Mayor and Council Meeting - A. MAX BACON CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Minutes
Open official source ↗ · Source page 6
November 17, 2025
7:00 PM
City of Smyrna
Mayor and Council Meeting
2800 King Street SE
Council Chambers
Page 6 of 18
land use changes have occurred to the surrounding area since the adoption of the
2040 Comprehensive Future Land Use Plan, thus, there are no changing conditions to
support the proposed zoning and land use change.
A rezoning to MU-Conditional is incompatible with the surrounding uses and the MU-
Conditional zoning does not provide greater benefit to the city compared to the current
OI zoning. Additionally, Community Development has concerns with the introduction of
multi-family units along the Highlands Pkwy corridor which is occupied with
commercial.
Community Development recommends denial of the rezoning from OI to MU-
Conditional at 0 Highlands Pkwy.
However, if the rezoning from OI to MU-Conditional is approved, staff recommends
the following conditions:
1. Approval of the subject property for the MU-Conditional zoning district shall be
conditioned upon the development of the property in substantial compliance
with the site plan submitted 5/9/2025 and created by PEC +.
2. Approval of the subject property shall be conditioned upon substantial
compliance with the elevations submitted on 5/9/2025.
3. The development shall be subject to the proffer letter from Wood Partners
dated August 21, 2025, which includes the following:
a. The development shall provide 5 units with rents at 80% of the Area Median
Income.
b. The developer shall fund the traffic signal installation at Highlands Pkwy and
Lake Ridge Drive
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Gould asked Mr. Martin why they did not use multi-family zoning.
Mr. Martin stated it is because they are providing a commercial use for it.
Kevin Moore, attorney, presented on behalf of Wood Partners. There are changing
circumstances for this property. Staff wants to support its future land use plan, but this
area was developed as a mixed-use area: office use, office industrial, commercial,
retail, restaurant uses, and residential. Believes this request to rezone is consistent
with the area. There is a housing shortage, especially near major employment centers.
It is a great location given its proximity to S. Cobb Drive. Believes the future land use
plan has not caught up to this area and what is happening there now. Wood Partners
has built and developed very successful products in Smyrna.
Blake Brady, WP South Acquisitions LLC, explained that they are a multifamily
developer. They have two developments in Smyrna: 400 Belmont and SYNC at
Jonquil. These developments are class A developments. The site in question is a
seven-acre site, a 5-story development, surface parking, elevators, 120 one-bedroom,
115 two-bedroom, and 15 three-bedroom. They expect to have retail and a coffee
shop. Mr. Brady stated that Alta Highlands (Smyrna) aligns with Smyrna’s 2045 comp
plan by addressing Goal 3: Encourage the development of a range of housing choices
in order to meet market demand and allow residents to remain in Smyrna across
different life-cycle stages.
• Policy 3.2: Encourage housing opportunities for young families as well as “empty
nester” households.
• Policy 3.3: Encourage housing opportunities to ensure that those who work within
Smyrna have the option of living within the city.