The organization that considers every rezoning request for Lowndes County or any of the cities of Valdosta, Dasher, Hahira, or Lake Park, the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission, meets tonight, 5:30 PM, 29 August 2011. This appointed body decides nothing, but it does make recommendations to the elected governing body of the appropriate county or city, which does take those recommendations into account before deciding. If you want to rezone, or if there’s rezoning near you, you would do well to go to the Planning Commission meeting before it gets to your local elected body.

The Planning Commission’s remit is not just rezoning cases. According to the City of Valdosta’s writeup:

The mission of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) is to look beyond short-term solutions in planning for the future of the Greater Lowndes community; to improve the public health, safety, convenience and welfare; and to provide for the social, economic and physical development of communities on a sound and orderly basis, within a governmental framework and economic environment which fosters constructive growth and efficient administration.

The Planning Commission meets at the old Lowndes County Commission offices:

Lowndes County Board of Commissioners Building
325 W. Savannah Ave.
Valdosta, GA 31601

I would link to their agenda, but the they’re only up to June in posting agendas and May in posting minutes.

However, you can go see for yourself:

All meetings are open to the public; however, opportunities for speaking are only provided at the regularly scheduled Public Hearing meetings.

I think that means not at work sessions. They will sometimes ask audience members questions, as well.

-jsq

Short Link: