North Macon neighbors living near Tharpe and Northside drives successfully argued against a proposed new Dollar General Store during Monday’s meeting of the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission.

Attorney Duke Groover presented Teramore Development’s case to rezone two acres of 19-acre tract of land from agricultural to C-1 neighborhood commercial district to allow construction of a 10,640-square-foot discount store at 4215 Northside Drive.

That undeveloped corner of the parcel owned by Thomas H. Hill III abuts homes on Tharpe Drive and should be reserved for residential purposes due to the proximity to Springdale Elementary School, P&Z staff noted. 

Groover said the Summit Group has been trying to sell that property for about eight years, with no prospective buyers until floating the possibility of commercial rezoning. 

The bird’s eye view of the 19 acres looks like it’s suitable for housing construction, but is not because of a large gully with a 40% grade, Groover said.

“The current zoning poses a significant detriment to the Hill family because it is undevelopable,” Groover said. “The question becomes, what is the benefit to the public for the current zoning? You have a 2-acre corner lot perpetually undeveloped. There is no benefit.” 

Summit Group commercial realtor Jim Rollins submitted a petition in support of the store from apartment residents across the five lanes of Northside Drive.

Nearby White House Plantation Road resident Doug Carter pointed to the dangers of apartment residents trying to cross the busy road when there are other nearby stores on their side of the street and many other vacant storefronts closer to Forest Hill Road. 

“Any argument for it, seems to be against it,” Carter noted. “You don’t have to go too far before finding abandoned buildings.”

Other nearby homeowners raised concerns about increased traffic, large delivery trucks tearing up the street, the potential for crime such as armed robberies and a loss of property values.  

P&Z Commissioner Tim Jones, who also lives on White House Plantation, said he has already directed his family to stop cutting between Northside and Wesleyan drives on Tharpe due to traffic concerns. 

“It is dangerous and if you put more traffic on Tharpe to Wesleyan would be counter-productive,” Jones said. “I just think that it’s not the right location for a Dollar General or a convenience store for that matter.”

P&Z Chair Jeane Easom’s analysis concluded the proposal did not meet the criteria for rezoning. 

The commission voted 3-1 against the rezoning with only Kesia Stafford dissenting.

New Huey Magoo’s, IHOP and massage spa

Karma Developers, of Norcross, plans to build a new 2,550-square-foot Huey Magoo’s restaurant with a drive-thru on less than a half-acre at 1540,1512 Bass Road.

The chicken tender eatery with dozens of locations primarily in the Southeast is expected to employ 15 people who will work shifts between  6 a.m. and 11 p.m. seven days a week. 

The 50-seat restaurant with a patio is part of a planned development under construction near Providence Boulevard that will include an 11,000-square-foot multi-floor, 130-room hotel that will be part of a future application. 

P&Z also approved a modified application for a new 3,550-square-foot IHOP restaurant on one acre in the QuikTrip development at 5201 Mercer University Drive near Interstate 475.

P&Z originally approved plans for the pancake house in 2022, but the approval expired last fall. 

Since then, applicant George Harper altered the parking lot and flow of traffic, removed patio seating and will have a total of 133 seats inside the restaurant. 

Commissioners also approved the conditional use of a Thai Massage Spa in an existing single-family home at 5739 Thomaston Road. 

The spa plans to have two employees, including one massage therapist licensed by the state of Georgia.

The business will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and expects to serve three to four clients each day, mainly scheduled by appointment.  

Other actions taken

• Ocmulgee East and Marion Road — After the applicant failed to show for Monday’s hearing, P&Z deferred until Oct. 14 a proposed expansion of Arcilla Mining and Land’s kaolin mine about 100 acres into Bibb County, which is home to several protected species, according to the staff report. Access to the mine would be through the existing entrance in Twiggs County. 
• 2470 Pio Nono Ave. — P&Z denied Lanita Hunt’s request to open an entertainment facility with a bar and live acts in 7,000 square feet in the old KMART shopping center near the corner of Eisenhower Parkway. Hunt did not attend the meeting and no one signed up to speak for or against the proposal. P&Z Commissioner Jones cited the proximity to houses behind the building as a reason for denial. The business planned to be open to those 25 years and older Thursday through Sunday from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m.   
• 277 Rogers Ave. — P&Z approved a fence under construction as long as it is built the required distance away from the right-of-way. 
• 487 Cherry St. — Synthetic roofing shingles that look like ceramic slate are approved for the Dozier Law Firm building. 
• 869 Walnut St. — Non-illuminated sign approved for Imperial Technologies office.

— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.

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