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Bibb zoning board rejects plans for storage center at former Pio Nono Kroger

The plans drew ire from people living in the area, with some calling it a "missed opportunity"

MACON, Ga. — A 569-unit storage facility will not be setting up shop in the former Pio Nono Kroger location after the Bibb zoning board rejected it in a 3-1 vote Monday.

That decision is sure to please a majority of people who've been following the story since 13WMAZ first broke it in December.

Almost immediately, viewers began sounding off in the comment section of that story calling it a missed opportunity and expressing desire in it becoming another grocery store.

The zoning board then deferred it for two weeks after it -- and an angry crowd of people -- came before them on Jan. 13.

Documents filed with the board say developers plan on using the existing structure and they wouldn’t be building anything new on the over 84,000-square-foot space.

The development group says they don’t anticipate traffic in the area becoming an issue, nor do they think the spot will negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods.

The United State Department of Agriculture says that the building sits in between a food desert, which is a place where people have a difficult time accessing healthy and affordable food.

Alex Morrision, the head of the county's Urban Development Authority, says his organization was considering that location as a potential site for the relocation of the state farmer's market that is currently on Eisenhower Parkway. 

He says they were looking to propose this to the state before they heard about the potential sale.

The Kroger previously at that location closed due to declining sales and profit on April 20, 2018, after being open for 21 years.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

Macon neighbors say storage unit center at former Kroger is 'missed opportunity'

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