By Ted Carter

Tybee’s new City Council put four new members on the Planning Commission Thursday night in a round of voting that left four planning panel incumbents without seats.

The appointments reflect the new council majority’s desire for a tighter grip on development and a much stingier approach to granting land-use variances. To that end, council declined to reappoint James P. Boyle, George Dausey, Anne Miller and Whitney Reynolds.

To replace them the council appointed Demery R. Bishop, Monty Parks, Marianne Bramble and Robert A. Callahan. With no opposition from the council, Mayor Jason Buelterman named John R. Major to fill the un-expired term of Lisa McKenzie.

Bishop led with six votes from the council, followed by Parks with five. Bramble and Callahan each had four. Major had four votes as well.

The Planning Commission consists of seven members who serve staggered two-year terms. The panel’s chairman votes only to break a tie.

The commission reviews proposals for development, land-use variances and other issues relating to growth management. The panel provides the council with recommendations on land-use issues, development requests and applications for variances.