MACON, Ga. — The Macon-Bibb Planning & Zoning Commission approved 26 one and two-story homes to be built on the backend of the Oakview neighborhood.
Longtime South Bibb resident Rick Steven is the face behind the petition against the initial 29-lot plan at 670 Britton way, which would connect to his street on Wood Oak Drive.
We spoke with him back in June before he presented his petition to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
However, this week he and his neighbors did not receive the outcome they were hoping for.
"This development needs a green space. The developer did not address that issue," Stevens said. "They were so concerned about green space. Now they're taking our green space because we use this small 20-foot road for exercising, for walking our dogs for walking in the morning, before dawn and after dusk and it will no longer be safe to do that."
Melynn Canova and Mark Adams were a part of Stevens' petition.
They said having new homes a few feet from their backyard could make them more vulnerable to flooding.
They were happy with the commission's decision to remove the first three houses planned now dropping the development to 26 homes.
However, the neighbors say heavier traffic could jeopardize pedestrian safety on roads with no sidewalks.
"We still have really a concern with this road for the same reasons," Adams said. "How are they going to handle the water? You've seen the road, it's really a nice country road. It's not designed for the type of traffic with 29 new homes that will connect to the back of the current structure. We are not prepared for that."
Stevens says he doesn't know if he should hope the decision is changed, but plans to continue advocating for the safety of the neighborhood until other facilities also sign off for building.
"Sewage has to sign off on the plans before they can officially so there's still a little bit of fighting that can be done maybe with the engineering department and having discussions with them," Stevens said.
13WMAZ reached out to the developer for comment on the approved plan but has not yet received a response.