Macon zoning commission approves parking deck, new loft project with 96 units

With little discussion, the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission approved plans Monday for a new loft development and parking deck on Mercer University Drive to provide additional housing for Mercer University students.

The proposed project, which named the Lofts at Mercer Landing II, would include a four-story facility with 96 loft-style apartment units and 306 beds, as well as a five-story 320-space parking deck.

The commission approved a conditional-use permit with variances to allow Macon-based Sierra Development Inc. to develop the lofts project at 1362 Mercer University Drive, five lots in the 1800 block of Mercer Road and three lots in the 1800 block of College Street. The commission also approved a conditional-use permit for a parking deck at 1501 Mercer University Drive.

The proposal includes closing Mercer Road between Mercer University Drive and Sherwood Drive and a portion of an alley. Attorney George Greer said the process for approval of that closure is underway. Records show the alley has never been utilized, said consulting engineer Don Carter.

The design for the development will maintain the character of the design and streetscape created for the adjacent Lofts at Mercer Landing at 1500 Mercer University Drive, which is across Mercer University Drive from the Five Star Stadium.

The new project will include 16 one-bedroom units, 11 two-bedroom units, eight three-bedroom units and 61 four-bedroom units.

The project will encompass the blocks of Mercer Road and College Street from Sherwood Drive to Mercer University Drive, except for the lot at 1849 College St. The owner of that lot, Virginia Shute, who said she lives in Miami and in Macon, raised some concerns about the proposed project, such as closing the alley and nuisance due to noise from the parking deck.

At the meeting, she spent most her time before commissioners complaining about the placement of the parking deck. She called it a "health hazard' and a "poisonous garage."

"I want a peaceful resolution, so I won't be forced to file an injunction," Shute said.

Carter said that because of her concerns, the parking deck had been shifted some and the trash compactor was moved.

Jim Daws, president of Sierra said that if they moved the parking deck as Shute wanted, they would lose 80 beds and the project wouldn't move forward as Mercer needs the space.

"It just wouldn't work," he said.

According to letters and emails included in the commission's staff report prior to the meeting, Shute said certain conditions needed to be met, which were for another property to be purchased and for her house be moved to it as "she specifically directs," and also that she be paid $1 million for her property. She bought the property in 2004 for $22,500, and it has a tax value of $41,461.

Sierra plans to border Shute's property with eight-foot high ornamental fencing and a landscape buffer consisting of several 12-foot to 15-foot-tall evergreen screen plantings, Carter said. Also, the design of the lofts structure excludes windows from overlooking the residential parcel.

The lofts project "is critical to meeting the housing needs for the university's growing undergraduate student population," said Mercer President Bill Underwood in a letter included in the staff report. "In order to have the student housing available in the fall of 2019, construction needs to begin in January 2018. If we miss that window, we have to wait another full year to accommodate student housing needs."

Commission chairman Kamal Azar was absent from the meeting.

Other items on the agenda were:

ITEMS DEFERRED FROM NOV. 13:

6420 Grantham Drive: In violation of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution by failing to comply with the Commission regarding covered container pole barn, Chris Bryant. Found in violation and a revocation hearing of all permits was set on Jan. 22.

ITEMS DEFERRED FROM PRIOR MEETING:

An Amendment to Chapter 27A of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution for the City of Macon and Bibb County, Georgia regarding parking of vehicles on lawns visible from public right-of-way. Vineville Neighborhood Association, Lars Anderson, applicant. Approved.

REZONINGS:

972 Wesleyan Drive: Proposal to rezone from PDR, Planned Development Residential District to PDE, Planned Development Extraordinary District. The purpose of this rezoning is to allow for professional office at the current location. Wimberly Treadwell, Charles Jones Family Foundation, applicant. Deferred.

3769 Ridge Ave.: Proposal to rezone from R-1A, Single-Family Residential District to R-3, Multi-Family Residential District. The purpose of this rezoning is to allow for multi-family housing and to preserve a historically significant structure in that area. Dover Development Corp., a Tennessee corporation, George Greer, applicant. Approved.

AMENDMENTS:

An Amendment to Chapters 1, 4, 23 and 25 of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution for the City of Macon and Bibb County, Georgia to reflect recent court decisions related to signage. Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission, applicant. Deferred.

CONDITIONAL USES:

972 Wesleyan Drive: Conditional use to allow a professional office within an existing structure, PDR, Planned Development Residential. [PDE Planned Development Extraordinary District Pending]. Wimberly Treadwell, Charles Jones Family Foundation, applicant. Deferred.

4719/4773 Raley Road: Conditional use to allow revision to a previously approved site plan, R-1A District. Widner & Associates, applicant. Approved.

1095 Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow a convenience store with fuel sale and alcohol package-to-go, HC District. Kunj Patel, applicant. Approved.

4290 Dellwood Drive: Conditional use to allow a used car lot in an existing building, C-1 District. Kunj Patel, applicant. Approved.

4027/4055 Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow an event center, C-4 District. AA Entertainment UC d/b/a Rodeo, applicant. Approved with several conditions.

895 Third St.: Conditional use to allow expansion of previously approved auto sales business, CBD-2 District. HRM Auto Sales, Inc. Hamid Moinpour, applicant. Approved.

3959 Northside Drive: Conditional use to allow revisions to previously approved site plan, PDC District. Widner & Associates, applicant. Approved.

152 New St.: Conditional use to allow a counseling center, CBD-2 District. P.E.E.R Sieglinde Latier Gray, applicant. Approved.

3769 Ridge Ave.: Conditional use to allow senior housing, R-1A District. George Greer, Dover Development, applicant. Approved.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:

1095 Pio Nono Ave.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of a c-store with fuel canopy, HC District. Kunj Patel, applicant. Approved.

956 SPRING St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of exterior modifications of an existing home, HR-3 District. Rusty Poss, applicant. Approved.

543 Second St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of façade renovation, CBD-1 District. MMI Capital LLD, applicant. Approved.

SIGNS:

3050 Old Bowman Road: Conditional use to allow a billboard, PDE District. Jed Renfroe, Bowman Road Self Storage LLC., applicant. Approved.

VARIANCES:

100 Broadleaf Court: Variance to allow a privacy fence closer than 10ft to the right-of-way, R-1AAA District. RDG Ventures, Ryan Griffin, applicant. Approved.

3769 Ridge Ave.: Variance in parking requirements, R-1A District. George Greer, Dover Development, applicant. Approved.

Telegraph writer Linda S. Morris @MidGaBiz

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Macon zoning commission approves parking deck, new loft project with 96 units."