Macon residents concerned about Zebulon Road proposed developments

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A new mixed-use property is one step closer to going up on Zebulon Road. 

Macon-Bibb’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve the initial plans for the project. 

In a race against the clock, Macon residents who live on Zebulon Road say they’ll protest until the last second. 

“We have just built a very nice addition to our home and I don’t want my property values to go down,” Karen Wood, a concerned resident, said. 

“The neighbors across the street that backs up this 50 foot monstrosity will have to either stay there and look at it or sell their homes for less money,” Billy Hester, another resident, said. 

Macon-Bibb Planning and Zoning voted to approve the residential and commercial project. It’s a 241 unit space neighbors say shouldn’t be in their backyard.

“We are 90% residential with 10% commercial. That commercial feel is a village feel,” Chris Clark, a civil engineer, said about the proposed plans. 

A judge denied an Alabama-based developer that wanted to build in the area last year — the difference is the local contractors are suggesting more living spaces as oppose to the big businesses the other developers had in mind.

“They go the extra mile to make nice developments that people can walk to,” Clark said. 

“It seems funny to us that they would fight for their neighbors and fight for their clients down the street, then all of a sudden want to be in competition with them,” Hester said. 

The commission’s decision means seven homes where the site plans to be located will be torn down and the owners would be bought out.

“I just think that they are developing that area for seven homeowners and they’re not considering the hundreds that are going to be affected by it,” Wood said. 

The neighbors say they’re not giving up and hope to stop the plans. 

Planning and Zoning approved the conceptual design plans and developers will have to bring them a final concept before any shovels hit the dirt.

Residents say they’ll look into getting an attorney to try to stop the project.