Pilot International Plans New Headquarters near Macon, Ga.

Jul. 9--Pilot International, the headquarters for the world's pilot clubs, plans to move from College Street in Macon and build a 12,000-square-foot office building in north Bibb County.

The Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission is expected to consider during Monday's meeting a conditional-use permit for the headquarters building at 106 Preston Court at Riverside Drive, Bass Road and New Forsyth Road.

Pilot International was founded and chartered in 1921 in Macon as an international service organization. Today, Pilot International has about 500 clubs in six countries and more than 25,000 adult and youth members, executive director Peggy Davidson said.

Pilot International uses three floors at its facility at 244 College St., where it has been since the mid-1960s, Davidson said.

"We've outgrown our space and need to get a little more modern, more efficient office space," she said.

The new building and land is expected to cost about $1.5 million, she said.

In addition to landscaping, the facility is expected to include a formal garden with a fountain, decorative arbor and reflecting pool, according to the commission staff report.

In another matter, the commission is expected to consider a conditional-use permit to allow a conceptual site plan for a mixed-use commercial development at 5300 Bowman Road. The commission deferred a decision on the permit at its June 26 hearing.

Commissioners said the developer needed to work on plans for the buffer between the site and an adjacent neighborhood before it would consider the site plan.

Preliminary plans for the site include several motels, office buildings, commercial ventures and restaurants. The property is adjacent to the Wexford residential subdivision and across Bowman Road from the Brookefield subdivision.

The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. at Macon City Hall, 700 Poplar St.

Other items on the agenda are:

-- REZONINGS:

5763 Houston Road (rear of): Proposal to rezone from R-1AAA, Single-Family Residential District to PDC, Planned Development Commercial District. The purpose of this rezoning is to provide additional property for a previously rezoned tract. Azalea Acquisitions LLC, applicant.

2560 Beech Ave.: Proposal to rezone from R-2, Two-Family Residential District to PDE, Planned Development Extraordinary District. The purpose of this rezoning is to allow a multi-use facility including administrative offices, meeting facility and multi-family dwellings (41 units). Macon Urban Ministries Inc., Wayne Crowley, applicant.

145 Park St.: Proposal to rezone from R-1A, Single-Family Residential District to R-3, Multi-Family Residential District. The purpose of this rezoning is to allow a professional office. Rachel Krause, Wayne Crowley, applicant.

Right of way of the 5300 block of New Forsyth Road: Proposal to rezone from A-Agricultural District to PDE, Planned Development Extraordinary District. The purpose of this rezoning is to provide additional property for a previously rezoned tract. Bass at Riverside LLC, The Summit Group, applicant.

-- MANUFACTURED HOMES:

8768 Columbus Road: Conditional use to allow a manufactured home, A-Agricultural District. Johnny and Lois Booker, applicant.

-- CONDITIONAL USES:

5797 Houston Road: Conditional use to allow a mixed-use commercial center, PDC District/R-1AAA District (PDC Pending). Azalea Acquisitions LLC, applicant.

150 Plantation Inn Drive: Conditional use to allow expansion of an existing motel, PDE District. Anil Anand, Jameson Inn, applicant.

1217 Johnson Road: Conditional use to allow a communications tower with variance in distance requirements between towers, A-Agricultural District. Brent Miller, Wireless Resources, Nextel Partners, applicant.

1765 Ben Hill Drive: Conditional use to allow a timber harvest (select cut) R-1AAA District. Scott Thompson, applicant.

Barrington Hall Drive (The Bunkers at Barrington Hall): Conditional use to allow a site plan revision of a previously approved single-family detached cluster subdivision, PDR District. Cunningham & Co., Terri Salter, applicant.

1893 Mercer Road: Conditional use to allow a parking lot, C-2 District. Joshua Wheat, TAW, applicant.

5771 New Forsyth Road: Conditional use to allow revisions to a previously approved site plan to allow a mixed development, final site plan approval of an office/retail center, and platting of out-parcel property prior to final site plan approval, PDE District. Brett Smith, Ragan-Smith Associates, applicant.

-- VARIANCES:

1336 Gray Highway: Variance in parking requirements to allow a restaurant, C-2 District. Rick Collier, Ruby Tuesday, applicant.

-- SIGNS:

4459-4467 Forsyth Road: Variance in number of freestanding signs and variance in sign area requirements to allow relocation of an existing sign. Terry Phelps, applicant.

-- INTERPRETATIONS:

2856 Vineville Ave.: Interpretation of Section 23.01 of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution to allow a chiropractor's office as a home occupation, HR-1 District. Dr. Milton Miller, applicant.

920 Wesleyan Drive: Interpretation of Section 23.01 of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution to allow a home occupation in an accessory building (confectionery), R-1AAA District. Samuel and Donna Pierce, applicant.

-- VIOLATIONS:

9370 Feagin Road: In violation of Section 27.05 and Section 23.09 [2] (vi) of the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution by installing a single-wide manufactured home without a zoning compliance. James Purser.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223 or e-mail [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]].