Wednesday, January 22, 2003
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Wednesday, January 22, 2003 |
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Tyrone annexes for 120 luxury homes By MICHAEL BOYLAN
In the next three to four years Tyrone will feature a neighborhood comparable to Peachtree City's expensive North Cove and Fayetteville's Whitewater Creek. The Tyrone Town Council approved an annexation request for 98 acres in Fayette County, a land use map amendment and rezoning from Agricultural Residential to Conservation Residential and a variance request to reduce front yard setbacks by John Wieland Homes for an upcoming development. John Gillespie spoke on behalf of John Wieland Homes and discussed plans for the development. The development will feature 120 lots on 369 acres and will have two entrances, one on Ga. Highway 74 and one on Sandy Creek Road. The homes which give the homeowners what Gillespie described as "country estate living" will cost $500,000 and up. It will not be a gated community with a physical gate and there will be a small clubhouse and swimming pool for the community to enjoy. The development will be served by individual septic tanks, and will have curb and gutter as well as sidewalks. When Councilman Michael Smola expressed concern over a possible emergency in the development occurring while there are traffic backups on Ga. 74 during the morning rush, Gillespie conceded that an emergency exit may be possible. Some citizens spoke in opposition to the development, voicing concerns over the impact on the environment and property taxes. One woman stated that she was not impressed with $500,000 homes, while another wondered how she and her neighbors would fit in with people who could afford these homes. Gillespie returned to the podium, assuring the council and the citizens that a Level Three Soil Study, the most specific and costly soil study, had been done on every lot and had been very specific. Town manager Barry Amos gave his assessment to the council, recommending approval. Amos stated that the land featured in the annexation request would have to be annexed by Tyrone because the only entrance points for emergency services to the land are through Tyrone. Amos stated that he had discussed the matter with Tyrone Police Chief Roger Spencer and that Spencer had concurred. The rezoning request was so that the land in Tyrone would be zoned Conservation Residential, which is the same zoning on the land that would be annexed. Though John Wieland Homes had requested a reduction in the front yard setbacks from 100 feet to 50 feet, a compromise of 75 feet was accepted. Amos stated that with low residential density, the development would protect the wetlands and the floodplain. He also stated that the Tyrone Planning Commission had also recommended approval. "This will be the most expensive residential development in Tyrone at this point," said Amos. "It will be an asset to the area." Councilman Paul Letourneau agreed, further stating that it was "the best use for the land and answered the future question of what would go along Ga. 74." Gillespie estimated that build-out for the project would take between three and four years.
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