Tag Archives: Comprehensive Plan

Videos: Lowndes County Commission again approved Howell Road Halfway House rezoning 2023-06-12

In Monday night’s kabuki theater, after the usual stylized performances, the Lowndes County Commission once again approved the rezoning. The numerous opposition speakers supplied the broad dramatic gestures, all to no avail.

[Collage @ LCC 12 June 2023]
Collage @ LCC 12 June 2023

On the validity of the previous decision, Commissioner Demarcus Marshall moved to declare invalid the previous decision. Long silence. Eventually Commission Clay Griner asked for clarification from County Attorney G. Walter Elliott to clarify that he thought this was necessary. He said he thought it was. Motion passed 3 to 2. Two of the three were Marshall and Griner; I think the third was Joyce Evans, with Scottie Orenstein and Mark Wisenbaker against. Hard to be sure because they did not raise their hands.

On the actual rezoning case, they did raise their hands, and the vote was also 3 to 2 split the same way as the last time they voted on this rezoning decision: Clay Griner, Mark Wisenbaker, and Scottie Orenstein for, and Demarcus Marshall and Joyce Evans against.

Then they adjourned, after 55 minutes of kabuki theater.

At the beginning, Chairman Bill Slaughter did introduce something I haven’t seen before Continue reading →

Packet: Howell Road Halfway House massive opposition 2023-06-12

Update 2023-06-14: Videos: Lowndes County Commission again approved Howell Road Halfway House rezoning 2023-06-12.

In the packet for the redecision on the Howell Road Halfway House rezoning, there are thirteen letters of opposition and a petition of more than a hundred signatures.

[impacts to the surrounding area, Future Development Map, letter of opposition, Campus Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility, 2193 Howell Road]
impacts to the surrounding area, Future Development Map, letter of opposition, Campus Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility, 2193 Howell Road

Those would seem relevant to this bit in the agenda sheet: Continue reading →

Howell Road Halfway House rezoning back yet again 2023-06-12

Update 2023-06-14: Packet: Howell Road Halfway House massive opposition 2023-06-12.

Apparently somebody sued and the county is going to tidy up by invalidating its previous decision on the Howell Road Halfway House rezoning and hold yet another Public Hearing before making what will likely be the same decision. That will be this Monday, June 12, 2023, at 5:30 PM.

[Redo rezoning, WRPDO Site Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility]
Redo rezoning, WRPDO Site Map, REZ-2022-10 The Campus Transitional Facility

How five days’ notice solves the legal problem of lack of previous notice, I don’t know. Also why they could not wait one day and hold this Public Hearing in their regularly-scheduled Regular Session of this Tuesday is mysterious. Perhaps the County Attorney will explain it all.

Meanwhile, the county’s apparent lack of concern for the Character Areas of the Comprehensive Plan does not bode well for other rezonings elsewhere.

For what they plan to do Monday evening see Continue reading →

Agenda: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27

Update 2023-03-29: Videos: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27.

All four Planning Commission cases for tonight are Valdosta cases.

[Agenda, cases, GLPC 2023-03-27]
Agenda, cases, GLPC 2023-03-27

Here is the agenda.

Thanks to Valdosta City Planner for sending those board packet items, which are on the LAKE website.

When we get the minutes for the previous GLPC meeting from Lowndes County, we will put that there, too.

Update 2023-03-29: those previous minutes are in the post with the LAKE videos of the most recent GLPC session.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission ~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, March 20, 2023 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, March 27, 2023 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Videos: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27

All four cases got recommendations from the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) for approval by the Valdosta Mayor and Council. However, all but the first and last were on split votes, and the last had one Commissioner recuse himself.

[Collage @ GLPC 27 March 2023]
Collage @ GLPC 27 March 2023

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 items for the Valdosta cases. Lowndes County later sent the minutes of the previous GLPC meeting in response to a LAKE open records request, after only one reminder. Continue reading →

Videos: Hahira Bojangles with gas station rezoning @ GLPC 2023-01-30

By far the longest time was spent on the two Hahira items about the proposal for a Bojangles with store and more than 8 gas pumps. Both items got unanimous votes to recommend approval.

[Collage @ LCC 30 January 2023]
Collage @ LCC 30 January 2023

Local attorney Brad Folsom spoke for. Nobody spoke against.

The Valdosta rezoning also got a unanimous recommendation of approval, 5. VA-2023-01 3095 James Road Rezone 1.92 acres from PMD to C-H. So did the Lowndes County rezoning, 6. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Highway, 0136-029C ~10 acres R-1 to R-A.

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.

For the Lowndes County rezoning, 6. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Highway, 0136-029C ~10 acres R-1 to R-A, see Packet: Agricultural rezoning, Tourism, lot purchase, Firefighters, Sewer Main Open Cut @ LCC 2023-02-13. Continue reading →

Packet: Lowndes County rezoning @ GLPC 2022-01-30

Update 2023-02-13: Videos: Hahira Bojangles with gas station rezoning @ GLPC 2023-01-30.

My mistake: it turns out Lowndes County did send the board packet materials for item 6. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Highway, 0136-029C, ~10 acres, on the agenda for tonight’s Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

[Packet materials for REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property]
Packet materials for REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property

The appointed GLPC recommends, with final decisions made at the corresponding City or County elected bodies.

See also the agenda and the rest of the board packet. Continue reading →

Rezonings: 2 Hahira, 1 Valdosta, 1 Lowndes County @ GLPC 2023-01-30

Update 2023-01-30: Packet: Lowndes County rezoning @ GLPC 2022-01-30

The two Hahira items are for the same property, and there is one each for Valdosta and Lowndes County, to be considered Monday evening at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC). The appointed GLPC recommends, with final decisions made at the corresponding City or County elected bodies.

[Cases @ GLPC 2023-01-30]
Cases @ GLPC 2023-01-30

The Bojangles 8-pump gas station and convenience store in Hahira could be contentious. Its applicant wants both a Special Exception and a Variance. Continue reading →

Videos: Dollar General Defeated, VLDA appointment, subdivision infrastructure, VOCA, server blades @ LCC Regular 2023-01-24

Update 2023-05-06: Dollar General developer and property owner sue Lowndes County about rezoning denial –VDT 2023-05-03.

Update 2023-01-29: Lowndes County nixes planned Dollar General –VDT 2023-01-26.

Much to the surprise of the several dozen opponents of the Dollar General rezoning, and even after the DG developer attorney attempted to tell his version of the Lowndes County Commission’s legal responsibilities, all the Commissioners voted to deny the rezoning.

[Collage @ LCC 24 January 2023]
Collage @ LCC 24 January 2023

The audience laughed at the Dollar General’s offer of an “enhanced facade,” as conveyed by County Planner JD Dillard. Even after Chairman Bill Slaughter limited each side to ten minutes, the opposition gave excellent summaries.

Heath Dawson, who is the nearest neighbor to the north and a commercial banker, attested Continue reading →

Videos: new attorney, VLDA appointment, Dollar General rezoning, 2 infrastructure, special assessment rate, VOCA @ LCC Work 2023-01-23

Update 2023-01-28: Videos: Dollar General Defeated, VLDA appointment, subdivision infrastructure, VOCA, server blades @ LCC Regular 2023-01-24.

The second-longest item at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session this morning was the proposed rezoning for a Dollar General at GA 122 and Skipper Bridge Road, slightly uphill from the Withlacoochee River. They vote tonight at 5:30 PM. You can still call your Commissioner or send email, or speak in the Public Hearing this evening.

The two subdivision infrastructure acceptances on or near Val Del Road remind us all of what happens when the county pushes development onto a road, as they did back in 2007 by running water and sewer to Nelson Hill on Val Del Road.

The longest item at almost three minutes was 7.c. Special Assessment Rate for 2023, which has to be set every year, even though it hasn’t been used in decades.

[Collage @ LCC 23 January 2023]
Collage @ LCC 23 January 2023

About the rezoning, County Planner JD Dillard said another letter opposing the rezoning had been received, from someone about three quarters of a mile north on Skipper Bridge, but he did not say who it was nor what they wrote.

For no apparent reason, he put up a map showing nearest distances to residences. Continue reading →