James Heath’s request to be annexed into Tyrone met with some stern objections from the Fayette County Commission.

Heath wants to annex a 16-acre tract on Trickum Creek Road into the city. The tract is currently zoned Agricultural-residential in the county, which requires a five-acre minimum lot. In his annexation request, Heath asked the property to rezoned to R-42 in Tyrone, which calls for a one-acre minimum lot. He stated he plans to build one home on the land.

But drastically changing the zoning could have detrimental effects, said Commission Chairman Greg Dunn.

“You could go from one house in the county to nine or 10 homes,” he said.

Another issue was the possible environmental impact the development could have on the county’s water supply.

In his report to the commission, zoning administrator Dennis Dutton said the property is near Trickum Creek, which is a tributary of one the primary water supplies for Fayette County, Line Creek.

“The location of septic systems near Trickum Creek poses a potential health hazard should failure occur. Another concern is the reduction of impervious surface buffer from Trickum Creek, which would allow for increased stormwater runoff into the county’s watershed basin,” Dutton wrote.

In voting to object to the annexation, Dunn added the county’s watershed protection regulations provide greater protection for Trickum Creek than Tyrone’s.

The vote to object to the annexation was 4-1, with Commissioner Herb Frady casting the dissenting vote. Frady said there was no guarantee that Heath would increase the density.

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