Planned north Macon subdivision stirs controversy after county approves rezoning

A subdivision that’s slated to go in northwest Macon is causing a stir among nearby residents after the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission greenlit the proposal during its Monday meeting.

According to county documents, the subdivision would consist of 82 detached single family homes off Lamar Road. The houses would cost between $350,000 and $500,000, said Tyler Findley, land acquisition and development director with Hughston Home Builders.

To make way for the development, the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4-1 on Monday to rezone about 35 acres from agricultural to R-1 residential use. Commissioner Robert Redmond was the only one who voted against.

Commissioners voting in favor of the development said it would bolster the county’s housing supply and encourage people who work in Macon to live there instead of moving out to Houston or Monroe counties.

“I don’t always like density, but in order for us to progress and in order for us to be ready for what is to come, this is where we found ourselves,” said Commissioner Wykesia Stafford.

However, some residents in the area say adding a subdivision would worsen traffic and overwhelm the public school system.

Residents say Lamar Road is dangerous

Elizabeth Ford, who lives down the road from the proposed subdivision, said she’s concerned that Lamar Road doesn’t have the infrastructure to support that many homes.

“I’m concerned with safety,” Ford said during a public comment period at the meeting. “That road turns sharply, there are no street lights on Lamar anywhere … there’s no sidewalks on Lamar.”

Images from Google Maps of Lamar Road show a twisting road with few streetlights surrounded by dense forest. Ford said she frequently sees people walking on the side of the road due to the lack of sidewalks, creating unsafe conditions for drivers and pedestrians.

Mary Jackson, who lives across the street from the area, expressed similar concerns. She said people frequently speed down Lamar Road. Her mailbox has been struck, and a speeding car once came off the road and ended up in her front yard, narrowly missing her home.

“People speed down that road all the time, they don’t drive slow at all,” Jackson said at the meeting.

According to a traffic analysis conducted by the county, Lamar Road sees about 1,900 northbound trips and 1,577 southbound trips each day. The median speed for the road is 47 miles an hour. The posted limit is 35 miles per hour.

Findley said during the meeting that the subdivision developer has been in contact with the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Commission about the traffic issue. The developer altered plans for the subdivision by removing three lots, which Findley estimates will reduce traffic by 36 to 45 trips each day.

Findley also argued that bringing more residents to the area will encourage the county to look into infrastructure improvements for Lamar Road.

“We’re looking at it as, while we can’t necessarily help with traffic, putting this neighborhood in will allow for critical mass to prioritize this area,” Findley said.

Opponents worry schools would be overcrowded

Residents speaking in opposition to the project on Tuesday argued that adding so many homes would overcrowd area schools.

According to county documents, the subdivision would be zoned for Carter Elementary School, Howard Middle School and Howard High School. The rezoning report created by the county estimates the subdivision would add another 42 students.

However, some residents say the schools don’t have the space. Ford said all three schools are either at or over capacity, and that other developments, such as apartments, are also going to increase the student population.

“There’s a lot happening that’s going to change those numbers even more,” Ford said.

Findley said building more homes would help schools because it would increase the tax base.

“It’s our position that the best long term solution … isn’t to stop housing, but it’s to encourage balanced and tax-generating growth that will support school funding,” Findley said.