Tyrone Planning Commission Thursday voted unanimously to recommend a plan proposed by Fayette County that would create two new business districts along Ga. Highway 74 North from Sandy Creek Road to the Fulton County line. The study that includes property situated both in the town and county will go to the town council next week.

The proposed overlay district would provide for a Business Technology Park (BTP) zoning district on the west side of the highway and a Special Development District (SDD) on the east side. Fayette County Planning & Zoning Director Pete Frisina addressing the commission in August noted that the property along Hwy. 74 North is a mix of parcels situated, sometimes alternately, in either Tyrone or unincorporated Fayette County.

The BTP zoning district situated on tracts north of Kirkley Road would encourage development consisting of high-tech scientific research and development, manufacturing, and professional offices with a limited amount of commercial space. A proposed inter-parcel road beginning at Kirkley Road and linking with Hwy. 74 near Fairburn city limits could be extended to intersect with Landrum Road a short distance away inside Fairburn.

Office development in the SDD on the immediate east side of Hwy. 74 includes narrow parcels approximately 800 feet deep that extend along approximately three-fourths of the frontage between Sandy Creek Road and Fairburn city limits. Incentives would be provided to assemble properties of a minimum of 10 acres with 600 feet of highway frontage. An extension of Fairburn’s service drive to the north could be installed to provide a connection to Milam Road.

During his August presentation in Frisina said that along with accommodating new business development, the proposal would limit curbs cuts on both sides of Hwy. 74, thus providing for vehicular traffic within the developments and helping manage the traffic flow along the busy corridor.

New commission member Judy Jefferson during the discussion said she wanted to make sure the town had sufficient involvement in the development of the overlay district. Town Manager Chris Venice essentially agreed, adding that both entities could either act independently or they could act in concert in developing the area.

“The county could do what they wanted on county land, but we have a good working relationship and they’ve gone to great lengths to get our input,” Venice said. “We’ve had this (proposal) for months and, frankly, we haven’t gone back to them.”

Weighing in on the issue, Chairman Gordon Shenkle in describing the future of the area as property that was destined for something other than residential use said the land is not going to remain residential or undeveloped.

“This is an effort to control what happens to this land,” he said.

During public comments resident Bobby Wiggins said he was saddened to see the proposed development of the property.

“I moved out here to the country 9 years ago and I hate that we can’t have the country anymore,” he said.

Also speaking during public comments was Environmental Institute of Georgia (EIOG) Chairman Connie Thomas Biemiller who said she heard about the proposal and was stunned, requesting that the town look at the larger picture that could include greenspace in the immediate area. EIOG two weeks ago was made trustee of a 310-acre nature preserve in the city of Fairburn that is situated immediately northwest of the business park property on the north side of Bohannon Road at Kirkley Road. Commissioners invited Biemiller to the next regular session so they could become more familiar with the various aspects of EIOG’s involvement in Fulton and Fayette counties.

Venice after the meeting said both the town and county would ultimately amend their comprehensive plans to include the land use and zoning changes.