After

more than 90 minutes of a sometimes heated

discussion, the Tyrone Planning Commission

decided to table a rezoning request from Joel

Cowan Jr. for a new 169-home subdivision in the

town.

The

scene last Thursday night was reminiscent of the

"old days" of Tyrone politics - a

packed town hall and the town's government

resigned for a long night.

"Hopefully,

we'll get out of here before midnight,"

quipped acting chairman Lyn Redwood.

The

issue that drew the residents out in force was

Cowan's request to build Lake Windsong

subdivision on property bordering the Windsong

and Magnolia Farms subdivisions.

Cowan

owns 282 acres and wants nearly 200 of the acres

rezoned from R-70 and AR, which calls for two-

and three-acre lots, to R-48, which allows

one-acre lots. The remaining 80 acres are already

zoned R-48.

Cowan's

father Joel was one of the original developers of

Peachtree City and is the current head of the

powerful new Georgia Regional Transportation

Authority. The younger Cowan wants to create an

upscale subdivision that features homes priced in

the mid-$200s-$300,000 built around an existing

lake.

The

subdivision would feature such amenities as a

clubhouse, tennis courts, a pool overlooking the

lake and possible high-speed Internet connection.

Cowan

emphasized that 23 percent of the acreage would

be left as open space, and he said he would make

sure that many of the older trees on the property

would be saved. If the rezonings are approved, he

expects to start building homes by next spring.

After

hearing Cowan's presentation, numerous residents

made pilgrimages to the podium urging the

planning commission to deny his request. The

biggest problems many of the residents saw was

traffic and overburdening existing services.

"The

traffic will triple in our area. It's too high a

density. This subdivision would be built on the

backs of Magnolia Farms and Windsong

(subdivisions)," said Scott Davis.

Many

of the residents were outraged that the only

paved entrance into the subdivision would be down

Ashland Trail. The proposed subdivision is

virtually two subdivisions because the lake cuts

the property nearly in half. The entrance to the

subdivision on the southern side of the lake

would either be on Crestwood Road or Dogwood

Trail, which are currently unpaved.

Another

problems residents had with the proposal was 169

more septic tanks added to the city. But Cowan's

engineer Mukut Gupta assured the residents that

Cowan would meet and probably exceed county

health department standards for the development.

In

an unusual move, chairman Redwood called for a

recess halfway through the meeting to allow the

residents to look at the map of the proposed

subdivision and quiz Cowan some more about the

development.

Neighbors

and concerned residents buzzed around the town

hall and planning commission members held court

as residents voiced opposition to the plan.

Perhaps

the biggest concern of the residents was routing

all the traffic of the new subdivision through

existing subdivisions.

"We

already can't let our kids ride bikes through the

subdivision now," said Doug Ellis, who lives

on Magnolia Drive.

When

the meeting reconvened, town manager Barry Amos

said his recommendation would be against the

rezoning because of the increased traffic flow

and the lack of entrances to the subdivision.

After

hearing staff's recommendation, commissioner Dan

Flaherty said the town needed to stick to the

land use plan and deny the zoning, but Redwood

wanted another step in the discussion before a

decision was reached.

She

suggested a workshop that would involve Cowan,

the planning commission, the mayor and council

and the residents to try and reach a compromised

solution on the development.

If

Cowan did not seek any rezoning, he could

effectively build 157 homes, she added.

But

Flaherty disputed her count and said the existing

zoning would only allow for 110 homes to be

built.

Flaherty's

efforts to deny the zoning were rebuffed as the

planning commission voted to table the matter

until Oct. 28. The workshop is set for Oct. 19 at

7 p.m. at town hall, and all residents are

invited to participate.

<!--

-----------