Will Smithville be the home of a new cosmetology school? It’s quite possible if land owner Jada Cantrell meets the requirements to have a large parcel rezoned from residential to commercial.

Over 42 acres on Highway 70, across from Walmart, has been brought before the city council for consideration of being rezoned commercial. Jada Cantrell, owner of the property, addressed the council during Monday night’s meeting saying she wants to build a cosmetology school on the property.

 “I want to put a beauty school on this property,” said Cantrell. “I want to help our community bring in revenue. I know that each one of you have children and grandchildren, and I would like to see them have a job in the coming future. It’s not all got to do with beauty, it’s also got to do with medical. The state of Tennessee has passed that a cosmetology program can help them get their nursing degree, doctor degree and medical assistant when it comes to anything medical. I think it’s wonderful that our state has passed that, so that we can bring in more jobs for our state. I would like to help our community, and not just our community but surrounding counties also.”

Cantrell said the proposed school would start out small, Cantrell said she would eventually like to eventually have something the likes of McMinnville’s Motlow campus.

The property is surrounded by residential homes, which could affect home values.

“There are a lot of residential homes that surround this. You have newer homes on Oak Glenn Drive in that subdivision. You have Cooper Street, and it’s across the road from O’Conner Street and all this is residential. This is something I think you, aldermen, need to keep in mind. Could that do something to home values? My recommendation first would be to have a public hearing,” said Mayor Miller.

A public hearing will be held where the public may address and concerns about the rezoning of the property.