Tag Archives: Salem Church Road

Videos: Old State Road Subdivision, Salem Church tower again, Hahira setbacks, Valdosta C-C and P-D @ GLPC 2026-08-31

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To answer the squabbling at the end of the last item, 7. VA-2026-10 RST Construction, NW corner of Cherry Creek Rd & Lake Laurie Dr., about which side got the most time to speak: after 38 minutes of introduction and staff presentation, Bill Langdale Jr. got 20 minutes to speak, which is more than the 15 minutes each side was supposed to have.

Watch for yourself in these LAKE videos of the August 31, 2026, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission meeting.

[Collage @ GLPC 31 August 2026 --LAKE]
Collage @ GLPC 31 August 2026 –LAKE

After almost two hours on that item, they had two tie votes, 4 to 4, each broken by acting Chairman James Miller.

The first motion was to recommend approval. James Miller agonized for a while, then voted no.

Then they had a motion to table. James Miller voted yes on that one.

They also voted to table 4. TWR-2026-01 Salem Church Communication Facility, Old Valdosta Rd. N., Hahira, that one unanimously, and until a variance, presumably by the Valdosta-Lowndes Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBOA).

For everything else, they recommended approval unanimously.

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

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: Old State Road Subdivision, Salem Church tower again, Hahira setbacks, Valdosta C-C and P-D @ GLPC 2026-08-31

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Update 2026-09-01: Videos: Old State Road Subdivision, Salem Church tower again, Hahira setbacks, Valdosta C-C and P-D @ GLPC 2026-08-31.

The communications tower withdrawn before the May GLPC meeting is back for August 31, 2026. It’s still on Old Valdosta Road near Salem Church Road.

Now they reveal it is for Verizon. And unlike the other recent Verizon case, TWR-2026-02 from June, the county included the propagation maps and the certified engineer letter in the board packet, without LAKE having to squeeze those things out of them.

Verizon is also offering an out for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC): send the case to ZBOA. If the Valdosta-Lowndes County Zoning Board of Appeals denies, it, presumably it’s done for. But if ZBOA approves it, they send it back to GLPC to deal with again.

[Collage, Packet @ GLPC 2026-08-31 --LAKE]
Collage, Packet @ GLPC 2026-08-31 –LAKE

The other county case this month is for a small subdivision on Old State Road.

There’s one Hahira case, on Old Stagecoach Trail, for a setback variance to build an addition on the back of their residence.

Staff like the first Valdosta case, to establish consistent zoning across the entire parcel, on East Park Avenue.

But staff recommend denial of the other Valdosta case, for a Planned Development at Cherry Creek Road and Lake Laurie Drive, finding it inconsistent three ways with city standards.

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.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, August 24, 2026 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, August 31, 2026 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Valdosta City Hall Annex
300 North Lee Street, Valdosta, Georgia 31601 Continue reading →

Draft Minutes: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26

And, finally, the draft minutes for the May 26, 2026, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

[Draft Minutes: Lowndes County, small subdivision and comm. tower, Valdosta doublewide and, contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26]
Draft Minutes: Lowndes County, small subdivision and comm. tower, Valdosta doublewide and, contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26

In the LAKE videos of the following month’s June 29, 2026, GLPC meeting, Gretchen Quarterman noted, “The approval of the minutes was tabled until next meeting because not all commissioners had received, or reviewed the minutes.”

https://youtu.be/YbAOx7HWXEM?si=UNTUFyFILY2xKyfg

So maybe the May minutes will get approved in July.

These draft minutes are on the LAKE website, with images of each page below.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26

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

Update 2026-06-07: Packet: Appointments to 3 Boards, 1 small subdivision, Old US 41 N widening, Alcohol, Sewage, insurance, bonds, and roads @ LCC 2026-06-08.

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of all the cases, except the communications tower, which was withdrawn by applicant.

They spent by far the most time (17 and a half minutes) on 5. CU-2026-03 Request by Latoyona Speed and San Antonio Graham for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for placement of a mobile home in a Single-Family Residential (R-6) zoning district. They even suggested orienting the doublewide parallel with the street, until they realized that would leave only half a foot setback on each end.

[Videos: Lowndes County small subdivision, Communications tower withdrawn, Valdosta doublewide and, contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26]
Videos: Lowndes County small subdivision, Communications tower withdrawn, Valdosta doublewide and, contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by John S. Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.

See also the Continue reading →

Packet: communications tower and minutes of previous meeting @ GLPC 2026-05-26

Update 2026-05-30: Videos: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-26.

Yesterday we finally got half of the missing items from the board packet for the Tuesday evening Planning Commission. We got the draft Minutes of the previous meeting, but not the materials for the withdrawn communications tower item.

[Packet: communications tower @ GLPC 2026-05-25, Minutes of previous meeting @ GLPC 2026-04-27]
Packet: communications tower @ GLPC 2026-05-25, Minutes of previous meeting @ GLPC 2026-04-27

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) almost never modifies their minutes from the initial draft. For example, for the June 30, 2025, GLPC meeting, there is no difference, other than the lack of a big slanted DRAFT marker, between the draft minutes and the approved minutes, by my visual and mechanical comparison. The approved minutes came from the Archive Center linked at the top of the Agenda Center page on lowndescounty.com.

The county could just go ahead and put the minutes of the previous meeting in the agenda center when they post the agenda for the current meeting.

The agenda also is not approved until the actual meeting, and sometimes changes. For example, for the May GLPC meeting, the TWR-2026-01 item was withdrawn after the agenda was posted.

I do not understand what advantage the county thinks it derives from lack of transparency.

We got the other Lowndes County parts of the GLPC packet for May 25 on May 22, in response to a LAKE GORA request of May 19. The City of Valdosta had already sent their items, and the other municipalities had responded saying they had none.

On May 24, I asked the county again: Continue reading →

Packet: Lowndes County small subdivision and communications tower, Valdosta doublewide and contractor office @ GLPC 2026-05-25

Update 2026-05-28: Packet: communications tower and minutes of previous meeting @ GLPC 2026-05-25.

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) will meet Tuesday instead of its usual Monday, because of the Memorial Day Holiday.

Valdosta City staff recommend denial of a request to put a doublewide mobile home on N Barack Obama Boulevard because it might gasp! be unsightly. Nevermind the floor plan looks more substantial than many a stick-built house.

Lowndes County staff are fine with a tiny subdivision on US 41 S just north of the planned Lake Park Fire Station.

We don’t know their take on a communications tower near Meetinghouse Creek, upstream from the Little River west of Hahira, because they did not send that part of the board packet materials.

[Collage @ GLPC Packet 2026-05-26]
Collage @ GLPC Packet 2026-05-26

Here is the agenda.

The board packet materials, received from Lowndes County in response to a LAKE open records request, are on the LAKE website. Except for the materials they did not send for TWR-2026-01 Salem Church Communication Facility, Old Valdosta Road N., Hahira, GA ~25ac, Parcel 0008-010, and the minutes of the previous GLPC meeting. For the tower I’ve inserted a Lowndes County Tax Assessors map.

Images of each packet page we’ve got are below.

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

Monday, May 18, 2026 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia 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!
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