Tag Archives: Lake Park

Packet: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14

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Here are the board packet materials for the Work Session and Regular Session, both tomorrow, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, of the Lowndes County Commission.

About the communications tower in Langdale Park, the packet still does not include the Propagation maps that are required by ULDC 5.05.05.B and 5.05.05.E; see Verizon tower in Langdale Park? @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

[Packet: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14]
Packet: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14

How are the County Commissioners supposed to decide without all the evidence, this “quasi-judicial decision whether the standards for a telecommunications tower in Section 5.05.05 of the ULDC are met”?

The agenda sheet says, “At the Planning Commission, the applicant’s representative spoke in support, while one citizen spoke in opposition, claiming that inadequate information was available to the GLPC for their consideration. Staff presented the information to the GLPC, who found it sufficient to recommend approval (7-2).”

If the information presented to the Planning Commission was sufficient, why does this County Commission packet include an additional signed and sealed letter from an engineer, which says, “As part of the proposed telecommunications site listed above, we are designing the site in compliance with the Section 5.05.04 (A) of the Lowndes County, Georgia Land Development Code….”

That would appear to satisfy the letter of ULDC 5.05.05.E. Unfortunately, it may not be accurate.

I still don’t see any of these points addressed:

  • An inventory in VALORGIS of the applicant’s existing towers or alternative tower structures. See ULDC 5.05.05.B.2
  • An argument for why Langdale Park would not be a “historic district” or a “scenic view corridor.” See 5.05.05.G.5
  • An argument for why hiking trails cleared by numerous citizens would not be public rights of way. See 5.05.05.I.I. and the Right-of-Way definition on page 1-25.
Continue reading →

Agenda: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14

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Update 2026-07-13: Packet: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14.

Tuesday evening the Lowndes County Commission will decide on a communications tower in Langdale Park.

They will also completely reconstitute the Library Board. “The Constitution of the Lowndes County Library System was amended in March 2026 to conform with Georgia law.” So they’re making a new nine (9) person board, for which these nine Lowndes County residents wish to apply: William Booth, Dr. Elveta Miller, Dr. Kendal Crawford, Greg Moore, Dean Poling, Debra Carruth, Jane Peeples, Gary Wisenbaker, and Mary Beth Brownlee. Their terms will all start on July 1, 2026, with staggered end dates: two in 2027, three in 2028, and three in 2029, all ending on June 30.

[Agenda: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14]
Agenda: New Library Board, Wisenbaker Rd rezoning, communications tower in Langdale Park, Pre-Disaster Logistics, Juvenile Justice, Lift Station Bypass @ LCC 2026-07-14

I know this because if on https://lowndescounty.com/AgendaCenter you click Download for the July 14, 2026, agenda, and select PDF, the result has links to the agenda sheets. For each sheet, if you refresh your screen you get an image of that page.

Why get them that way? Because if you select HTML or Packet, only the agenda proper has content. All the agenda sheet pages are blank.

Also, I set the wrong date to send an open records request for the board packet, so that only went out today.

If the county simply put the entire PDF of the board packet on its own website, as many other counties smaller and larger have been doing for years, nobody would have to go through this rigamarole.

I did find advertisement for the RFP for L8400.075 Pump Station Improvements and that is included here.

The files I got are on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below, even the blank pages.

Here is the agenda.

For the two Public Hearing items, the Wisenbaker Road rezoning and the communications tower in Langdale Park, see also the LAKE videos of the preceding Planning Commission meeting.

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

Continue reading →

Videos: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County inc. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29

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Update 2026-07-09: Draft Minutes: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

Update 2026-07-08: Work Session Monday or Tuesday? @ LCC 2026-07-14.

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners (GLPC) approved everything unanimously, except for three split votes: on the proposed communications tower in Langdale Park (see below), on a CUP for a mobile home in a single-family residential zoning district in Valdosta (see below), and on setback variances at Exit 29 in Hahira (see below).

They heard all the Dasher cases together, then voted on them one by one.

https://youtu.be/xjF9ymuajvE?si=08W6F1_phjUJhfwl

See also Packet: 4 Dasher @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

For Lowndes County case 7. REZ-2026-14 6808 Wisenbaker Road

there was quite a bit of discussion about use of a dirt road but applicant said that they never used the dirt road because there are two paved access lanes to the parcel.

https://youtu.be/uyopRnx4WzI?si=5ZMwLURg93vwcUm4

See also Packet: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County inc. Verizon tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

[4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, w. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29]
4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, w. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29

Regarding 8. TWR-2026-02 Bermuda Run, 3781 North Valdosta Road

I was the only speaker in opposition. My main point was that county staff had not supplied information in a timely manner so that the public, or even the Planning Commissioners, would have adequate time to consider the evidence. Plus according to conformance with the ULDC, which is what staff said the Commissioners were supposed to be evaluating, the tower does not fit in Langdale Park. For my points, see Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/?p=25853

They did recommend approval, but with a split vote, 5 to 2.

https://youtu.be/djKNudEhsSw?si=FUQuYHyMoPXktGlY

See also Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

Regarding 9. CU-2026-05 Request by Tierra Inman for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the placement of a mobile home in a Single-family Residential (R-6) zoning district

Gretchen Quarterman spoke in favor, in addition to the applicant. Gretchen also noted: Continue reading →

Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29

Update 2026-07-06: Videos: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County inc. comm. tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

Here is some information about the Verizon Wireless proposed communications tower in Langdale Park, that was missing from the board packet for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting on June 29, 2026.

There are still more missing pieces that are required by the county’s own Unified Land Development Code (ULDC):

  • An inventory in VALORGIS of the applicant’s existing towers or alternative tower structures. See ULDC 5.05.05.B.2
  • Signature and seal of “appropriate licensed professionals or qualified industry experts.” See 5.05.05.E
  • An argument for why Langdale Park would not be a “historic district” or a “scenic view corridor.” See 5.05.05.G.5
  • An argument for why hiking trails cleared by numerous citizens would not be public rights of way. See 5.05.05.I.I. and the Right-of-Way definition on page 1-25.

GLPC recommended approval of TWR-2026-02, but only by a split vote: LAKE videos to come.

The Lowndes County Commission will decide at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

[Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29]
Packet: Propagation maps for Verizon tower in Langdale Park @ GLPC 2026-06-29

The tower would be a stone’s throw from the main trail kiosk, at 30.885908, -83.320453, and right next to White Trail A, which many citizens helped clear of Hurricane Helene deadfalls.

Thanks to Jason Davenport, consultant for Lowndes County Planning, who sent this additional information in the morning before the meeting. He was responding to a followup I sent after the initial county response to the LAKE open records request of the previous Tuesday. My followup request was a brief version of the discrepencies I noted in the LAKE post with the previously-received TWR-2026-02 board packet materials. Continue reading →

Packet: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County inc. Verizon tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29

Update 2026-06-28: Packet: 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

Update 2026-06-27: WWALS blog post Verizon tower in Langdale Park? @ GLPC 2026-06-29.

Verizon Wireless wants to put a communications tower in Langdale Park, a stone’s throw from the main kiosk, at 30.885908, -83.320453.

The rezoning sign is not in Langdale Park: it’s on the private property on Hyta Mederer Road, at 30.8870644, -83.3173206.

The FAA NOTICE CRITERA say it’s in Remerton.

The packet materials for TWR-2026-02 Bermuda Run say its address is 3781 North Valdosta Road, which is misleading at best.

[Packet: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, inc. Verizon tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29]
Packet: 4 Dasher, 2 Lowndes County, inc. Verizon tower in Langdale Park, 2 Valdosta, 1 Hahira, @ GLPC 2026-06-29

Also:

The decision to be made by the Board of Commissioners is not a zoning decision. It is a quasi-judicial decision whether the standards for a telecommunications tower in Section 5.05.05 of the ULDC are met.

The TRC analyzed the request, the standards set forth in Section 5.05.00 (attached), and Section 10.02.00 of the ULDC, and noted that Continue reading →

Videos: Homestead Tax, Datacenter, Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Regular 2026-06-09

Update 2026-06-15: Proposed Local Act for Local Homestead Option Sales Tax (LHOST) @ LCC 2026-06-09.

The bulk of this long meeting was not on the agenda: another one cent sales tax, a report about services at Leila Ellis, and eight citizens wishing to be heard. Well, those citizens were collectively on the agenda of the Tuesday evening Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission, but the other two items were not.

By far the longest item at 21 minutes was added to the agenda at the beginning of
7.f. LHOST Consideration, SB 33 Special Local Homestead Option Sales Tax The title is my guess; I think Chairman Bill Slaughter just said LHOST.

The thirteen slides County Manager Paige Dukes presented are on the LAKE website, received in response to a LAKE open records request. Images of each slide are below.

We do not yet have the draft legislation the Commissioners unanimously approved sending to the Georgia legislature to enact this additional one cent sales tax, because I didn’t think to request it until this afternoon. Why the slides and the legislation are not on the county’s own website is mysterious.

[Videos: Homestead Tax, Datacenter, Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Regular 2026-06-09]
Videos: Homestead Tax, Datacenter, Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Regular 2026-06-09

They approved everything else unanimously, including reappointing James Ramsey and appointing Gary Wisenbaker to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals: his brother Commissioner Mark Wisenbaker recused himself.

They appointed James Warren to the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority.

They reappointed Andy Griffin and Scott Purvis to the Lowndes County Public Facilities Authority.

The longest regular item discussion at almost seven minutes was of the Industrial Authority Series 2026 Bonds.

Another long item (almost six minutes) not on the agenda occured when as part of the County Manager Report Paige Dukes asked Probation Director Ferlisha Rountree to talk about about services at Leila Ellis.

Six citizens spoke about the potential datacenter on Coleman Road: George Fisher, Jimmy LeFiles, John Smith, Amy Wiegenstein, Sarah Riggle, and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.

Also, Skyler Ramen(sp?) said his paycheck increases less than rent does and Robert Willis would like speed bumps on Danieli Drive in Lake Park.

Here is a LAKE video playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiG2JQe4jgsEi9L0R2O6z_GM Continue reading →

Videos: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Work 2026-06-08

Update 2026-06-10: Videos: Homestead Tax, Datacenter, Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Regular 2026-06-09.

They took fifteen minutes to review everything: the Lowndes County Commission at their Work Session, Monday, 8:30 AM, June 8, 2026.

They vote tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5:30 PM, with Citizens Wishing to Be Heard at the end.

[3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Widen Old US 41 N, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Work 2026-06-08]
3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Widen Old US 41 N, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Work 2026-06-08

I tried a new video camera. The results are disappointing, as you can see. The sound is good, because of an external microphone. Maybe just get one of those for the regular cameras.

Here is a LAKE video playlist of each LAKE video of each agenda item.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLshUv86fYkiHlh5JBck2utM_6NdTcW1Sm Continue reading →

Packet: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC 2026-06-08

Update 2026-06-08: Videos: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC Work 2026-06-08.

It’s a relatively light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM and its Regular Session 5:30 PM Tuesday evening.

Nobody seems to know anything about the mysteriously withdrawn-by-applicant TWR-2026-01 Salem Church Tower.

There are appointments to three boards, a small Lake Park subdivision rezoning, an alcohol license.

The big ticket items are:

  • eligible project costs up to $13,252.000.00 from TIA for the Old US 41 North widening,
  • a GEFA loan for $2,812,500.00 for bypass pumps at all county sewage lift stations,
  • $2,664,355.90 from TSPLOST for Twin Lakes Road work,
  • $1,248,947.00 for ACCG IRMA Property & Liability Insurance Renewal.

And the county is doing a supplemental agreement for Industrial Authority Series 2026 Bonds.

[Packet: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alscol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC 2026-06-08]
Packet: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alscol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC 2026-06-08

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.

Images of each page are below. Well, many of them. The bulk of the packet is long agreements and resolutions.

See also Continue reading →

Videos: 1 Lake Park, 2 Lowndes County, 4 Valdosta @ GLPC 2026-04-27

Update 2026-05-10: Packet: 3 rezonings, 4 road items, 1 beer and wine, VLCIA bonds, servers, debris hauler @ LCC 2026-05-11.

“Is a daycare center technically a club for babies?” GLPC Chair Steve Miller.

Lowndes County Planning JD Dillard said he would have to ask the zoning administrator for her interpretation, of 7. VA-2026-03 Request, Jonathan Irvin amended PD, mixed-use Child Daycare – School.

The Planning Commissioners found a way not to recommend denial even of the one item for which Valdosta City staff recommended denial, 6. CU-2026-02 Request by Hedgecock Investments LLC, Conditional Use Permit (CUP). They added to one of the conditions. Calvin Graham was the lone vote against. Afterwards he told me he just didn’t think it belonged there.

[Collage @ GLPC 27 April 2026]
Collage @ GLPC 27 April 2026

Everything else sailed through, except the first Lowndes County rezoning got a split vote for recommending approval.

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

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: Lake Park annexation item @ GLPC 2026-04-27

Update 2026-05-10: Videos: 1 Lake Park, 2 Lowndes County, 4 Valdosta @ GLPC 2026-04-27.

Due to some confusion about who to ask, the packet materials for the one Lake Park item came in after the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting on April 27, 2026.

  1. LP-2026-01 Request by the City of Lake Park to Rezone upon Annexation 1.12 acres
    from Single-Family Residential (R-1 County)
    to Single-Family Residential (R-15 Lake Park).
    The subject property is located at the East side of Long Pond Road, in Lake Park, Georgia,
    (Portion of Tax Map 0221C Parcels 002 & 003).

[Packet: Lake Park, annexation item, Calvary Baptist Church, @ GLPC 2026-04-27]
Packet: Lake Park, annexation item, Calvary Baptist Church, @ GLPC 2026-04-27

These packet materials are on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below. Continue reading →