Another major loft project to be built in Macon for Mercer University students
.jpg "The pedestrian bridge from the Lofts at Mercer Landing to the university campus is part of Macon-Bibb County's Second Street Corridor project and will serve as a")
Another loft development with a parking deck is planned for Mercer University Drive to meet the needs of Mercer University for student housing.
To be known as the Lofts at Mercer Landing II, the proposed project would include 96 loft-style apartment units with 306 beds and a 320-space parking deck.
Macon-based Sierra Development Inc. has submitted to the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission a conditional-use application with variances to allow 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. Sierra also has submitted a conditional-use application to allow the parking deck at 1501 Mercer University Drive. The items are expected to be heard during Monday's meeting.
The proposal includes closing Mercer Road between Mercer University Drive and Sherwood Drive and a portion of an alley.
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, has raised some concerns about the proposed project, such as closing the alley, nuisance due to noise from the parking deck and emergency access to the lofts.
According to letters and emails included in the commission's staff report, Shute also said certain conditions needed to be met which were for another property be purchased and her house moved to it as "she specifically directs" and that she be paid $1 million. 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 12-foot to 15-foot-tall evergreen screen plantings." 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."
The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. in the 10th floor conference room, Willie C. Hill Government Center Annex, 682 Cherry St.
Other items on the agenda are:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4719/4773 Raley Road: Conditional use to allow revision to a previously approved site plan, R-1A District. Widner & Associates, applicant.
1095 Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow a convenience store with fuel sale and alcohol package-to-go, HC District. Kunj Patel, applicant.
4290 Dellwood Drive: Conditional use to allow a used car lot in an existing building, C-1 District. Kunj Patel, applicant.
4027/4055 Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow an event center, C-4 District. AA Entertainment UC d/b/a Rodeo, applicant.
895 Third St.: Conditional use to allow expansion of previously approved auto sales business, CBD-2 District. HRM Auto Sales, Inc. Hamid Moinpour, applicant.
3959 Northside Drive: Conditional use to allow revisions to previously approved site plan, PDC District. Widner & Associates, applicant.
152 New St.: Conditional use to allow a counseling center, CBD-2 District. P.E.E.R Sieglinde Latier Gray, applicant.
3769 Ridge Ave.: Conditional use to allow senior housing, R-1A District. George Greer, Dover Development, applicant.
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.
956 SPRING St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of exterior modifications of an existing home, HR-3 District. Rusty Poss, applicant.
543 Second St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of façade renovation, CBD-1 District. MMI Capital LLD, applicant.
SIGNS:
3050 Old Bowman Road: Conditional use to allow a billboard, PDE District. Jed Renfroe, Bowman Road Self Storage LLC., applicant.
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.
3769 Ridge Ave.: Variance in parking requirements, R-1A District. George Greer, Dover Development, applicant.
This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Another major loft project to be built in Macon for Mercer University students."