bankside Drive and Kedron Church Road PRD Rezoning
David Weekley Homes secured approval to build 202 age-restricted homes off Kedron Church Road, replacing an older, denser subdivision plan. While the lower density and senior focus appealed to many, some council members questioned concentrating traffic at a single gated entrance during a period of infrastructure strain.
Emergency water plant equipment purchase
One of two electrolyzer banks that produce bleach disinfectant at the water treatment plant failed. A $207,804.99 emergency replacement was announced — without it, the town could lose water production capacity.
Mason Tucker Booster Station SRF loan
An $8 million low-interest state loan (3.29%, 20 years) will upgrade the booster station serving Sam Ridley and the hospital, plus unlock the idle Hilltop station — with no rate increase for customers.
Gresham Drive Property Acquisition for Parks and Senior Services
The town wants to buy 11.7 acres off Gresham Drive for $1.8M, lease part to the Senior Activity Center (whose Sam Ridley site has rocky soil, access, and utility problems), and keep the rest for Lee Victory Park. Selling the current 15-acre Sam Ridley site for commercial development could more than recoup the cost.
Sewart's Landing development progress
The mixed-use development is filling up: Sprouts opens in November, Wawa in April, restaurants are beating revenue expectations, and larger tenants like HomeGoods are touring. Parks, an amphitheater, and a P-51 replica honoring Mayor Reed are on the way.
Sam Ridley Parkway Traffic Signal Installation
A new signal (~$206,000, town impact funds) will stop cross-traffic conflicts that currently back vehicles up toward Industrial Drive. TDOT approved it but won't pay for it.
Exterior Modifications at 105 Hazelwood Drive
The commission will review unpermitted exterior painting at 105 Hazelwood Drive to ensure it meets historic district standards.
Hilltop-Rosenwald Playground Replacement
The town is reviewing proposals to replace the playground at Hilltop-Rosenwald Park to improve recreation facilities for local children.
Youth Sports Heat Safety Policy
Officials discussed creating a standardized heat policy to protect children playing youth sports during dangerous high-temperature conditions.
Stormwater Utility Fee and Account Management
The committee is reviewing vacant property accounts and discussing the stormwater utility fees adopted in the recent town budget. These fees impact commercial and residential property owners across Smyrna.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Special Exception on Hankins Drive
The board approved an attached accessory apartment for a family member at 1101 Chorleywood Court. The project enhances an older part of the home while maintaining neighborhood setbacks and architectural harmony.
Front Setback Variance Request on Castile Drive
A homeowner sought permission to keep an above-ground pool built within the front setback of a corner lot. The board approved the request after verifying safety fencing and neighborhood compatibility.
Police Department Restraint Policy Update
The police department is seeking approval for spit masks and ankle hobbles to protect officers and medical personnel from assaults during violent arrests. Council members questioned training protocols and how mental health crises are handled.
Old Nashville Highway Commercial Rezoning Denied
Property owners requested rezoning seven parcels from C-4 and R-2 to C-2 to facilitate redevelopment. The commission denied the request because three of the parcels failed to meet minimum size requirements.
Retail Alcohol Compliance and Underage Sale Review
Town staff reported that Gil's Food Mart self-reported an underage sale violation by a former employee, prompting the board to require the owner to appear at the next meeting.
New Business Alcohol Permitting: Sprouts and Scissors & Scotch
The Beer Board reviewed and approved three off-premise beer permits for local businesses, including a smoke shop, a gas station ownership change, and a new gas station.
Development Submittal Deadline Changes
The town is changing site plan and plat submittal deadlines to give staff more review time and comply with state laws.
Religious Facility Special Exception on Rock Springs Road
A developer wants to build a church on a 5-acre landlocked parcel on Rock Springs Road. The board approved the special exception with strict conditions requiring a proper bridge over the creek, utility extensions, and landscape buffering to protect nearby residents.
Consolidated Signage Plan for Kroger Development on Lee Victory Parkway
The developer of the new Kroger shopping center requested a sign variance for a larger, multi-tenant pole sign with digital changeable copy. The board supported the plan because it replaces multiple individual signs and reduces visual clutter along Bulldog Drive.
Setback Variance for Residential Pool on Young Drive
A homeowner needed a setback variance to install an above-ground pool because their corner lot has two front setbacks and septic lines block the backyard. The board approved the request since it won't impact neighbors and sits inside a fenced yard.
Municipal Artificial Intelligence Policy Implementation
Staff introduced a new policy to govern AI tool usage by town employees and contractors, highlighting data privacy, required human oversight, and mandatory staff training.
Expansion of Senior Housing Options via Age-Restricted PUDs
The town is seeing a strong push for 55-plus housing developments, which lower school impacts and traffic while providing modern senior living.
Traffic Congestion and Infrastructure Corridor Improvements
The Town of Smyrna is acquiring right-of-way and easements to construct a continuous sidewalk along Old Nashville Highway between St. Michael's Lane and St. Luke's Lane, improving pedestrian safety and connectivity.
Regional Commuter Transit Funding and Route Restructuring
Town leaders reviewed WeGo transit agreements and debated the value and ridership numbers of regional commuter bus services, expressing concern over potential route eliminations and stop locations.
Neighborhood Rental and Code Concerns
A resident raised concerns about multiple rental homes in local neighborhoods operating as boarding houses with heavy vehicle traffic and safety issues. Town staff noted active code enforcement and police patrols are addressing the properties.
Almaville Road Commercial Access and Delivery Safety
Commissioners denied a commercial site plan on Almaville Road because delivery trucks would not have adequate space to turn around, creating potential traffic and safety hazards.
Stonecrest Commercial Traffic Study Delays
Developers and town engineers debated traffic access and study results for the proposed Stonetrace Commons commercial project. The commission ultimately deferred the site plan to ensure safety on Old Nashville Highway and Genie Lane.
Data Center Development Policies
The council and planning commission discussed regulations and policies surrounding data centers in the town.
Fire Department Diesel Exhaust Filtration Procurement
The fire department is purchasing vehicle-mounted exhaust filters for three fire stations to protect firefighters from carcinogenic diesel emissions.
Planning Department Fee Schedule Adjustments
The town is updating planning fees to comply with new state legislation requiring cost-basis justification for development fees over $250.
Exterior Building Materials Regulations
Standards for exterior building materials were discussed to ensure structural quality and neighborhood appeal.
Commercial Development and Design Standards
Town leaders reviewed landscaping requirements and tree preservation rules for properties.
Airport Property Special Exception for Contractor Offices
The Smyrna Airport received approval to let construction contractors rent administrative office space on airport grounds. This keeps heavy equipment off the property while helping local businesses get their town licenses.
Hollingshead Land Annexation and Zoning
Sonny Patel will annex 3.54 acres at 8216 Florence Road to build conventional self-storage and covered boat/RV storage units behind an existing convenience store.
Firearm Regulations in Parks and Hunting
The town updated its municipal code to comply with state laws regarding firearms in public parks and lawful hunting limits near schools.
Comprehensive Plan Update Survey
A commissioner highlighted recent Census Bureau data showing Smyrna's population grew by 19.2% over five years, reaching 63,000 and outpacing projected growth rates in the town's comprehensive plan.
Charity Assistance Fund Financial Status and Town Appropriation
The board reviewed its current fund balance of $30,431.87 and received word that the Town Council has approved $35,000 in funding for fiscal year 2027. This funding helps support local charitable assistance efforts in Smyrna.
FY 2026-2027 Town Budget Adoption
The town is adopting the state-mandated revenue-neutral property tax rate of $0.004258 following countywide property reappraisals to ensure overall tax revenue remains stable.
Special Exception for Business Uses at Threet Industrial Road
An applicant sought a special exception to bring multiple low-impact commercial and industrial tenants into compliance at 107, 109, and 111 Threet Industrial Road. The board approved the request to align existing uses with zoning rules.
Mobile Food Vendor Ordinance Updates
The town updated rules for food trucks, requiring 30-day permits, property owner host permits, and proper site plans to ensure parking isn't blocked.
Special Event Beer Permit for Smyrna Public Library
The Smyrna Public Library requested a special event permit to operate a fenced-in beer garden featuring local breweries during their grant-funded "Walking Through History" event on August 1.
El Pueblo Mexican Restaurant On-Premise Beer Permit
Shankram LLC applied for an on-premise beer permit for their new Indian restaurant located at 2160 Rock Springs Road. The owners plan to use ID scanners and offer both bottled and draft beer.
Lake Farm Compliance, Lighting, and Noise Issues
Council members questioned town staff regarding the status of code enforcement and court citations issued to the owners of the Lake Farm property regarding disruptive commercial lighting.
Charity Donation Bin Dumping and Site Maintenance
Overflowing donations and illegal dumping around clothing and charity bins across town have created unsightly conditions. Staff will analyze zoning regulations and property owner accountability.
Special Exception for Contract Construction Services
An applicant requested permission to operate a contract construction business within a light industrial park that houses various commercial tenants. The board approved the use.