Commercial and Residential Locksmiths in Smyrna, GA

The development proposal between South Cobb Drive and Oakdale Road would add more than 40 townhomes. It still requires state Department of Transportation approval.

SMYRNA, Ga. — The Smyrna City Council approved a development featuring a Chick-fil-A restaurant and 45 townhomes on South Cobb Drive in a 4-3 vote this week that saw some objections from nearby residents and questions about traffic impact on the congested corridor.

The project at 4941-5041 South Cobb Drive and 4960-5000 Oakdale Road would place a 5,000-square-foot Chick-fil-A and 40+ townhomes on about seven acres currently zoned for a larger development (full plans are included in the agenda packet for the March 16 meeting here).

The approved development represents a reduction from what the property is currently zoned for. The site is zoned for 163 multifamily housing units and 20,000 square feet of commercial space. The new plan reduces that to 45 townhomes and 5,000 square feet of commercial space.

The project still requires approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation, which has final authority over any changes to South Cobb Drive as it doubles as a state highway (GA-280). Councilwoman Latonia P. Hines asked about this additional layer of approval during the Monday night meeting.

"With respect to access to the site and the improvements to the site that are along South Cobb Drive, that is a state DOT approved review," Russell Martin, Smyrna director of community development, told the council. "They have to go through that process with them."

The 4-3 approval came on the heels of a January zoning commission meeting where nearby residents raised some of their concerns. Multiple residents described current traffic conditions as already challenging, with some noting cars backing up 25 to 30 deep during peak hours when I-285 — about a half mile — has problems and drivers use Oakdale Road as an alternate route.

"Between 4 and 6, you're going to sit in that lane for four light changes before you could even reach where my house is because of the traffic," one resident said in January. "You start running people through there going to Chick-fil-A and believe me, they're popular. You're going to have a problem that's going to be out of this world."

One resident also noted an original 2021 site plan included a sound wall to buffer nearby homes, which has been removed from the current proposal.

A traffic study commissioned by the developer was presented to address some of the concerns, indicating the traffic impact might be muted. Developer Harris Smyrna LLC hired traffic engineering firm Kimley Horn to assess the project's impact, and the firm found the development would add a slight delay along South Cobb Drive, which city staff acknowledged is already a "failing" corridor near I-285.

"South Cobb Drive is already failing. It's a system problem that we have on South Cobb Drive," City Administrator Mike Jones told the council. "This would add about eight seconds of delay there."

The traffic study compared two scenarios: no development versus the proposed project, examining both current conditions and projections for 2037. The study determined the proposal would generate fewer trips than what's currently allowed under the property's existing zoning. According to the traffic study's trip generation comparison, the scaled-down development would produce about 164 fewer trips annually compared to the existing zoning — a 12% reduction.

The previous plans for this area raised another issue for at least one councilmember, who noted a prior re-zoning approval included a promise there would be no drive-thru restaurant on the site.

"I am compelled to stand with that vote here today," Councilman Rickey N. Oglesby Jr. said.

The portion of the March 16 meeting dealing with this development can be seen below starting just after 36 minutes.

Oglesby also said he reached out to Chick-fil-A about concerns regarding right turns onto Oakdale Road and the company indicated they're looking into the issue.

"South Cobb is a little bit of a spaghetti junction. We know that," Oglesby said. "We're all working hard with Cobb County and the state to figure out ways to make it better and hopefully we will in the future."

Councilman Tim Gould, who voted for the project, highlighted the push and pull of the proposal — in one respect, re-zoning for fewer homes than would already be allowed, and in the other respect, adding a high-traffic magnet with the Chick-fil-A.

"I'm appreciative of the reduction of the residential side to townhomes from 163 down to 45 units. That's a much less intense portion with a public street connecting Oakdale to South Cobb Drive," Gould said. "Chick-fil-A is an intense use and so it's a balance. It's a tough decision for us."

Councilmembers Glenn Pickens, Travis Lindley, Charles "Corkey" Welch and Gould voted in favor. Councilmembers Hines, Susan Wilkinson and Oglesby voted against the measure. Multiple councilmembers thanked residents who attended the meeting to voice their concerns about the project, including some who held small signs with "deny" written on them.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

This year's programming is specially curated to highlight local history tied to the nation's ongoing 250th celebration.

The Friends of the Smyrna Library will kick off its action-packed 2026 lecture series in April, and this year’s programming is specially curated to highlight local history tied to the nation’s ongoing 250th celebration.

On Sunday, April 12, author William Marchione, whose works include the definitive history of Smyrna, will present “James Edward Oglethorpe: Georgia’s Founding Father.” The lecture will start at 3 p.m. at the Smyrna Public Library.

On Sunday, May 3, Todd DeFeo, a member of the Friends of the Smyrna Library board and publisher and editor of Railfanning.org, will present a lecture on the “Transcontinental Railroad and the Standard Gauge.” The talk, which kicks off at 3 p.m., will highlight how the national railroad network led to the adoption of a standard gauge, including on the Western & Atlantic that passes through Smyrna.

On Monday, June 8, Marchione, a frequent lecturer at the Smyrna Library, will present “Patriot Painters: Peale, Stuart, Trumbull and Early American Art.” The lecture, which will start at 6:30 p.m., will highlight Charles Willson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and John Trumbull, who created works that became American icons, including Stuart’s 1796 “Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington,” which appears on the dollar bill.

On Sunday, Aug. 30, Marc McAfee, a member of the Friends of the Smyrna Library board, will present “Titans of Mid-Century Modern Design.” The lecture, which starts at 3 p.m., explores houses in the sky, cars with rocket fins, and furniture that looked like it could fly — an introduction to the designers who brought the future to our homes.

The non-profit expects to add additional lectures throughout the year. For more information, visit FriendsOfSmyrnaLibrary.com.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Paul Powers, the owner of Smyrna-based Powers Electrical Solutions, offers ideas on what changes to make when selling a house

When selling a home, it’s easy to focus on the big-ticket items. However, home sellers shouldn’t overlook the smaller electrical details that can often make or break a sale.

Paul Powers, the owner of Smyrna-based Powers Electrical Solutions, said the best place to start is with service upgrades to make sure a home’s electrical system is up to code, which changes every three years. Older homes that have not been upgraded in years may have several iterations of code changes that need to be addressed.

Beyond updates to meet new building codes, Powers said a home's electrical panel is where “the sins” are often located and where red flags are raised during inspections.

“Many older homes weren’t designed to handle today’s electrical demands, from EV chargers to large TVs and modern appliances,” Powers said. “This can lead to overloaded circuits, nuisance tripping, or worse. A panel inspection ensures your system meets current safety standards — details that matter every day for safety and insurance, and when you’re selling your house.”

Another consideration is both indoor and outdoor lighting. Updated lighting can completely change a home’s look and feel, transforming a space without major structural updates.

Outdoor lighting, in particular, can enhance a home's safety, a major consideration for potential homebuyers. It can also improve the overall aesthetics.

Last, but certainly not least, installing smart technology, such as smart switches and automated lighting, can give potential buyers the modern, connected features they expect.

“Selling a house can be a stressful experience, but proactively addressing issues likely to surface during a home inspection or in the final stages of a sale saves time and heartache,” Powers said. “Oftentimes, making these changes is less painful than many people expect, and addressing these often-overlooked upgrades can help a home stand out, especially in a crowded market.”

Contact Powers Electrical Solutions today to take charge of your electrical readiness planning. For more information, visit PowersElectricGA.com.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch? Register for a user account.