Wednesday, May 11, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Wieland sweetens Tyrone proposalBy LEE WILLIAMS John Wieland Homes officials have agreed to set aside land to build an extension of Sandy Creek Road that would snake through Tyrone and end at the quarry owned by Davidson Mineral Products. The Sandy Creek Road extension, which has already raised the eyebrows of at least one Tyrone resident, is highlighted on a map of Wielands proposed subdivision dubbed Tyrone II-West Parcel. We allocated some land for the extension, but the only question is where would it go, because right now it seems to dead-end into the rock quarry, said Dan Fields, vice president of John Wieland Homes of land acquisition. Fields referred further questions to Scott Auer, who is in charge of the Tyrone II project. However, Auer did not return calls for comment. If Wieland pays for part of the road extension, Fayette County taxpayers would not have to foot the entire bill to extend the well-traveled road. But a Wieland development could mean more traffic headaches and congestion, and thats what concerns George Hart, who owns land in Fayette and south Fulton counties. Hart has owned a farm for 35 years that could be impacted by the proposed subdivision and the Sandy Creek Road extension. One of the things that really bothers us over in the Kirkley Road and Mann area is this extension of Sandy Creek Road, and when I found out that it was drawn on these plans it disturbed me, Hart said of the potential extension. We all know that thats a $10 million highway and I dont know how much development fees will be paid here, but I dont think it will be $10 million. Hart, who lives on Mann Road in Tyrone, enjoys what he calls a remarkable lifestyle, and he questioned the road extension that could change that. I dont think Im going to benefit from that, nor do I think anybody else who lives in that neighborhood who enjoys that lifestyle, Hart said. Wieland submitted a request in April for a land map amendment and a rezoning for the 217-acre swap of land bordered by Ga. Highway 74 South, Kirkley Road, Mann Road and Davidson Mineral Products. Wieland wants to build a 160-home subdivision, adjacent to Wielands upscale single-family Southampton development. The proposed subdivision would feature 2,800-square-foot and above single family homes with a starting price tag of $300,000. The minimum lot size would be a half-acre. A recreational area would be included in the subdivision. The Tyrone Planning Commission unanimously denied the land map amendment request. At the same time, the commission also voted down a rezoning that would allow half-acre lots. But the Tyrone City Council is expected to weigh in on the matter during its May 19 meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, and council members may look favorably on the Wieland proposal, particularly the part about the developer footing the bill for part of the road extension. The Sandy Creek Road extension is included in the lists of transportation projects in Tyrone that SPLOST proceeds will be used for, officials said. |
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