Tag Archives: Comprehensive Plan

Videos: one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small @ LCC Work 2026-04-13

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Eight minutes is all it took for the light agenda at the Work Session yesterday morning. The Lowndes County Commission votes today at 5:30 PM, on two appointments to one Authority and two apparently uncontroversial subdivision rezonings.

[Collage @ LCC 13 April 2026]
Collage @ LCC 13 April 2026

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 agenda and the board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request.

And the LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission meeting. Continue reading →

Videos: Lake Laurie Drive case withdrawn, another Valdosta case, 2 county cases @ GLPC 2026-03-30

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There was nothing for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) to vote on regarding the controversial subdivision application on Lake Laurie Drive, because it was withdrawn by applicant.

Everything else got unanimous recommendations of approval: the other Valdosta rezoning and the two Lowndes County subdivisions.

That other Valdosta rezoning, 5. VA-2026-01 Alpha Britton, Johnson Lane, 0118C 017, did get quite a bit of opposition, mostly about drainage, but the Planning Commissioners and city staff assured people that staff would handle that as the permitting process continued.

[Collage @ GLPC 30 March 2026]
Collage @ GLPC 30 March 2026

Here are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

VA-2026-01 got three videos, because the first LAKE camera ran out of space, and I had to switch to the other one. I did lose a minute or so of what one opposition citizen was saying.

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small @ LCC 2026-04-13

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Update 2026-04-14: Videos: one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small @ LCC Work 2026-04-13

It’s a pretty light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Monday and Tuesday, with two appointments to one Authority and two apparently uncontroversial subdivision rezonings.

[Packet: one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small, @ LCC 2026-04-13]
Packet: one appointment, two subdivisions, huge and small, @ LCC 2026-04-13

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website, with images of each page below.

See also the LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Packet: Lake Laurie Drive case withdrawn, another Valdosta case, 2 county cases @ GLPC 2026-03-30

The controversial subdivision application on Lake Laurie Drive was withdrawn by applicant. It will still appear on the agenda for tonight’s GLPC and the April 9th Valdosta City Council meetings, but there’s nothing to vote on.

Also on the agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) is another Valdosta rezoning and two Lowndes County subdivisions. That’s 5:30 PM, Monday, March 30, 2026, at 325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia.

[LAKE Collage @ GLPC 2026-03-30]
LAKE Collage @ GLPC 2026-03-30

Matt Martin wrote on March 4, 3026,“Please note that for case # VA-2026-02, there is also a separate packet for ‘public response items” which is dated March 22nd. Public response emails and letters continue to flow in to my office and I will be updating (& redistributing) this packet periodically between now and the GLPC public hearing. I will try to remember to include you on the re-distribution list as each of these revised packets come out.”

Later this came in:

Fri, Mar 27, 4:59 PM

ALL:

FYI. Attached is a copy of the applicant’s email “withdrawing” this rezoning request. Because it was an advertised public hearing, we will keep it listed on the GLPC and April 9th City Council agendas, but there will be no presentation/hearing, no discussion, and no action will be taken.

If the applicant chooses to resubmit the same or a different request for this property in the future, they will have to start all over again from scratch; new Pre-Application meeting, new application submittal, new fees, new advertisement, etc… Such requests are processed in monthly cycles. The next possible (earliest) submittal deadline date is April 15th. This would equate to a GLPC hearing date of 5/26, and City Council hearing date of 6/11. “If” a new request does get submitted, it will be fully advertised in a similar manner as before. Continue reading →

Videos: Workshop 2, Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan Update 2025-11-17

Update 2026-01-17: the next such Workshop is being rescheduled; we don’t yet know until when.

Update 2026-01-16: Power, water, and datacenters –Suwannee Riverkeeper 2025-11-17.

Very interesting discussions at the second Workshop on the five-year Update to the Lowndes County Comprehensive Plan. Datacenters, water, sewer, power, trash, accessibility, affordable housing, guiding development, and more.

The third Workshop will be this Monday Tuesday, January 20, 2026, about 6 PM, after the Work Session of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), at 325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, GA.

Update 2026-01-17: the next such Workshop is being rescheduled; we don’t yet know until when.

[Workshop 2, Lowndes County, Comprehensive Plan Update, Many interesting discussions, 2025-11-17]
Workshop 2, Lowndes County, Comprehensive Plan Update, Many interesting discussions, 2025-11-17

Suwannee Riverkeeper noted reliable power and water are needed for economic development, and AI datacenters could be a problem for that. Also, don’t assume just because the governor says we’re doing datacenters that they will expand everywhere. Remember the dotcom bust and how cheap PCs took over, then smartphones. Somebody will invent a much less expensive method of doing so-called artificial intelligence, a method that does not require huge datacenters. Meanwhile, there are natural limits on water, witness Barber Pool, fed by a spring that now hardly ever trickles. 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: 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC Regular 2025-08-12

Update 2025-08-24: Agenda: Millages, Opioid Litigation, Hightower Road, SPLOST IX, TREES Act, PFAS Groundwater Claims @ LCC 2025-08-25.

By far the longest item at almost 15 minutes was 7.c. 2026 Comprehensive Plan Kickoff, in the Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The county already said it plans to use the same SDS as last time. It’s a ten-year plan for allocation of tax revenues among the county, its five cities, and VLPRA and VLCIA. Comprehensive Plans get updated very five years.

Second longest was 13 1/2 minutes for 7.b. REZ-2025-13 ENCC, LLC, 9353 GA HWY 135 – October Ln, ~1ac, E-A to C-C., spoken for by Jack Langdale. One person spoke against. Commissioner Scottie Orenstein wanted to remove the condition requiring paving. County Manager Paige Dukes said she thought they probably couldn’t require that on private land. They removed that condition and unanimously approved the rezoning.

The other rezoning sailed through with unanimous approval. Everything else was also unanimously approved.

[Collage @ LCC 12 August 2025]
Collage @ LCC 12 August 2025

They added an item: 8.e. Appointment of Alternate to Dangerous Dog Board. They appointed Amy Martin.

One citizen spoke, Jamie Parks. He was concerned about the authority of the Board of Equalization for appeals to the Zoning Board of Appeals..

Below are Continue reading →

Videos: Proclamations, 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC Work 2025-08-11

Update 2025-08-23: Videos: 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC Regular 2025-08-12.

After the two rezonings (6 minutes and 4 minutes), the longest item was 8.b. FY2026 Joint Funding Agreement With USGS, at yesterday morning’s Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission. Naturally, at least one Commissioner didn’t want to pay the additional $1900/year, but the alternative is the gauges stop working at Folsom Bridge on GA 122 on the Little River, and at Skipper Bridge on the Withlacoochee River. There was also mention of the US 84 Withlacoochee River Gauge. Ashley Tye’s point was the three gauges permit hydrologists to make some informed predictions.

The Commissioners vote this evening at 5:30 PM.

You get to speak in the rezoning Public Hearings, and the one for the 7.c. 2026 Comprehensive Plan Kickoff.

[Collage @ LCC 11 August 2025]
Collage @ LCC 11 August 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: 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC 2025-08-11

Update 2025-08-12: Videos: Proclamations, 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC Work 2025-08-11.

Lowndes County will hold a 2026 Comprehensive Plan Kickoff on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. According to SGRC, it will be at the beginning of the County Commission meeting. So apparently it’s the Public Hearing in the Tuesday Commission meeting.

USGS is charging more for the gauges at Folsom Bridge on the Little River and Skipper Bridge on the Withlacoochee River.

[Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-08-11]
Collage @ LCC Packet 2025-08-11

The Air Force is going to move the emergency backup Lowndes County water connection to Moody AFB, due to “unforseen conflicts after construction began,” apparently with the railroad and the “electric duct bank.”

The two small rezonings that sailed through the Planning Commission are on this County Commission agenda.

GDOT wants an easement at the Parrott Health Clinic in Hahira. GDOT has agreed to supply more TIA money for Shiloh Road Resurfacing and Bridge Replacement, and there are bids to approve.

There are bids for the Lowndes County Civic Center Hurricane Helene Repairs.

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 Planning Commission meeting.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2025, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

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

Update 2025-08-08: Packet: 2 small rezonings, Comprehensive Plan, USGS Gauges, GDOT for Shiloh Road, Civic Center Hurricane Repair @ LCC 2025-08-11.

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 →