MACON, Ga. — A new church and a small housing development are two of the highlights when Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for the first time this month.
While zoning staff found few problems with a 12-house 'cluster development' at 515 Wesleyan Drive, a proposed church at 6045 Cara Drive in south Bibb County might have a tougher time getting approved. In their report, zoning staff said the 11,600-square-foot 'House of Refuge' might cause traffic and environmental problems.
"The increased number of vehicular traffic will increase the possibility of water runoff," the staff report reads. "There is a greater risk of an adverse impact on the environment if developed commercially."
In 2009, the board changed how the property was zoned: "The parcel is not suitable for houses; no sanitary sewer and it does not perk."
In zoning and construction, 'perk' is a measure of how quickly water can dissipate into soil. The property is just around the corner from Nowell Estates, a neighborhood known for its flooding problems.
Staff did find several good things about the application, like plenty of handicapped parking spots and a sidewalk; but they recommended the board deny the application for the traffic and water runoff problems.
If the church is approved, it would have five full-time and part-time employees. They would hold services Sunday mornings and evenings, as well as Wednesday evenings.
The cluster development on Wesleyan Drive would have houses designed similarly to the ones already in the neighborhood, with lot sizes of at least one-third of an acre. While there would be 12 houses, there is an extra lot that will include benches and a pavilion for gatherings.
There would be one road jutting off from Wesleyan Drive to give property owners access to their properties. If the board approves the project, developers would have to submit additional applications for the pavilion and each individual house.
Zoning staff suggested developers include a buffer between Wesleyan Drive and the extra lot, and a path from the pavilion to a nearby nature preserve.
Planning and zoning commissioners are set to meet at 1:30 p.m. in their conference room at the Macon Mall. It's on the lower level in Suite MB104.