During the

initial public hiring, held during the planning

commission's April 13 meeting, I was among the citizens

who urged rejection of Mr. John Callaway's request to

amend the plan and rezone the approximate 60-acre tract,

located where Tyrone Road intersects Ga. Highway 74.

My reasons,

which I reiterated to our elected officials prior to the

second public hearing during the April 20 council

meeting, were clear and remain unchanged: the request

flies in the face of a comprehensive land use plan which

was developed through many hours of public input and

professional expertise.

Why have a

plan which is disregarded? As stewards of our resources,

we have the responsibility, and the right, to turn away

changes which would threaten our peaceful way of life.

Not so many

years ago, we were asleep at the switch when we allowed

the now infamous planned use development (PUD) at

Tyrone's north end. Having resided and raised my family

in Tyrone for nearly a quarter-century, I'm one who feels

the responsibility for failing to speak against those

rezoning proposals. Now a moot point, that lesson taught

so many of us to step up and speak up, not give up or

back down. There are places for developments such as that

of Callaway Land Co., but not here, and not now.

Our less

than 3,000 (estimated) population was given an

opportunity, conducted through the "Resident

Survey" last summer, to submit their thoughts and

desires for Tyrone's future. I was one of a number of

Tyrone residents who helped develop, disseminate, collect

and gather the survey. Overwhelmingly, the results

reflect Tyrone's desire to preserve our rural atmosphere,

prohibit expanding commercial or industrial sites,

protect our green space, prevent intense pressure on our

resources, and maintain the center of the town in its

current location.

As for the

land in question, it and its adjacent properties are

among the most pristine in Fayette County, a jewel of a

spot with mammoth trees and other foliage protecting it

from intrusion; the adjacent land, in fact, contains a

horse farm, not commercial establishments.

Tyrone

would suffer needlessly had council taken the myopic

position to discard the plan and allow a development

which would have included multiple outparcels for fast

food operations, in addition to the big box grocery.

Tyrone would have suffered endlessly as well, as such a

disregard of our plan would have set a precedent, which

would leave us defenseless.

understand the letter from Ms. Beth Johnson, published in

your April 26 letters section, as a daughter who is

defending her father, Mr. John Scarbrough, who owns a

large portion of the property on which Mr. Callaway

sought rezoning. I, too, would jump to the defense of my

dad against all comers.

I found her

sarcasm and misleading remarks unwarranted, however.

Taxes, collected within our municipalities, for example,

don't remain there, but go to the county coffers for

redistribution. Purchases anywhere within Fayette County,

therefore, potentially help Tyrone.

Job

opportunities? Right now, "help wanted" signs

are posted in at least two Tyrone businesses. Traffic? A

level "E" service is unacceptable for Tyrone's

residents, who are better-served by a minimum level

"C." Lack of support from Tyrone businesses?

For 25 years, I've experienced the generosity of Tyrone's

commercial operations.

respectfully disagree with the assessment by Ms. Johnson,

who resides outside the town and cannot be counted as

part of Tyrone's electorate. Tyrone's citizens neither

want nor need such drastic changes. Not here. Not now.

Ginger

C. Blackstone

Tyrone