License and Variance Board Meeting — Minutes

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February 25, 2026 
10:00 AM 
 
City of Smyrna 
License and Variance Board Meeting 
2800 King Street SE 
Council Chambers 
 
Page 3 of 6 
 
Board Member Richard Garland made a motion to table item V26-015 to the March 11, 
2026 License and Variance Board meeting; seconded by Board Member Andrea Worthy. 
 
The motion to table carried with the following vote: 
 
Aye: 3 –  Chairperson Jones, Board Member Garland, Board Member Worthy 
Nay: 0 –  None 
Recuse: 0 –  None 
 
 E. V26-011 Public Hearing - Variance Request - V26-011 - Allow second accessory 
structure - Land Lot 527 - 1272 Hayes Drive - Reaves Newson 
Ward 6 Mayor Pro Tem / Councilmember - Tim Gould 
 
Caitlin Crowe, Land Development Services Coordinator, provided the following 
background: 
  
The subject parcel is a 0.47-acre lot on the southern side of Hayes Drive. The subject 
parcel and all adjoining parcels are zoned R-15 and are all occupied by single-family 
detached residences. 
  
The property is currently occupied by a two-story single-family home and a roughly 200 
square foot pergola in the rear of the property, both built in 2022. The applicant is 
proposing to construct a new 512 square foot in-ground swimming pool and spa with an 
accompanying 746 square foot deck to be situated directly behind the existing home, 
between the house and the pergola. Since the accessory structure ordinance allows one 
accessory structure or use per lot, a variance is required to have the second structure due 
to the existing pergola. Since the swimming pool and pergola offer different uses for the 
property, the variance is not self-created. 
  
Due to the size of the lot and the placement of the pool, no other variances for setback 
reductions or impervious surface area increase are required. Strict application of the 
ordinance would deny the applicant any ability to have any detached structure or use on 
the property due to the existing pergola. At the time of this report, Community 
Development has not received any opposition to the variance request. 
  
The applicant is requesting to deviate from the development standards established by the 
City for the maximum number of accessory structures. According to Section 1403 of the 
Zoning Ordinance, variances must be reviewed under the following standards: (1) 
Whether there are unique and special or extraordinary circumstances applying to the 
property; (2) Whether any alleged hardship is self-created by any person having an 
interest in the property; (3) Whether strict application of the relevant provisions of the code 
would deprive the applicant of reasonable use of the property; and (4) Whether the 
variance proposed is the minimum variance needed. After a review of the standards 
above, Community Development believes that the variances will not adversely affect 
surrounding residents; therefore, staff recommends approval of the requested variance 
with the following condition:  
 
1. Approval of the requested variance is conditioned upon substantial compliance 
with the site plan submitted with the variance application. 
 
Reaves Newson, applicant, understands and agrees to the condition read into record.