Mark Binicewicz

This document outlines the vision and mission for a city where all residents and visitors experience safe, accessible, and welcoming streets and neighborhoods. The Traffic Calming Committee aims to enhance street safety through strategies that reduce vehicle speeds and crash severity, benefiting pedestrians, bicyclists, and all roadway users. This is achieved through community-informed solutions guided by principles of Safety First, Effective Design, Equity, Accountability, and Community Engagement.

The meeting included the reading of a proclamation in honor of Black History Month, presented remotely by Latonia Hines from Milan, Italy, and the recognition of Reverend Ernest Stallings. The Mayor's report highlighted a ribbon cutting for the new First Baptist Church facility and the unveiling of a new 10-foot Jonquil flower art installation downtown, part of the Smyrna Artery with Art initiative. A special recognition was given to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Omicron Mu Lambda chapter, for being named Alumni Chapter of the Year in Georgia. The main discussion involved a presentation by MKSK on the Smyrna Downtown Development Plan for the former First Baptist Church site, focusing on preserving the historic chapel, ensuring connectivity via a proposed 'Jono Mile' linear green space, and emphasizing the need for high-quality, walkable ground-level development.

The meeting addressed three variance requests involving a single property located at 2740 Cumberland Boulevard (Land Lot 847). The first public hearing, V26-008, concerned reducing the main structure's rear setback from 50 feet to 9.7 feet to accommodate a substantial addition, resulting in a 7,500 square foot building with 35 salon suites. Approval was granted with conditions related to site plan compliance and modification of an existing driveway curb cut. The subsequent two items, V26-009 and V26-010, related to the same property at 3373 Campbell Road (Land Lot 701) for the construction of a pool. V26-009 sought to reduce the accessory structure rear setback from 5 feet to 1 foot for an existing shed, while V26-010 requested permission for a second accessory structure (the pool), as current zoning only permits one. Both requests for this property were also approved with conditions, including painting an encroaching shed wall with fire-retardant paint if necessary.

The formal business of the meeting involved a public hearing for variance request V26-007. This request sought permission to allow a second accessory structure on land lot 598, located at 1511 Deborah Drive. The land parcel is a corner lot, which results in less buildable area than typical lots. The existing single-family home and detached garage were both constructed in 1958, predating current 1974 code, making them legal non-conforming structures. The applicant proposed building a new inground swimming pool and spa between the existing home and garage, ensuring compliance with setbacks and impervious surface area limits. Community development supported the variance, as the hardship was not self-created and no opposition was received. The variance was ultimately granted. The meeting concluded with the approval of the minutes from the January 14th, 2026 license variance board meeting.

This Redevelopment Plan outlines a transformative vision for the expansion of Smyrna's downtown, centered around the First Baptist Church site. Key components include the preservation and integration of the historic chapel into a new 'chapel green,' the creation of a vibrant and walkable King Street corridor, and the development of a comprehensive 'Jono Mile' to enhance connectivity throughout the downtown area. The plan projects approximately 350 new homes, 8-12 businesses, a food hall with multiple restaurants, and a 120-room hotel. Emphasizing high-quality architecture, a balance of for-sale and for-rent housing, and significant green spaces, the objective is to create a dynamic, integrated, and pedestrian-friendly destination that extends the existing downtown.