Developer

John Callaway's plan to build a shopping center

in Tyrone heats up this week as the town's

Planning Commission considers two development

proposals.

The

first proposal concerns a 53-acre site at the

intersection of Ga. Highway 74 and Tyrone Road

that was the subject of a heated debate earlier

in the year. Callaway wanted to build a shopping

center anchored by a Publix grocery store.

When

the town did not approve Callaway's request to

change the land use from residential to

commercial, Callaway filed suit against the town.

Since

the lawsuit was filed, town officials have kept

quiet about anything concerning the proposal.

But

this Thursday night, Town Manager Barry Amos said

the Planning Commission may take action on the

request, per advice from the town's attorney.

The

second proposal is for a 22-acre site across

Tyrone Road that Callaway wants to use to build a

strip shopping center. Callaway is asking for a

land use map amendment and rezoning to allow the

commercial development.

Swirling

around all the proposals is a letter from

Callaway asking for the town to create a task

force to study the development of the Tyrone Road

corridor.

Callaway

believes the task force would help resolve the

issue.

"You

would find us willing to try and accommodate

ideas which the town had to offer; additionally,

we have some new and creative ideas that I think

might have an interest to you," he wrote.

But

in her response letter, Mayor Sheryl Lee said a

citizens advisory group had already validated the

current land use map and she did not see the need

for another task force.

"Your

request to establish a separate task force to

look at only the area which you are concerned

with not only is poor planning in my opinion, but

is contrary to the public planning process that

has already occurred," she said.

The

commission meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

<!--

-----------