Category Archives: Religion

Videos: Four small items, 2 Valdosta, 2 Lowndes County @ GLPC 2025-07-28

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The Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of all the items before them, some with staff-recommended conditions.

Including the Valdosta Land Development Regulations (LDR), which Valdosta still has GLPC review, even though Lowndes County no longer has GLPC review for its Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).

But see Gretchen’s comments on 6. REZ-2025-13 ENCC.

[Collage @ LCC 28 July 2025]
Collage @ LCC 28 July 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 →

Packet: Four small items, 2 Valdosta, 2 Lowndes County @ GLPC 2025-07-28

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Update 2025-08-04: Videos: Four small items, 2 Valdosta, 2 Lowndes County @ GLPC 2025-07-28.

Crossroads Baptist Church wants to expand at 3001 Country Club Drive and the City of Valdosta is entertaining some LDR text amendments.

The two Lowndes County rezonings are both to bring their properties into conformity or compliance.

These are on the agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) this evening.

[Collage @ GLPC Packet 2025-07-28]
Collage @ GLPC Packet 2025-07-28

Here is the agenda.

The board packet materials, received in response to a LAKE open records request, are on the LAKE website, with images below.

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

Monday, July 21, 2025 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, July 28, 2025 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Packet: 2 Lowndes, 8 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2024-10-28

The Loch Winn Farms subdivision rezoning on Loch Laurel Road, long delayed due to the Planning Commission not meeting because of lack of quorum and then hurricane, plus in between being tabled by the Lowndes County Commission waiting on Planning Commission review, finally got that on Monday, October 28, 2024.

[Collage @ GLPC Packet 2024-10-28]
Collage @ GLPC Packet 2024-10-28

GLPC also heard a new Lowndes County case, REZ-2024-17 Evans Property, Bemiss Rd., 0145B 100, ~1.4 acres, R-1 to C-H, “to allow the property to be used at its highest and best potential.”

Plus six Valdosta cases from the previous month’s GLPC agenda, and one new Valdosta case (a church) and one new Hahira case (a parking lot for a restaurant).

There are no LAKE videos of this GLPC meeting, because Gretchen was out of state as was jsq.

You may wonder, as I do, why doesn’t Lowndes County video it? Or why doesn’t Valdosta do facebook live, like for Valdosta City Council meetings?

Maybe you’d like to ask that Commission and that Council those questions.

Here is the agenda: Continue reading →

Videos: Gresham Event Venue passed 3:2, surprise Hospital Authority bond agreement @ LCC Regular 2024-03-12

Commissioners Joyce Evans and Demarcus Marshall voted against 5.a. REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue, 8415 Old Valdosta Road. Commissioner Clay Griner moved to approve with four conditions, Commissioner Scottie Orenstein seconded, and they and Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker voted for. Most of the audience left, clearly not happy.

The Lowndes County Commission at its Regular Session approved everything else unanimously. At an hour and fourteen minutes, this was among its longest meetings.

[Collage @ LCC 12 March 2024]
Collage @ LCC 12 March 2024

Approvals included the last-minute addition, 6.f. Intergovernmental agreement with the Hospital Authority. The hospital wants to fund expansion, in the usual way by floating bonds guaranteed by the county.

One citizen wished to be heard. Continue reading →

Videos: Gresham Event Venue and four other rezonings @ LCC Work 2024-03-11

Update 2024-03-16: Videos: Gresham Event Venue passed 3:2, surprise Hospital Authority bond agreement @ LCC Regular 2024-03-12.

The Lowndes County Commissioners talked a bit about REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue in their Monday morning Work Session, as you can see in these LAKE videos.

Some of the other rezonings got some discussion. Nobody asked any questions about any of the For Consideration items.

They voted Tuesday evening; LAKE videos to come for that.

[Collage @ LCC 11 March 2024]
Collage @ LCC 11 March 2024

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein asked what the opposition was about. County Planner JD Dillard said “there have been a few emails”. There was a concern about traffic, but the fire marshall and county engineer felt there was adequate access to the property to support emergency vehicles. Noise has been the main concern heard.

Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker asked if the barn building existed. Answer: not yet. Might hold a larger gathering space. Could potentially house a band and keep the noise inside.

Commissioner Joyce Evans distinguished inside and outside noise. The County Planner said apparently they were trying to determine how the noise ordinance was enforced or measured. Probably it would be at the property line. The County Planner deferred to Code Enforcement or Legal, who did not comment. Chairman Bill Slaughter said there was a time the noise was supposed to go down and it was not supposed to be heard beyond the property line. He indicated they would have to set and measure noise standards. Also, before the cool-down hour

Commissioner Scottie Orenstein indicated he thought the main issue was not whether the venue needed, or would be successful, or what their finances were. He said he was trying to figure out whether the Planning Commission recommendation was based on issues such as ingress and egress and noise.

About REZ-2024-04 Clyattstone Road Subdivision, Chairman Bill Slaughter raised the issue of covenants.

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

See also Continue reading →

Packet: Petition against Gresham Event Venue and letter supporting Southern Gardens @ LCC 2024-03-11

Update 2024-03-14: Videos: Gresham Event Venue and four other rezonings @ LCC Work 2024-03-11.

Here is the board packet for voting at 5:30 PM today by the Lowndes County Commission.

All were heard at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2024-03-11]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2024-03-11

As I predicted, the rezoning materials are similar to those from previous meetings.

But there is a fourteen-page Petition against Old Valdosta Road Wedding Venue, which is case REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue.

Crown Real Estate Development has provided a Support Letter for Southern Gardens REZ-2024-03.

Ferrell Scruggs and Stephen Cooper have provided lot size requirements for REZ-2024-04 Clyattstone Rd Subdivision.

The quit claim and road abandonment items have maps showing where they are.

The materials for the Hall Road and Orr Road Extension items do not name Hall Road or Orr Road, so I don’t understand how they are related.

See also Continue reading →

Agenda: five rezonings, four paving projects and a road abandonment @ LCC 2024-03-11

Update 2024-03-12: Packet: Petition against Gresham Event Venue and letter supporting Southern Gardens @ LCC 2024-03-11.

The two rezonings from last month are back, including the controversial Gresham Event Center. Plus three new rezonings from the Planning Commission. And five For Consideration items, three for road paving or wetlands credits for paving, plus a quit claim and a road abandonment.

All were heard at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning. They will be decided at the Regular Session this evening at 5:30 PM.

[Five rezonings @ LCC 2024-03-11-12]
Five rezonings @ LCC 2024-03-11-12

Here is the agenda.

I neglected to send in an open records request for the board packet, so we don’t have that yet.

But the board materials for the first two rezonings will be similar to those from the February 12, 2024, Lowndes County Commission Meetings.

And the board materials for the rest of the rezonings will be similar to those from the February 26 Planning Commission meeting.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

  1. Call to Order
  2. Invocation
  3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  4. Minutes for Approval
    1. Work Session – February 26, 2024 & Regular Session – February 27, 2024
  5. Public Hearing
    1. REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue, 8415 Old Valdosta Rd., E-A to PD-R, ~10.3 acres, Well & Septic

      Documents:REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue, 8415 Old Valdosta Rd..pdf

    2. REZ-2024-02 Byrd Property, 3715 & 3725 Byrd Rd., E-A to R-1, ~7.5ac, Well & Septic

      Documents:REZ-2024-02 Byrd Property, 3715 and 3725 Byrd Rd.pdf

    3. REZ-2024-03 Southern Gardens, 4609 Bemiss Rd. 5ac, C-G to P-D, County Utilities

      Documents:REZ-2024-03 Southern Gardens, 4609 Bemiss Rd. 5ac, C-G to P-D, County Utilities -.pdf

    4. REZ-2024-04 Clyattstone Rd Subdivision, ~62ac, R-1 to R-10, County Utilities

      Documents:REZ-2024-04 Clyattstone Rd Subdivision.pdf

    5. REZ-2024-05 Dasher Property, 1776 Old Clyattville Rd, ~115ac, E-A & CON to M-2 & CON, County Utilities

      Documents:REZ-2024-05 Dasher Property, 1776 Old Clyattville Rd.pdf

  6. For Consideration
    1. Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application – Hall Road

      Documents:Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application – Hall Road.pdf

    2. Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application – Orr Road Extension

      Documents:Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application – Orr Road Extension.pdf

    3. Purchase of Wetland Credits for Coleman Road NW Paving Project

      Documents:Purchase of Wetland Credits for Coleman Road NW Paving Project.pdf

    4. Walker Avenue Quit-Claim

      Documents:Walker Avenue Quit-Claim.pdf

    5. Abandonment of a Portion of Race Track Road SE (CR #310)

      Documents:Abandonment of a Portion of Race Track Road SE.pdf

  7. Reports – County Manager
  8. Citizens Wishing to be Heard-Please State Your Name and Address
  9. Adjournment

-jsq

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Agenda

[5. Rezonings]
5. Rezonings
PDF

REZ-2024-01 Gresham Event Venue, 8415 Old Valdosta Rd., E-A to PD-R, ~10.3 acres, Well & Septic

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to utilize the property as a club, lodge, meeting or event facility, primarily for weddings, family reunions, birthday parties, corporate events, community gatherings, etc., with the ability to accommodate overnight guests.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to utilize the property as a club, lodge, meeting or event facility, primarily for weddings, family reunions, birthday parties, corporate events, community gatherings, etc., with the ability to accommodate overnight guests.
PDF

REZ-2024-02 Byrd Property, 3715 & 3725 Byrd Rd., E-A to R-1, ~7.5ac,

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to subdivide the property into conforming lots for individual residences.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to subdivide the property into conforming lots for individual residences.
PDF

REZ-2024-03 Southern Gardens, 4609 Bemiss Rd. 5ac, C-G to P-D, County Utilities

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to develop a 60-unit apartment complex with amenities.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to develop a 60-unit apartment complex with amenities.
PDF

REZ-2024-04 Clyattstone Rd Subdivision, ~62ac, R-1 to R-10, County Utilities

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to develop a 110-lot subdivision.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to develop a 110-lot subdivision.
PDF

REZ-2024-05 Dasher Property, 1776 Old Clyattville Rd, ~115ac, E-A & CON to M-2& CON, County Utilities

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to M-2 and CON zoning.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A to M-2 and CON zoning.
PDF

Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application –

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Hall Road is on the [TIA] Constrained List to start professional engineering in June 2024. The Local Project Delivery Application starts the process by allowing Lowndes County to manage the project and procurement process at the local government level.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Hall Road is on the [TIA] Constrained List to start professional engineering in June 2024. The Local Project Delivery Application starts the process by allowing Lowndes County to manage the project and procurement process at the local government level.
PDF

Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Local Project Delivery Application – Orr Road Extension

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Session Orr Road is on the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Constrained List to start professional engineering in June 2024.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Session Orr Road is on the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Constrained List to start professional engineering in June 2024.
PDF

Purchase of Wetland Credits for Coleman Road NW Paving Project

[BUDGET IMPACT: $39,600.00 total of 2.64 wetland credits at 15,000.00 dollars per credit.]
BUDGET IMPACT: $39,600.00 total of 2.64 wetland credits at 15,000.00 dollars per credit.
PDF

Walker Avenue Quit-Claim

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Center has requested that their portion, which is 0.115 acres, of the abandoned right of way be Quit-Claimed to them.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Center has requested that their portion, which is 0.115 acres, of the abandoned right of way be Quit-Claimed to them.
PDF

Abandonment of a Portion of Race Track Road SE (CR #310)

[BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Langdale Vallotton Attorney at Law representing Southern Gateway, LLC, requests abandoning approximately 1720.50' Linear feet and begins at the intersection of Madison Highway, then west to the dead end.]
BUDGET IMPACT: N/A Langdale Vallotton Attorney at Law representing Southern Gateway, LLC, requests abandoning approximately 1720.50′ Linear feet and begins at the intersection of Madison Highway, then west to the dead end.
PDF

-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

Why the traffic light: The Towns at 4443 (Bemiss Road @ Studstill Road) letter of intent and Conceptual Plan @ GLPC 2022-09-26

Here is why the traffic light at Studstill Road on Bemiss Road:

Major road improvement plans are proposed for construction at the intersection of Bemiss Road and Studstill Road, which directly impact the subject property. The road improvements to Bemiss Road include the addition of a signal light at the intersection as well as sidewalks which are tied into the development of the subject property.

[The Towns at 4443 (Bemiss Road @ Studstill Road): letter of intent and Conceptual Plan @ GLPC 2022-09-26]
The Towns at 4443 (Bemiss Road @ Studstill Road): letter of intent and Conceptual Plan @ GLPC 2022-09-26

That is in the board packet for the September 26, 2022, meeting of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC). It’s on the second page of the letter of intent by Advanced Engineering Services, LLC, on behalf of Stoker Utilities, for rezoning REZ-2022-16, for a subdivision with frontage on Bemiss Road at Studstill Road, as well as frontage on Mulligan Road. The site plan also includes a Pizza Hut.

As you can see in the LAKE videos, GLPC unanimously recommended approval.

At the Lowndes County Commission Regular Session of October 11, 2022, after 25 minutes of discussion (very long for them), the Commissioners required a fence between the subject property and the adjoining church, and unanimously approved the rezoning, as shown in the LAKE videos. Also, a speaker in favor of the subdivision said the traffic light is being paid for by the developer (so not by the county).

So the traffic light installation is part of the implementation of this rezoning.

-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!

Continue reading →

Videos: ULDC chicken changes deferred, Biomass site to boat storage, Lake Park mini-storage, 2 Valdosta subdivisions and a church @ GLPC 2023-06-26

Update 2023-07-17: Added the Valdosta cases and Other Businesses that had inadvertently been left out of the playlist.

Update 2023-07-10: Packet: Complicated Library Board, ULDC amendments, Boat and RV Storage, Alapaha Plantation Water, Purchases houses by Griner Park, Insurance, LMIG @ LCC 2023-07-10.

Why does Lowndes County want the Planning Commission (GLPC) and County Commission to vote on changes to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) before the general public has a chance to review and comment on them?

[Collage @ LCC 26 June 2023]
Collage @ LCC 26 June 2023

When even the number of ULDC items changed from 10 to 7 in the week before the GLPC meeting? When somebody asked for more time for citizens to review and comment on these changes, why did the County Planning consultant toss out four straw men? Why shouldn’t the general public have such opportunity when the Homebuilders were shown draft changes weeks ago?

Lowndes County Planning consultant Jason Davenport attempted to explain the ULDC amendments and why the county had not shown them to the general county citizenry, at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC). He said they had a plan for six public meetings and two social media posts. However, none of that had happened before this meeting. Continue reading →

Packet: ULDC chicken changes, Biomass site to boat storage, Lake Park mini-storage, 2 Valdosta subdivisions and a church @ GLPC 2023-06-26

A longer version of the updates to the Lowndes County Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), including chickens and solar farms, is on the agenda for Monday evening’s Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

[Collage, GLPC Packet 2023-06-26]
Collage, GLPC Packet 2023-06-26

Rezoning for a boat and RV storage facility is on the agenda for the site of the biomass plant that was proposed a decade ago next to Valdosta’s Mud Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Lake Park has a rezoning for a climate-controlled mini-storage facility.

Valdosta has two housing rezonings and a church rezoning.

Here is the agenda.

The board packet is on the LAKE website.

Some day Lowndes County will put GLPC board packets on lowndescounty.com so no third party has to file open records requests and post the results. Larger and smaller counties in Georgia and Florida have been doing this for years.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Tuesday, June 20, 2023 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, June 26, 2023 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →