The Tyrone Town Council's April 20 denial of a request to significantly alter the town's established comprehensive land use plan was a fine example of elected officials who strive to represent their electorate. Their unanimous decision showed respect for citizen input over the past several weeks, the recommendation of the Tyrone Planing Commission, the multiple hours which resulted in our plan, and the comments resulting from last summer's extensive “Resident Survey 1999” conducted by the town.

During the initial public hiring, held during the planning commission's April 13 meeting, I was among the citizens who urged rejection of Mr. John Callaway's request to amend the plan and rezone the approximate 60-acre tract, located where Tyrone Road intersects Ga. Highway 74.

My reasons, which I reiterated to our elected officials prior to the second public hearing during the April 20 council meeting, were clear and remain unchanged: the request flies in the face of a comprehensive land use plan which was developed through many hours of public input and professional expertise.

Why have a plan which is disregarded? As stewards of our resources, we have the responsibility, and the right, to turn away changes which would threaten our peaceful way of life.

Not so many years ago, we were asleep at the switch when we allowed the now infamous planned use development (PUD) at Tyrone's north end. Having resided and raised my family in Tyrone for nearly a quarter-century, I'm one who feels the responsibility for failing to speak against those rezoning proposals. Now a moot point, that lesson taught so many of us to step up and speak up, not give up or back down. There are places for developments such as that of Callaway Land Co., but not here, and not now.

Our less than 3,000 (estimated) population was given an opportunity, conducted through the “Resident Survey” last summer, to submit their thoughts and desires for Tyrone's future. I was one of a number of Tyrone residents who helped develop, disseminate, collect and gather the survey. Overwhelmingly, the results reflect Tyrone's desire to preserve our rural atmosphere, prohibit expanding commercial or industrial sites, protect our green space, prevent intense pressure on our resources, and maintain the center of the town in its current location.

As for the land in question, it and its adjacent properties are among the most pristine in Fayette County, a jewel of a spot with mammoth trees and other foliage protecting it from intrusion; the adjacent land, in fact, contains a horse farm, not commercial establishments.

Tyrone would suffer needlessly had council taken the myopic position to discard the plan and allow a development which would have included multiple outparcels for fast food operations, in addition to the big box grocery. Tyrone would have suffered endlessly as well, as such a disregard of our plan would have set a precedent, which would leave us defenseless.

I understand the letter from Ms. Beth Johnson, published in your April 26 letters section, as a daughter who is defending her father, Mr. John Scarbrough, who owns a large portion of the property on which Mr. Callaway sought rezoning. I, too, would jump to the defense of my dad against all comers.

I found her sarcasm and misleading remarks unwarranted, however. Taxes, collected within our municipalities, for example, don't remain there, but go to the county coffers for redistribution. Purchases anywhere within Fayette County, therefore, potentially help Tyrone.

Job opportunities? Right now, “help wanted” signs are posted in at least two Tyrone businesses. Traffic? A level “E” service is unacceptable for Tyrone's residents, who are better-served by a minimum level “C.” Lack of support from Tyrone businesses? For 25 years, I've experienced the generosity of Tyrone's commercial operations.

I respectfully disagree with the assessment by Ms. Johnson, who resides outside the town and cannot be counted as part of Tyrone's electorate. Tyrone's citizens neither want nor need such drastic changes. Not here. Not now.

Ginger C. Blackstone

Tyrone

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