The large rezoning off Coleman Road and North Valdosta Road was controversial at the Lowndes County Commission (LCC) this morning, as it was previously at the Planning Commission.

The County Planner presented some maps and information that were not seen in the Planning Commission meeting, and the County Commissioners had many questions.

The LCC votes to decide tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 5:30 PM, after a final Public Hearing in which citizens can speak.

The other rezoning and the beer and wine license were not controversial, but they will also have their Public Hearings.

Collage @ LCC 7 July 2025

Here are LAKE videos of each agenda item, with a few comments by John S. Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the the the agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, and the LAKE videos of the preceding Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting.

• 5.a. REZ-2025-10 Cain Property, 6261 US HWY 41 N, ~21ac, R-21 to PD-R
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/Arha_MzmAMA

  Two rezonings and a beer and wine license @ LCC Work 2025-07-07

  Videos by John S. Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
  http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2025/07/videos-two-rezonings-and-a-beer-and-wine-license-lcc-work-2025-07-07.html

  Regarding the proposed RV Park north of Hahira, Commissioner Michael Smith wanted to know if a 20-foot vegetative buffer was standard. Answer from County Planner JD Dillard: yes. There were no other questions from Lowndes County Commissioners in their Work Session this morning. The County Planner noted that nobody spoke against this rezoning in the Planning Commission, and the Planning Commissioners voted unanimously to recommend approval. There’s a final Public Hearing for this rezoning, too, tomorrow evening before the final decision.

  
  Cain Wetlands

  
  Cain Layout Plan

  
  Cain Commissioners

  
  Cain US 41

  
  Cain NW Corner

  
  10 Cain Wetlands Overlaid on Layout Plan

• 4.b. REZ-2025-11 Langdale Capital Assets, Coleman Road, ~719 ac
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/gnnT7NcHL7A

  
  4.b. REZ-2025-11 Langdale Capital Assets, Coleman Road, ~719 ac, C-C, R-1, & CON, to M-1 & CON, County Utilities

  
  

  
  REZ-2025-11 Langdale Capital Assets and Lowndes County Commissioners

  
  REZ-2025-11 Current Zoning

  
  REZ-2025-11 Future

  
  REZ-2025-11 WRPDO

  
  REZ-2025-11 Rezoning Map

  
  REZ-2025-11 Wetlands by Foxborough

  
  North Possible Con Boundary Change

  
  West Possible Con Boundary Change

  
  East Possible Con Boundary Change

  
  200 Foot Undisturbed Buffer Tract 2

  
  200 Foot Undisturbed Buffer Tract 1

  
  200 Foot Buffer Both Tracts

  
  1,123,280 Sf Building for Scale

  
  Commissioners and Building for Scale

  About the controversial warehouse rezoning next to the Foxborough subdivision and west of the Withlacoochee River, Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker wanted to know about the “developments of regional impact or large scale developments that are likely to have effects beyond the local government jurisdiction.”

  
  Mark Wisenbaker

  County Planner JD Dillard said he had contacted the South Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) who said the subject property was above 400 acres, so that would apply, but most of the specific questions could not be answered yet, since they had to do with things like traffic counts, and water and sewer infrastructure buildout.

  
  JD Dillard

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall asked if there was a letter of intent for what the property would be used for.

  
  Demarcus Marshall

  Answer: no. Although in the Planning Commission, the applicant said they were targetting a data center, there was no actual specific plan. Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker echoed, “no real plan.”

  Commissioner Michael Smith noted the M-1 status would prohibit creating, storing, or transporting hazardous materials near the river. And if the use did turn out to be a datacenter or something what would produce more traffice, the developer would have to pay for things like widening Coleman Road.

  
  Michael Smith

  The County Planner said, “Correct.”

  Chairman Bill Slaughter said he went to the Planning Commission meeting. His main point was that a challenge both the Planning Commission and the County Commission has is that their responsibilities were not specifically what the use would be, but land use, as in what was allowable. He said his understanding was that the applicant was trying to make the property enticing so as to attract a prospect. And if whatever it was did not fit M-1, it would probably be back for rezoning again.

  
  Bill Slaughter

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wondered, with the property being so close to I-75, whether they should be considering so many conditions.

  The Chairman said he had a concern that conditions require enforcement, which would be more work for Code Enforcement.

  He asked the County Planner what the normal buffer was.

  Answer: the minimum buffer requirement for M-1 is 40 feet, so 200 feet is five times that.

  Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker was still concerned as to the actual intention, as in light manufacturing or something else, especially considering Coleman Road was not adequate for heavy truck traffic.

  The Chairman wanted to know if they could get the land use requirements for M-1 by the Regular Session tomorrow evening.

  Answer: they’re already in the packet. And they look like this:

  
  M-1 Table

  Commissioner Demarcus Marshall was still concerned that maybe there were too many conditions.

  The Chairman said many of the conditions were required anyway.

  Well, certainly Condition 1, prohibiting access from the streets in Foxborough, is not a usual condition.

  Anyway, the Chairman also said he thought the people who spoke against this rezoning in the Planning Commission were more concerned with the recent tree cutting in the Motley tract due west of Foxborough.

  Well, they did mention that, but as motivation for being concerned about similar clearcutting, noise, etc. on the subject property. And that was not their only concern.

  Tomorrow evening is the final Public Hearing, so people can come clarify their positions.

  The seven conditions that the Planning Commission recommended by a 4:3 vote for the warehouse rezoning are:

  
  REZ-2025-11 Conditions

  1. There shall be no access to Briarberry Drive and Quail Hollow Circle from the subject property.
  2. Should a change in use occur where additional transportation and/or water/sewer infrastructure upgrades are required, the Developer will be responsible for the design, any acquisition of necessary right-of-way, relocation of utilities, and construction costs for the infrastructure improvements.
  3. All lots shall front interior roads.
  4. A 200′ undisturbed buffer shall be required along the Northern, and Southern property lines abutting current Residential Zoning District boundaries.
  5. Any lighting located on the property shall be shielded and directed to avoid direct illumination of adjacent properties zoned Residentially.
  6. Any loudspeakers, paging systems, or electromagnetic interference generated on or by uses of the property shall be designed, installed and used such that they are not discernable at any abutting property line zoned Residentially.
  7. Correctional Facilities, Transitional Care Facilities, and Kennels with Outdoor Runs shall not be allowed.
• 6.a. Beer – Wine License, Mustapha Ndure, WAWA #6308, 4598 N Valdosta Rd.
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/l88I-ZvjYyM

  
  6.a. Beer & Wine License – Mustapha Ndure of Wawa Southeast, LLC DBA WAWA Store #6308 located at 4598 North Valdosta Rd., Valdosta, GA

  
  

  Finance Director Stephanie Black summarized the proposed beer and wine license in one sentence, and Commissioners had no questions about it.

  
  Finance Director Stephanie Black

  Sure looks like they’ll approve it unanimously tomorrow.

• 7. Reports – County Manager
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/2PKYoCNK7A4

  Deferred as usual until the Regular Session.

  
  

• 9. Adjournment
  

  Video:
  https://youtu.be/tYxlf7JD3vE

  
  

Here is the LAKE video playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiE6pYQqzd0i88dIHR0_my5N&si=oH2CdrqWS2niyK8x

-jsq

Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate

Short Link: