Politics & Government

Smyrna City Council Denies Jonquil Village Plan Amendments

The 4-3 vote against the amended site plan means that the 11 acres at the "gateway" to downtown Smyrna will remain undeveloped for a least another year.

The seven-year long saga of the mostly empty lot at the gateway to downtown Smyrna will continue for at least another year.

The Smyrna City Council voted 4-3 against proposed site plan amendments to the Jonquil Village property brought forth by Branch Capital Partners, following a three-hour public comment session.

Council members Andrea Blustein, Charles "Corkey" Welch, Wade Lnenicka, and Susan Wilkinson cast votes against the proposal.

Because the council voted to deny an amended zoning plan for the site, city regulations state that a new plan for the site cannot be brought forward for another year.

By and large, the members of the public who came out to speak during the meeting opposed the proposal, saying that they felt the $40 million project placed too heavy of an emphasis on residential units at the expense of retail fixtures.

Several representatives from the Williams Park community claimed that this "mixed-use development" could not be called such when, according to their calculations, 94 percent of the square footage and 75 percent of the parking was being designated for private residential use exclusively.

Other residents felt that the idea of a gated, insular community right in the heart of downtown Smyrna would signal a weak market and send a poor sign to retail that may want to invest in the area.

With the news of the Atlanta Braves' relocation to Cobb County coming on the same day as the Planning and Zoning Board recommended denial of the Jonquil Village plan, many Smyrna residents in attendance said that the city and the developers need to start from scratch on a "major league development."

Answering concerns by supporters of the amended plan that the site would sit idle and continue to be an eyesore for at least another year if Branch's plan was rejected, one resident of Williams Park said that he would be more than happy to look at the eyesore for another seven years instead of accepting a plan that he felt was not right for the community.

Proponents of the plan said that in order for there to be more significant retail properties in or near downtown Smyrna, the area's residential density and residential income need to be increased. Jesse Shannon, Branch's Director of Acquisitions, said that no grocers or big-box retailers felt that building on the Jonquil Village property would be an economically sound decision.

Shannon said that the average household income for the area within a two-mile radius of the site was $55,000 a year, which was not enticing to retailers. Branch's Senior Vice President Jack Haylett said that the development would be the catalyst for organic growth in the area.

Shannon also cautioned that those who see the new Braves' stadium as a year-round financial windfall should temper their expectations. The Braves will only play 81 home games each year (excluding the playoffs), which means that for four out of every five days of the year the park will be empty. The privately-funded mixed-use development being built by the Braves next to the stadium will help, but it may just as easily be deserted when the team is not playing, he said.

Immediately after the vote was announced, Smyrna-Vinings Patch went on Facebook to see what folks thought of the decision.

"Branch properties [sic] should probably now just move on. What’s another 5 years with a desolate lot on that pivotal corner?" wrote Thomas House.

Was the city council's decision to reject the latest Jonquil Village site plan the right one? Tell us in the comments!


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