Macon-Bibb zoning board delays vote over Society Garden

MACON, Ga. – The Macon Community Garden may remain open in its current state for at least another month after the Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning Board pushed a vote on the bar at its next meeting.

tea the board says the Ingleside Avenue bar does not follow occupancy guidelines established in 2017 when the council approved 50 outdoor seats and monthly concerts. Now, the bar boasts a room for 500 and live music three nights a week.

Co-owner Brad Evans says he didn’t know they needed to apply for the expansion.

“When we started the place, we just thought it would be a small, quaint, very small place. Instead, you know, everyone flocked here and we grew really fast,” he explained after the meeting.

Noise and parking were the two main concerns in public comment and by council members.

“You can hear the whole Prince show in my house,” said Christine Guard, playing a recording on her phone.

Patricia Denmark told the court that her 93-year-old mother lives just behind the bar and likes to listen to music. Their main concern is all the cars parking on the street on a busy night.

“I just want to be able to if something happens to my mom, that someone can get to her,” Denmark said.

Zoning Commissioner Josh Rogers said that if the Community Garden application came as a new business, there is “no way” he would vote to approve it.

“At this time, we have no evidence that you have secured parking,” he said.

Evans says they have agreements with other businesses nearby, but had no written agreement with him to show the board.

Just before voting to push a decision to February. 19, several zoning commissioners told Evans it’s good to see so much growth. They just want to do well.

Evans says he plans to work through all the requirements.

“The fire chief has already come out and told me to give him a call in the morning so he can go through. That’s a big part of it. We need to get our lease of the parking agreement, get to these people, which we already have. So, I don’t think it will be as much work as they said,” he said.

The zoning board says the Garden Society can stay open as normal for the next month since they already have an application for the new looser restrictions.

When presenting their next application, the council wants to see more specifics on parking, including any written agreement. They will also ask the bar to work with the lighting and sound engineers to make sure nothing spills over into the neighborhood.

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