Macon-Bibb zoning commission to consider rail spur, pipeline ethanol transfer facility

On Monday the Macon zoning commission is expected to consider once again a rezoning request to allow a rail spur and a rail to a pipeline ethanol transfer facility in south Bibb County.

The matter first was before the commission March 23, but it was deferred several times amid protests by some area residents. On July 13, the company withdrew its proposal with plans to bring it back later.

Now, the proposal is to rezone about 50 acres of a wooded area at 2048 Barnes Ferry Road from an agricultural district to a light industrial. If rezoned, it will be combined with an adjacent 30-acre site currently zoned light industrial to provide a total of 80 acres to build a rail spur line into the property from the Norfolk Southern mainline and to develop a rail to a pipeline loading station, according to the commission’s staff report.

At the station, ethanol would be pumped from rail tank cars into a proposed underground pipeline that would run in the right of way of Barnes Ferry Road to Hawkinsville Road and end at the storage tank facility owned by Epic Midstream LLC, the applicant for the rezoning. The company also is seeking approval for a conditional-use permit for the property.

The applicant would maintain a 100-foot tree buffer across the front property line on Barnes Ferry Road.

Residents in the area have protested the proposed facility because of past problems with leaks from a jet fuel pipeline owned by a previous company that contaminated some wells in the area.

At an earlier meeting, George Greer, an attorney representing Epic Midstream, said that situation -- which was created in the 1980s -- was being monitored by federal officials.

According to the staff report, ethanol is classified as a Class 1B Flammable liquid, and the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department “will require fire hydrants on site with a pre-loaded foam extinguishing system and emulsifier for runoff.”

The staff report also says about 75 percent of the property is designated for future industrial use and that it is surrounded mainly by large-lot industrial and agricultural districts “along with a small concentration” of single-family residential properties.

“The vacant site has more potential to be developed for industrial uses due to its location adjacent to a major rail line in an area developing as industrial,” the report said. “The rail spur and transfer facility proposal has very little actual development associated with it that will generate impacts to the capacity of Barnes Ferry Road or the existing utilities and water lines.”

Also on Monday’s agenda is a conditional-use application to allow site plan revisions for a previously approved shopping center on about 49 acres at 1771 Bass Road. The matter was on the July 13 agenda, but it was deferred twice by the applicant, The Bishop Co., so concerns about the design could be addressed.

The current proposal seeks approval of a 302,715-square-foot shopping center which includes a 55,000-square-foot movie theater and seven outparcels along New Forsyth Road that would add another 60,000 square feet of space.

The property is bounded by New Forsyth Road, Bass Road, Wesleyan Drive and Riverside Drive. The proposal includes closing a portion of Wesleyan Drive. The site is just north of The Shoppes at River Crossing.

The location is less than a mile from another proposed large shopping center at 1625 Bass Road and Starcadia Circle. Lennar Commercial Investments and Fickling & Co. received zoning commission approval in August for plans to develop a 250,000-square-foot shopping center on about 38 acres. The preliminary plans for this project also include a proposed movie theater.

The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Macon-Bibb Government Center, commission chambers, 700 Poplar St.

Other items on the agenda are:

ITEMS DEFERRED FROM AUGUST 24, 2015 HEARING:

1937 College Drive: Conditional use to allow a new construction of a new development (Physical Plant Building), R-3 District. Don Carter, Carter & Sloope, applicant.

AMENDMENTS:

An amendment to Chapter 4 of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution for the City of Macon and Bibb County, Georgia to revise the setback requirements for fences and walls in the historic zoning districts.

ITEMS FROM JUNE 22, 2015 HEARING:

3288 Vineville Ave.: Conditional use to allow a multi-message billboard with variances, C-2 District. Lamar Advertising, George Greer, applicant.

REZONINGS:

3004 Debra Ann Drive: Proposal to rezone from R-3, Multi-Family Residential District to PDE, Planned Development Extraordinary District. The purpose of this rezoning is to allow a convenience store with gas pumps. Kunj Construction, applicant.

CONDITIONAL USES:

3280 (3260) Pio Nono Ave.: Conditional use to allow a nightclub/bar/restaurant within an existing shopping center, C-4 District. Julius Bryant Mitchell, applicant.

3575 Fulton Mill Road: Conditional use to allow two (2) temporary housings building for patients, A-Agriculture District. Widner & Associates, applicant.

111 LaGrange Place: Conditional use to allow a second single-family dwelling on property, A-Agriculture District. Sandi Simpson, applicant.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS:

546 Poplar St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of modifications to an existing structure, CBD-1 District. Taste & See Coffee Shop, Bryan Nichols, applicant.

2038 Vineville Ave.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow design approval of a fence, HR-1 District. Diane “De” Fluker, applicant.

468 Second St.: Certificate of Appropriateness to allow exterior modifications, CBD-1 District. Cesare Mammarella, applicant.

VARIANCES:

3575 Fulton Mill Road: Variance to allow platting of property not fronting public right-of-way, A-Agriculture District. Widner & Associates, applicant.

111 LaGrange Place: Variance in required lot width to place a second dwelling on property, A-Agriculture District. Sandi Simpson, applicant.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223, or find her on Twitter @MidGaBiz.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Macon-Bibb zoning commission to consider rail spur, pipeline ethanol transfer facility ."