Brentwood approves rezoning along Old Smyrna Road; overall density would not increase

Brentwood officials approved a new zoning district for the historic Old Smyrna Road corridor, one of the city's oldest roads, at the Nov. 22 City Commissioners meeting. Under the new zoning classification, developers may construct new units with smaller lot sizes as long as the overall density of the area does not exceed one unit per three acres.

The affected area sits near the northern border of Brentwood, just west of the Williams Grove neighborhood.

Under the new Agricultural Residential Estate — Innovative Project zoning category, units can be built with a minimum lot size of two acres. That's a change from the area's former Agricultural Residential zoning, which required a minimum lot size of three acres.

But the new zoning won't increase overall density along the historic thoroughfare, known for low stone walls and shady trees. Under the new zoning, the overall density of the area still may not exceed one unit per three acres. For example, if a developer aimed to construct two units with lot sizes of two acres and four acres each, that would be permitted under the new zoning.

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“We hope that the added flexibility of the new AR-IP zoning district will be the mechanism that helps to protect the natural beauty of an area known for its historic dry stacked stone walls and notable tree canopy," City Manager Kirk Bednar said in a news release.

The new zoning category also allows property owners to construct units along Old Smyrna Road with smaller front yards and larger rear yards, creating more distance between new properties and the historic road.

City of Brentwood spokesperson Deanna Lambert said the new zoning was not passed with any particular developments in mind.

Cole Villena covers business at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.