Tag Archives: Balfour Beatty

Moody can’t get onto site for Moody Family Housing –Michael Noll @ LCC 2013-08-27

Dr. Michael G. Noll of VSU said representatives of
Moody Air Force Base for the second time could not
get permission to go on the site for the Moody Family Housing
the Commission

approved rezoning for two weeks before,
at

the 27 August 2013 Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission.

He also handed the Commission and interested parties copies of

a public comment
he and VSU professors Don Thieme and Can Denizman
had sent to USAF.

Plus the developer still refused to
provide a copy of
the geotechnical report

the Air Force’s Environmental Assessment
says the developer is required to send to the Air Force.

If there is nothing to hide,
if there are no problems with possible developments of the area,
why not share the report?

Two different people report seeing Commissioner Richard Raines
catch Dr. Noll on the way out of the building and ask him
what would be involved in doing the geophysical survey Dr. Noll
has

repeatedly asked to do.

Importance of transparency, due diligence, and communication –Michael G. Noll @ LCC 2013-08-27

Received yesterday on

VSU professors write to USAF consultant about Moody Family Housing @ LCC 2013-08-27. -jsq

Thanks for posting this John.

One should note that the VDT was absent at

the LCBOC meeting on
August 13, when the

county commissioners approved the rezoning
request. This approval came after

we presented our concerns and
before

the period given by AFCEC for public comments
in regard to the

Environmental Assessment (EA) expired. No mention in the VDT on
August 14 about any of it, since no VDT reporter was present.

In regard to the EA and the possibilities to submit comments, it
should also be noted that

the phone number listed in the public announcement was incorrect.
Thus, any attempts to contact Mr. Allen
Richmond, the AFCEC representative, with this published phone number
were unsuccessful. We eventually received the correct phone number
with the help of Moody AFB personnel. While we were able to speak
once with Mr. Richmond and establish email contact, his ability (or
willingness?) to communicate was limited.

Moreover, we asked Mr. Allen Richmond on August 12 if we Continue reading →

Florida sinkholes spreading real estate effects in same Aquifer as under Lowndes County

Florida real estate effects of sinkholes in the same Floridan Aquifer
that underlies Lowndes County
would be worth looking at
before rushing to build Moody Housing around a sinkhole on Val Del Road.
It’s not just the sinkhole that may widen, it’s housing prices that may drop.

Diana Olick wrote for CNBC 15 August 2013,

Overdevelopment widens Florida sinkhole problem,

DAVID MANNING / Reuters

A section of the Summer Bay Resort lies collapsed after a large sinkhole opened on the property’s grounds in Clermont, Fla. on Aug. 12.

Sinkholes may be as old as the earth itself, but the increase in
sinkhole activity is new. The rush to reason why has put scientists,
engineers and real estate developers at odds.

Some geological experts believe the sinkhole activity is increasing
because developers are pumping more water out of the ground for new
projects or for agricultural use. While acid in the water itself is
what causes the limestone under much of Florida to dissipate and
create the holes, the water also acts as a support. Add water from
heavy rains on the top soil, and you’ve got a bigger problem.

It is even beginning to weigh on the recovering real estate market
in Florida.

Recent sinkholes of note in Lowndes County include: Continue reading →

Phase II of Moody Family Housing already has a sinkhole –Tom Kurrie @ LCC 2013-08-13

Tom Kurrie said Phase I has a structural issue and Phase II of
the proposed Moody Housing has a sinkhole,
at

the 13 August 2013 Lowndes County Commission Regular Session.

Tom Kurrie spoke for
the rezoning for Phase I,

REZ-2013-09,
first giving something unknown to the County Clerk,
and then saying:

Bill Holland and I are the applicants,
we represent the owner of the property, the Howard Dasher Company,
as well as the developers of the property, Balfour Beatty Communities.

The ubiquitous Bill Holland had spoken the previous morning

in the Work Session.

This time, Kurrie
said the project had been in the makings for over two years.
(Funny how the county didn’t tell us about it until they were ready
to rush it through.)
He said it was for “prestige housing” for base personnel.
He said it was unusual in being 8 miles west of Moody AFB.
He introduced Ron Nestor, Senior Vice President of Balfour Beatty,
and said it was a public-private partnership.
And use would be restricted to Air Force personnel.
We’d already heard about such restrictions at

the Planning Commission.
He said it would be a “gated community”.
We’ll see if that actually happens this time, unlike at
Nelson Hill just up Val Del Road;
you can see both locations on this map:

Kurrie also mentioned professor Noll and geotechnical issues such
as sinkholes, Continue reading →

No mold or unpaid contractors this time for Moody Housing @ GLPC 2013-07-29

Unlike Moody AFB’s last go at privatizing housing,
no mold or unpaid contractors this time,
or so we’re told.
But not so solid assurances that local contractors will be used.
And what if this new thing turns into something radically different
like Nelson Hill did only a short way up Val Del?

Speaking for

that proposed privatized Moody housing on Val Del Road,
Lawyer Tom Kurrie said this was “an opportunity for our community”.
He spelled out that the proposal was “90 homes for off-base houses,
for enlisted personnel, non-commissioned officers, and officers”,
with gates.
He went on about

Balfour Beatty‘s experience in building such housing,
and their option to build Phase II, although at the moment
they’re only requesting Phase I.
He said “the unfortunate issue that took place with the
prior development” would not occur with this one.

I can guess he’s referring to the mold issue,

Beth Mahoney detailed in Little Rock Military Families Examiner 6 April 2009.

Or since he lauded Balfour Beatty’s credit rating, maybe
he was referring to the
nonpayment of subcontractors,
as Kari L. Sands wrote for VDT, 4 March 2007,

Military housing woes:
Non-payment forces work on military housing project to stop.

Preferred Builders and Renovators, LLC., the Home Builders
Association of South Georgia and CMS/ Dumpster Co. are among those
affected. Subcontractors are alleging that Continue reading →

Gated Moody housing on Val Del Road, REZ-2013-09 @ GLPC 2013-07-29

Only 81 of 396 proposed units have been built at current Moody Family

Housing on Roberts Road.
Why should we build more on Val Del Road?

At the 29 July 2013 Greater Lowndes Planning Commission meeting,
County Planner Jason Davenport said that in addition
to the

initial materials for GLPC,
he’d provided an update
about Magnolia Grove, which was Phase I of

Moody Family Housing.
The real reason for the rezoning wasn’t stated in the initial materials given
to GLPC.
In

the materials obtained through open records request,
we can see that
the

GLPC agenda item
contained the boilerplate
“The general motivation in this case appears to be so that the subject property
can be developed at a greater residential density.”
In the update
it’s assumed that the real reason is housing for Moody personnel,
since Magnolia Grove is the existing Moody housing off of Roberts Road.
Which isn’t even built out yet, as you can see in

this map from the county Tax Commissioners,
so why does Moody need more housing?

Lots of interesting back history in that

July 29th GLPC Lowndes County Rezoning Update – 2,
to which
I’ve added Continue reading →

TRC and GLPC recommended subdivision that doesn’t improve traffic or safety, REZ-2013-09

What is so important about yet another subdivision
of
360,910 square feet in 173 houses

when we have

a glut of houses that the TRC unanimously
recommended it despite significant defects and omissions?
According to

Technical Review Committee (TRC) analysis,
REZ-2013-09 Moody Family will not lessen congestion in the streets
or secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers.
TRC also said the application didn’t meet ULDC standards and

in somewhat tortured language:
“although not a proposed condition, it should be
noted on this request that a future traffic study will be required.”
Why not require these things before even sending the application
to the Planning Commission?

In email to the Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners of 23 July 2013,
forwarded to the applicants 29 July 2013,

July 29th GLPC Lowndes County Rezoning Materials,

2) REZ-2013-09 Moody Family, 0072 191, Val Del Rd, 64.92 ac., 2
lots, R-1 to Residential PD, County Utilities

a) The TRC recommended approval of the request unanimously.

b) Additionally, although not a proposed condition, it should be
noted on this request that a future traffic study will be required.
Acceleration lanes/Deceleration lanes and/or a dedicated left turn lane
may be required.

Rumor has it that this development is being pushed not by Moody AFB,
rather by Continue reading →

Proposed development next to Moody AFB has been withdrawn (REZ-2013-08)

Received in response to an open records request to Lowndes County,
here is the developer’s withdrawal letter,

and correspondence between Lowndes County Zoning and Planning with
Moody AFB confirming that this was indeed

REZ-2013-08 MFH Tract A on Roberts Road that was withdrawn.
It seems the U.S. Air Force would also like to see GLPC minutes online;
that request came from Deputy, Housing Division,
Air Force Civil Engineering Center, located in

San Antonio, Texas..
Also, doesn’t Georgia open meetings law require a summary of
actions taken within a few days of a Planning Commission meeting?
-jsq

Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:56:40 -0400

Subject: MAZ-1

From: Roger Sevigny <rsevigny@alleneng.net>

To: Jason Davenport <jdavenport@lowndescounty.com>,
<bslaughter@lowndescounty.com>

Cc: Mike Fletcher <mfletcher@lowndescounty.com>, Joe Pritchard
<JPritchard@lowndescounty.com>

Gentlemen,

I had no idea of the county anger with MFH LLC. I thought Continue reading →

On the LAKE front

Citizen dialog for transparent process by the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange