Tyrone Town Council granted a special exception request Thursday from Crossroads Christian School to allow the continued operation of the school at First Baptist Church of Tyrone. And like Tyrone Planning Commission an hour earlier, the council required that the current student/teacher population of 69 individuals be the maximum number allowed unless upgrades are made to the septic system.

The school has been housed in the church’s education addition since the beginning of the school year but was unaware that a permit to do so was required since the school and the church are located on the same site, said Town Administrator Chris Venice.

Venice said Environmental Health had a concern with the septic system handling the needs of the total population of students and teachers on site. Councilwoman Gloria Furr referenced a letter noting that flow tests concluded that the water flow could handle as many as 52 individuals, though Environmental Health was willing to sign off on the 69 people currently using the facility.

Furr asked school board member Josh Bonner if the school expected to increase its enrollment. Bonner said the school typically added 5-6 students per year and expected that number would continue in Tyrone. Bonner added that as many as 26 students use the school on a half-day basis, essentially diminishing the total number present at any given time.

Church representative Billy Richards said the school had provided a positive benefit since relocating to Tyrone from Grace Evangelical Church on Flat Creek Trail in unincorporated Fayette County. He said “on down the road if we have to do something we’ll do it.”

Furr agreed that the school was having a positive impact on the community, later making a motion that the special exception be granted with the stipulation that the current 69 students and teachers be the maximum number allowed and that Environmental Health be contacted about an additional drain line if the school’s total population needed to increase. The vote was unanimous.

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