A proposal to develop the initial phase of an 88-acre office park along the east side of Ga. Highway 74 between Jenkins Road and Sandy Creek Road received a recommendation June 29 from Tyrone Planning Commission. The board recommended amending the Land Use Map to change a 10-acre portion of the tract from Office to Highway Commercial and to rezoning those acres from Office Institutional (OI) to Limited Use Commercial (LUC).

The board recommendation that 50 percent of the initial 10-acre proposed commercial component be followed by development of 50 percent of the acreage designated for office use. With allowances for open space, the total project proposal calls for six acres of the 88 acres to be used for commercial space and 57 acres for office space.

Land Planner Jerry Peterson proposed that a 10-acre area in near the middle of the acreage be developed for commercial use. Of that 10 acres, six would be developed and the remaining four acres running through the center would include a park area with a gazebo. A median cut on Hwy. 74 already exists at the proposed entrance to the site. Peterson said interparcel roads and landscaping would be built first to enhance the overall desirability of the project.

The board’s recommendation followed one by city staff and planning consultant Gary Cornell that included developing a portion of the smaller commercial area followed by the development of a significant portion of the acreage designated for office buildings. That way, Cornell said, the commercial development would be proportionate with the office development. Acting on that recommendation, commissioners agreed to the development of half of the six-acre commercial area with the understanding that at least 50 percent of the 57 office-designated acres for office use be developed prior to the development of the remaining commercial area. The office area to be developed first, said Peterson, would likely include the area between the commercial area and Jenkins Road.

Peterson said the request for Limited Use Commercial zoning was because there is not much store-front retail available in OI. He said potential uses for the commercial component include a cafe, office supply store or barbershop. As part of their recommendation, the board limited some of the potential commercial uses available for the development. Both Peterson and developer Doug Walker said they were satisfied with the commercial uses recommended by commissioners.

The proposal also included a large buffer area along the Sandy Creek Road portion of the tract.

login to post comments