The Smyrna Municipal Planning Commission on Oct. 2, 2025 voted to recommend that the Smyrna Town Council deny an annexation and C‑2 rezoning request for 101 McNary Lane, following a public hearing in which multiple nearby residents urged rejection.

Neighbors said approval would place general commercial uses next to an established residential subdivision and worsen existing traffic, drainage and safety problems. Kevin Rigsby, planning staff, told the commission the parcel is about 1.27 acres, lies entirely in the 100‑year floodplain and would require the owner to extend sewer from a main roughly 1,000 feet away if development proceeds.

Why this matters: The proposal would convert an in‑subdivision county parcel currently zoned RM (Rutherford County) to town jurisdiction and a broad commercial district (C‑2). Residents said C‑2 allows many uses that are incompatible with back‑lot residential neighbors, and they asked the commission to preserve the neighborhood’s character and avoid additional cut‑through traffic on local streets.

At the hearing, residents presented a petition and said the applicant had not engaged the neighborhood in advance. “In under 24 hours, we collected 175 signatures on a petition to oppose the annexation and rezoning request,” said Caitlin Alferman, a resident who said she lives just outside Smyrna limits. Michael Wilson, who said he does not live within the town limits, described persistent speeding and cut‑through traffic that he said has worsened since nearby signalization was installed on Amaville Road.

Several speakers described what they said were covert commercial activities at the site since purchase. “Twice now my family has witnessed them slaughtering dozens of goats and sheep on their property,” said Joshua Derek Boswell, who identified himself as a Smyrna Street Department employee and a neighbor of the parcel. “This isn’t residential living. It’s covert commercial activity and it feels like deception from the very beginning.”

Kevin Rigsby explained legal notice requirements and the plan‑of‑services role: “We are required by state law anytime the town considers a request for annexation…the planning commission is required to hold a public hearing on the plan of services…council also holds a public hearing with at least 21 days’ notice and signs will be posted.” Rigsby said the town sends letters to property owners within 200 feet of the proposal and that sewer and FEMA floodplain requirements will apply to future development.

Commission discussion focused on consistency with surrounding uses, floodplain constraints, likely need to raise finished floor elevations and the potential for additional traffic demands on Amaville Road and neighborhood cut‑throughs. One commissioner recalled a similar application elsewhere that was denied because commercial zoning directly abutting established housing was not appropriate.

A commissioner moved to recommend denial to the town council “based on lack of consistency with surrounding areas.” A second was made and a voice vote was taken; commissioners present signified support and the motion to recommend denial carried. This recommendation is advisory; the final decision will be made by the Smyrna Town Council at a later public hearing.

What’s next: The commission chair stated that a town council public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14. The commission’s action was a recommendation; council must still consider the annexation, notice requirements and a second hearing before voting.

Votes at a glance: The planning commission made a recommendation to deny the annexation and C‑2 rezoning for 101 McNary Lane; the commission’s motion to recommend denial passed by voice vote of members present and will be forwarded to the town council for final action.

Ending: Neighbors at the hearing asked staff and commissioners to prioritize traffic and floodplain mitigation if the property is later developed under a different zoning or after any council decision.