Wednesday, May , 2004

Swanson Road rezoning tabled by Tyrone Council

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

Faced with too few votes to decide a residential rezoning, Tyrone Town Council members last week delayed a decision on a 19-lot development.

Developer Burt Clark came before the Tyrone Town Council last Thursday with a request to rezone 38 acres on Swanson Road from AR to R-48. He told the council he planned to develop 19 lots on the 38 acres. The lots sizes would range from one to 1.8 acres, which was consistent with the land use map for that area.

The Tyrone Planning Commission had previously approved Clark’s plan with the conditions that included that the blackboard fencing remain and the development connect to the multi-use path system, among others. Clark also stated that he would deed the 12 acres of greenspace on the property to the town.

The property is currently owned by Gary Lee, who bought it from Chick-fil-A’s Truett Cathy. Lee and his wife had attempted to create a horse farm but they must relocate to the north side of Atlanta. They said they would have like to sell it to someone who wanted to keep it as a horse farm, but after 18 months on the market with no interest, that does not appear likely. Clark stated that he wanted to keep the look of a horse farm in the development and Lee stated that he thought the plans for the development looked good.

Most of the council agreed with Lee but Councilwoman Lyn Redwood was unhappy about not seeing Clark’s plan before the meeting.

“It would have been nice to see this before tonight,” said Redwood. “I don’t like being put on the spot.” Other members of the council agreed that seeing the plans earlier would have been preferable, but they also saw the value of the proposed development.

“There is the potential to have 38 homes on 38 lots, but this plan proposes nearly two acres for every lot,” said Councilman Paul Letourneau. “I’m willing to support this.”

Councilman Mike Smola was not at the meeting as a flight he was scheduled to take out of New York was delayed. Clark, expecting a denial vote from Redwood, asked if a 2-1 vote would carry. The council then approved a motion to table the topic to a meeting in June.

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