Workshop 1, Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan Update 2025-10-20

Why I went to the Monday GLPC Work Session: after it was the first Workshop for the Greater Lowndes Comprehensive Plan, including the cities of Valdosta, Hahira, Remerton, Dasher, and Lake Park. Updates to the Comprehensive Plan are required by the state of Georgia every five years.

James Horton of the Southern Georgia Regional Planning Commission (SGRC) conducted the Workshop.

[Workshop 1, Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan Update, James Horton, SGRC, Monday, October 20, 2025]
Workshop 1, Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan Update, James Horton, SGRC, Monday, October 20, 2025

For the current Plan, see:
https://lowndescounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/1512/2021-Greater-Lowndes-Comprehensive-Plan-PDF?bidId=

James Horton gave a very comprehensive review of what’s in the Comprehensive Plan and what it is for. Then most of the session consisted of people filling out a SWOT analysis, mostly online. That’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. You can SWOT, too: follow the QR code.

Afterwards, County Manager Paige Dukes mentioned she had just been to a session with One Valdosta-Lowndes (OVL) and we all needed to make all these plans work together. I was slow to get the camera restarted, so I missed the first part of what she said, but you can get the gist from what’s on the video.

Each of the cities has its own planning beyond what’s in the Comprehensive Plan, Parks and Rec and the Tourism Authority each have their plans, and of course OVL was intended for projects that affect all of the above.

Reminds me of the old joke about when there were a dozen standards, so somebody started another standard to merge the standards. Then where were a dozen plus one standards.

James Horton says:

The next meeting is Workshop 2 on Monday November 17, 2025 at 325 West Savannah Avenue at 6:00 PM following the work session of the Greater Lowndes County Planning Commission.

And the third Workshop will also be after a GLPC Work Session, on January 20, 2026. Continue reading

Videos: 1 Lowndes County Case, 4 Valdosta Cases, 1 Hahira Case @ GLPC Work 2025-10-20

The one Lowndes County case has a backstory going back ten years of failed and at least one successful rezoning.

At least two of the Valdosta City cases also have extensive backstory.

The Hahira case is a billboard.

These cases were presented at the Work Session of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC). GLPC will vote for their recoomendations next Monday, 27 October 2025.

[Collage @ GLPC Work Session 20 October 2025]
Collage @ GLPC Work Session 20 October 2025

Here is the agenda.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~


Monday, October 20, 2025 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, October 27, 2025 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading

Videos: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC Work Session 2025-10-14

At this morning’s Work Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners spent the most time on the Telecommunications Tower on Rocky Ford Road (5:38) and on 6.a. Lowndes County Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance.

They vote this evening at 5:30 PM (same day due to Monday being a holiday). Anyone can speak in the two rezoning Public Hearings,

[Collage @ LCC 14 October 2025]
Collage @ LCC 14 October 2025

Commissioner Mike Smith was absent this morning. Commissioner Joyce Evans is still absent due to illness.

They ended with an Executive Session about a potential real estate purchase and attorney-client privilege about potential litigation.

County Manager Paige Dukes mentioned in her Reports that the James Road water main project came out $800,000 under budget. Those funds can be used for other projects in the vicinity. She recommended a change order to work on a water main on Old Clyattville Road. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker said to proceed.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman.

See also Continue reading

Packet: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC 2025-10-13

Update 2025-10-14: Videos: Rezonings, Dogs, Roads, and Subdivisions @ LCC Work Session 2025-10-14.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for both rezonings, but the communications tower rezoning on Rocky Ford Road near Watkins Road has acquired a petition and a lengthy letter of opposition as it goes to the Lowndes County Commission.

The commercial rezoning on Stewart Circle does not seem to have any opposition.

[Collage, Packet @ LCC 2025-10-13]
Collage, Packet @ LCC 2025-10-13

The county finally has an agreement to sign with GDOT and CSX about the Old Quitman Highway bridge, which will be paid for and organized by GDOT.

The county thinks it’s ready to sign the Lowndes County Responsible Dog Ownership Ordinance, “Approval of the attached ordinance will eliminate the need for the current citizen review board and move the hearing of these cases to Probate Court.”

There’s a Purchase of Wetland Credits for the Twin Lakes Road Paving Project.

And one of the usual: Acceptance of Infrastructure for The Landings Phase IV, which is 52 lots off of Val Del Road on Landings Circle and Brinlee Way.

Here is the agenda. The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding meeting of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading

Packet: LP-2025-01, Lake Park Church of Christ @ GLPC 2025-08-25

Update 2025-10-11: According to Lake Park City Clerk Lisa Johnson, at the September 2, 2025, Lake P ark City Council meeting, “The rezoning was denied.”

Here are the board packet materials for the August 25, 2025, meeting of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) for
agenda item 5., LP-2025-01 Lake Park Church of Christ/Steve Magee, 610, 614, 618 Sheavette Rd., 0221A 063B, ~8007 sq ft
Current Zoning: R-15 (Single Family Residential)
Proposed Zoning: R-10 (Single Family Residential)

This arrived late, and we took even longer to post it, but here it is.

[Collage of LP-2025-01, Lake Park Church of Christ @ GLPC 2025-08-25]
Collage of LP-2025-01, Lake Park Church of Christ @ GLPC 2025-08-25

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval; see the LAKE video. Continue reading

Videos: Two Lowndes County Cases, Commercial on Stewart Circle, Tower on Rocky Ford Road

The Stewart Circle commercial rezoning sailed through. The communications tower on Rocky Ford Road had three people speaking for it (mostly about need for cell coverage), and several against, for a variety of reasons, as well as a petition against delivered at the meeting. GLPC recommended approval of both.

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) recommends. The final decision will be by the Lowndes County Commission on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 5:30 PM.

In Other Business, it was revealed that there will be a presentation about the update to the Comprehensive Plan at the next GLPC WORK session. (Not the Regular Session; the Work Session the week before.)

[Collage @ GLPC 29 September 2025]
Collage @ GLPC 29 September 2025

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading

Videos: Opioid Litigation Settlement and Budget and Equity Reserve Policy @ LCC Regular 2025-09-23

The two regular business items (opioid litigation and budget policy update) sped to unanimous approval at the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session last week.

[Collage @ LCC 23 September 2025]
Collage @ LCC 23 September 2025

Three citizens spoke.

Janice Strickland worried that she was not represented because Commissioner Joyce Evans had been absent for months. See below for Chairman Bill Slaughter’s answer.

India Bell wanted to know if there was any financial assistance. Chairman Bill Slaughter said he would speak to her afterwards about various organizations, but the county itself probably did not have anything to help.

Kelly Saxon was concerned about housing after Hurricane Helene now that temporary housing is ending. There was no direct response.

Commissioner Demarcus Marshall reminded everyone that each citizen actually has two Commissioners, because of the superdistricts, one of which he represents. And anyone could also call the Chairman.

Here are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading

Packet: Two Lowndes County Cases, Commercial on Stewart Circle, Tower on Rocky Ford Road @ GLPC 2025-09-29

Update 2025-10-05: Videos: Two Lowndes County Cases, Commercial on Stewart Circle, Tower on Rocky Ford Road @ GLPC 2025-09-29.

It might be a brief meeting Monday, at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

There are only two cases, both for Lowndes County: one for a commercial operation on Stewart Circle, and the other for a communications tower on Rocky Ford Road.

You may need a time machine to see the Lowndes County Commission decide, since the meeting date listed for that is in 2024.

[Collage, GLPC Packet, 2025-09-29]
Collage, GLPC Packet, 2025-09-29

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

Images of each page are below.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~

Monday, September 29, 2025 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading

Videos: Opioid Litigation Settlement and Budget and Equity Reserve Policy @ LCC Work 2025-09-22

Update 2025-09-29 Videos: Opioid Litigation Settlement and Budget and Equity Reserve Policy @ LCC Regular 2025-09-23.

There were only two main agenda items, but the Lowndes County Commissioners had questions on each of them.

That was in this morning’s Work Session. They vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

[Collage @ LCC 22 September 2025]
Collage @ LCC 22 September 2025

Some previous opioid litigation settlement funds have been received, about $600,000. Those are escrowed in an intergovernmental grant fund since the funds are earmarked. They have to be used for treatment, prevention, and abatement of the opioid crisis.

The updates to the county’s Budget and Equity Reserve Policy are partly because of FEMA relief for Hurricane Helene and previous hurricanes, which arrived after the corresponding Fiscal Years ended, and after a 60-day grace period in the previous policy. So they’re extending that grace period for grant funds only.

Last year about $3.9 million came in before the end of November, but after the grace period for FY 2025.

The policy stays as changed, unless the Commission later votes to change it again.

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few comments by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading

Packet: Opioid Litigation Settlement and Budget and Equity Reserve Policy @ LCC 2025-09-22

Update 2025-09-22: Videos: Opioid Litigation Settlement and Budget and Equity Reserve Policy @ LCC Work 2025-09-22.

This is the lightest agenda in a while for the Lowndes County Commission.

There are long documents attached, but there are only two agenda business items: for another opioid lititgation settlement, and for an update to the county’s Budget and Equity Reserve Policy. That Policy has a whole new section on Revenues and Expenditures/Expenses.

[Opioid Litigation Settlement, Budget and Equity Reserve Policy, Lowndes County Commission, Board Packet 2025-09-22]
Opioid Litigation Settlement, Budget and Equity Reserve Policy, Lowndes County Commission, Board Packet 2025-09-22

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

There are also images of each page below.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading