It may be the holiday season, but 3-2 votes are still the norm in Tyrone.

On Thursday night, Mayor Sheryl Lee broke a tie vote and voted to reduce the setback for O’Reilly Auto Parts on Tyrone Road.

The 1.1-acre site is located at 9920 Tyrone Road, adjacent to the BP station located at the southeast corner at Hwy. 74. O’Reilly representative Brad Beckman told the Planning Commission last month the company wanted to reduce the setback on the east side of the property from 50 feet to 20 feet due to the unique triangular shape of the lot and so the building could be properly positioned on the property.

Town consultant Megan Will agreed and recommended approval, adding that the variance would have little impact on surrounding properties.

Commissioners received assurances that O’Reilly would make the required improvements to asphalt the currently unpaved portion of Handley Road abutted by the site.

But during Thursday night’s meeting, Councilmen Grace Caldwell and Gloria Furr both voiced objections to the plan and said the site was too small for the business

In her recommendation, Will also recommended that the dealer delivery door proposed for the west side of the 7,225 square-foot building, the side adjacent to the BP property, be relocated to the rear of the structure. Councilman Mike Smola and paul Letourneau agree with the requirement and supported the setback request.

login to post comments