By JOHN THOMPSON
Staff Writer

Developer Joel Cowan will probably not get a final answer for his proposed subdivision in Tyrone until after the first of the year.

That's the word from town manager Barry Amos who said the town's attorney, John Mrosek, has recommended the town wait until its Jan. 6 meeting to vote.

“Because we cancelled a meeting in November and moved our December meeting up a night, he's recommending we wait,” Amos said.

Although Cowan's proposed 169-lot subdivision is on tonight's town council meeting agenda, Amos expects that no discussion will take place.

Last month, by a 2-1 vote, the Tyrone Planning Commission recommended approval of Cowan's Lake Windsong subdivision in the northern part of town with a caveat that Dogwood Trail be paved.

Cowan owns 282 acres and requested nearly 200 of the acres rezoned from R-70 and AR, which calls for two- and three-acre lots, to R-48, which allows one-acre lots. The remaining 80 acres are already zoned R-48.

During the November Planning Commission meeting, Cowan told town officials that he would be willing to donate up to $100,000 to help pay for the paving of Dogwood Trail and provide another access to the subdivision.

Cowan's father, Joel, was one of the original developers of Peachtree City and is the current head of the powerful new Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. The younger Cowan wants to create an upscale subdivision that features homes priced in the mid-$200's to $300,000, built around an existing lake.

The subdivision would feature such amenities as a clubhouse, tennis courts, a pool overlooking the lake and possible high-speed Internet connection.

Many of the residents at previous meetings were outraged that the only paved entrance into the subdivision would be down Ashland Trail, but Cowan met with several neighborhood groups over the last two months to help answer their concerns.

Cowan's attorney, George Rosensweig, told the commission that Cowan had met with the residents of Ashland Trail and offered to sell a couple of lots to the property owners to alleviate their concerns.

Planning commissioners Lyn Redwood and Burt Clark liked Cowan's vision for the subdivision, but said they could recommend it be approved only if Dogwood Trail is paved.

Amos said there is currently no money in the town's budget to pave the road and he estimated the cost of the project between $250,000 and $300,000.

The commissioners recommended approval of the subdivision with the caveat that Dogwood Trail would have to be paved.

The proposed subdivision is virtually two subdivisions, because the lake cuts the property nearly in half. The entrance to the subdivision on the southern side of the lake would be from either Crestwood Road or Dogwood Trail, which are currently unpaved.

Other issues on tonight's agenda include:

” A public hearing on a proposed historic district for the town. Amos said many of the town's old historic buildings are now non-conforming buildings because they do not meet the town's new standards for setbacks.

The district would eliminate the need of constantly granting variances for people who want to use the older buildings, he said.

” Appointments made for the town's judge, attorney and legal organ.

The Town Council meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.