Tyrone Planning Commission slapped down a sign variance request Eckerd Drugs made in hopes of making their store more visible from the highway.

The request prompted criticism from Chairwoman Ginger Blackstone who blasted Eckerd for failing to apply for a business license while they sold alcohol on the premises for six months. She then make a motion to deny the request.

The motion carried 3-0, with Commissioners Ken Matthews, Buddy Hay and Kevin Jones backing Blackstone's motion.

Stephanie Schleicher of Apollo Sign and Light of Atlanta presented the company's position during a public hearing held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall.

Schleicher indicated the pharmacy, which was once a CVS, was bought by Eckerd's. She said the company wanted to enlarge one of the signs and add the word "Drugs." If the change was approved the sign would state "Eckerd Drugs."

Town Manager Barry Amos said the staff did not support the sign variance requests.

"This is the second variance request filed by Eckerd Drugs," Amos said. "The first variance was a wall sign on (Ga. Highway) 74. That is the only sign variance request the town has granted since the sign ordinance was adopted in 1997, so we certainly don't take variances to the sign ordinance lightly."

Commissioner Ken Matthews asked how difficult it would be for the company to add the word "Drugs" without increasing the size of the sign.

Schleicher indicated it would not be impossible.

"It can be done," she said. "It will not be very readable, but it can be done."

The location of the sign also was a cause of concern for the company, Schleicher told the commission.

"Right now, we feel like with the buffer of trees, you can't see the sign," she said.

The company's concerns were noted, but the response from the business on other matters gave the commission room for pause.

"I realize that you're just the messenger, but I will tell you that Eckerd is the only business that Tyrone has allowed a variance," Blackstone said.

As a condition of final approval, the company agreed that when the internal wall sign turned on at night, the outside light turned off. Eckerd did not keep its word on that, the chairwoman said.

Still, there were other missteps, officials say.

Blackstone said in 17 years the town has never had to cite anybody for not applying for their business license. Eckerd was "finally" cited after numerous requests to pay for their business license, she said.

"They were cited in June for operating a business without a license," Blackstone said, adding the town had grounds to shut the store down.

"They're not being good corporate citizens and I'm going to make a motion to deny this," Blackstone said.

Schleicher said the company had no plans to take legal action regarding the sign variance requests.

"We're not going to sue," Schleicher said after leaving the meeting. "We recommended that they do not do this because CVS was turned down."

She also dissuaded Eckerd because she knew how tough Tyrone's sign ordinance was.

"Corporate headquarters was insistent because they want all of their signs to look the same," she said.