Council annexes 155 Brierwood Road and rezones parcel to R12

The Tyrone council voted to annex 4.67 acres at 155 Brierwood Road (parcel 0739-023) and to rezone the property to R12, approving the applicant’s request and staff and planning-commission recommendations.

Planning staff explained the parcel sits in the county and had been advertised as R18 but that the applicant and staff sought R12 instead. Staff and the planning commission recommended R12 because the existing single-family home on the lot is smaller than the R18 minimum size; rezoning to R18 would make the dwelling illegal under the ordinance and would limit the owner’s options until the condition is remedied. Philip, the town planner, said R12 is consistent with surrounding zoning and is a lower-intensity district than R18; planning commission recommended the change unanimously.

During the public hearing, applicant Jerry Croer confirmed his preference for R12 to avoid creating an illegal condition for the existing house and said he expects future development to be at larger sizes consistent with market demand. Marian Wells of Strawberry Lane opposed lowering the minimum to R12, saying homes on her street are substantially larger than the R12 minimum and that smaller minimums could depress property values.

Council moved and approved both the annexation (item 4A) and rezoning to R12 (item 4B) in separate motions. The council discussion noted that rezoning to a lower-intensity district is allowed when a higher-intensity classification was advertised, and staff reiterated that the annexation would also cause the town to inherit responsibility for a short segment of Brierwood Road (about 500 feet) under typical coordination with the county.

Ending: Annexation and rezoning passed; staff will process the annexation and coordinate road responsibilities with the county and any subsequent subdivision or site-planning actions would follow separate applications to planning commission.