New shopping center could close part of north Macon road

A section of Wesleyan Drive could be blocked off permanently to make way for a new north Macon shopping development.

The Jones Co. has petitioned to close a section of Wesleyan between Riverside Drive and New Forsyth Road. The closure would be part of a planned development called Riverside Centre that could feature a movie theater and 415,500 square feet of stores and restaurants.

On Tuesday, the Macon-Bibb County Commission’s Facilities and Engineering Committee is scheduled to discuss whether to allow the company to buy about an acre of property on Wesleyan for $141,700.

Commissioner Gary Bechtel said that as of now, he’s more inclined not to support the closure. He said he’s heard from many residents who oppose the move.

“We have money in the SPLOST for Bass Road (improvements), but right now (Wesleyan Drive) is an essential way for people to avoid the traffic,” Bechtel said. “Closing it would be an inconvenience for a lot of people.”

About three dozen public comments submitted on the proposed closure were nearly unanimous in disapproving the plan. Multiple comments came from residents speaking about how they use the road to avoid traffic along the Riverside and Bass intersection.

There are about 1,000 vehicles a day that use that stretch of Wesleyan during a typical week, according to a traffic study by the Macon-Bibb County Engineering Department. The department is taking a neutral stance on the proposed road closure and is asking officials to weigh the economic benefits, impact on traffic and input from residents.

“The proposed road closure will increase congestion, but not significantly if adequate traffic enhancements are installed,” the resolution said.

The proposed Riverside Centre would be located at 1771 Bass Road and New Forsyth Road.

“I think we’ll remain neutral,” said Chris Floore, a spokesman for Mayor Robert Reichert’s administration. “We’ve gotten some negative feedback, and we’ll go to the commission (to decide) whether or not that it’s closed.”

Several recreation and cultural facilities items return to Tuesday’s agenda after being tabled in recent weeks. Each of the projects would be paid for through special purpose local option sales tax revenue or sales tax bonds.

▪  A resolution to spend $494,000 of 2012 sales tax proceeds on a Lizella recreation facility at Flintrock Park, a section of Claystone Park;

▪  Using $2.8 million for renovations to the Grand Opera House;

▪ There’s also another $964,000 of sales tax bond money proposed for renovations at Dolores A. Brooks Park, formerly known as East Macon Park.

This story was originally published April 24, 2017 at 11:32 AM with the headline "New shopping center could close part of north Macon road."