Plans for store on Arkwright Road in Macon up for review again

The zoning commission is scheduled to review plans for a convenience store on Arkwright Road at Sheraton Drive and Interstate 75 in Macon again Monday.

A conditional-use application has been filed with the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission to allow a convenience store with alcohol-to-go sales at 3910 Arkwright Road. The 1.02 acre site is at the northwest corner of Arkwright Road and Sheraton Drive, adjacent to the Highridge Center office building.

The item was deferred at the Feb. 22 hearing to allow time for the applicant, Jim Mitchelle, to provide more information about the building and retaining walls. It is expected to be heard at Monday’s meeting.

Plans call for a 3,800-square-foot store, canopy and five fuel pumps. The store, which would employ four people, is expected to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to the commission’s staff report.

According to new information provided by the applicant, the overall height of the retaining wall and fence along its tallest point along Sheraton Drive is 23 feet. And the wall would be 1 foot from the right-of-way of Sheraton Drive.

The project will require a number of variances for height of the building, the setback of the wall from Sheraton Drive and for the canopy.

“Although the proposed use is consistent with the 2040 plan and surrounding land uses, the subject property has topographic challenges as well as configuration challenges,” the staff report said. “The staff has concerns regarding the retaining walls (and) no details or topographic elevations have been provided.”

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:

CONDITIONAL USES

154 McGhee St.: Conditional use to allow a group personal care home at an existing home healthcare agency, C-2 District. Dowanna Hardy, applicant.

4354 Mercer University Drive: Conditional use to allow a church in an existing building, C-1 District. Kevin Williams, applicant.

985 Plant St.: Conditional use to allow phase II of a previously approved multifamily development with modification to the conceptual site plan, PDR District. George Greer, Tindall Partners II, LP, applicant.

111 Trojan Trail: Conditional use to allow a telecommunication tower, R-1AAA District. Kiersten Lurer, TowerCom V, LLC, applicant.

4640 Forsyth Road: Conditional use to allow alcohol consumed on premises at an existing restaurant, C-1 District. George Greer, applicant.

5926 Columbus Road: Conditional use to allow a contractor office with outside storage, sales and display, PDE District. Jeff Surles, applicant.

452 First St.: Conditional use to allow nonprofit art center, music venue and business incubator, CBD-1 District. Melissa Marker, applicant.

VARIANCES

111 Trojan Trail: Variance in telecommunication tower height requirements, R-1AAA District. Kiersten Lurer, TowerCom V, LLC, applicant.

VIOLATIONS

2055 Knightsbridge Road: In violation of Section 23.01 of the Comprehensive Land Development for the city of Macon and Bibb County for operating an illegal home occupation (auto repair and storage). Janet Hunt.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Plans for store on Arkwright Road in Macon up for review again."