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Macon board will review Society Garden's zoning rules

The planning and zoning commission says shows at the Ingleside bar are bigger, later and louder than they should be.

MACON, Ga. — A Bibb County board says shows at Ingleside’s Society Garden are bigger, later and louder than they should be.

They say the bar is violating zoning restrictions set in 2017.

And at least one neighbor is complaining about noise there.

The Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hear a request from the business on Monday.

They say Society Garden wants permission to keep on doing what they're already doing.

Board records say that 2017, the zoning board gave the business permission for 50 outdoor seats, a monthly concert series and a 10 p.m. closing time.

Now, commission staff says, the bar hosts up to 500 people for music three nights a week, and they close at midnight.

Zoning records also say the business has built a larger stage and stadium seating without approval.

They’ve also cut vegetation that buffered the bar from its neighbors, the staff said.

“The commission should impose conditions to ensure compatibility with the adjacent neighborhood…” the staff wrote. “The changes being applied for have already been made without approvals.”

On Friday, co-owner Brad Evans told 13WMAZ that they didn’t intend to violate the zoning restrictions. He said the Society Garden has grown fast since opening and is popular with most of their neighbors.

Evans said he’s only gotten one noise complaint since opening, and that most of their shows end by 10 p.m.

13WMAZ asked the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office for a record of complaints about the Society Garden during 2023, and so far they’ve not responded.

Monday’s meeting happens at 1:30 p.m. at Macon's Terminal Station.

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