Two sports-related rezonings will be considered by the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC)
Monday evening, for a recommendation by GLPC and a later decision by
the Lowndes County Commission (LCC).
LAKE has no board packet to show, because
Lowndes County has not responded to a LAKE open records request of 8:00 AM Tuesday,
four working days ago,
even though the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) requires a response within three working days.
As a placeholder, I’ve stuck in a couple of maps of the rezoning areas
from the Lowndes County Tax Assessors maps.
Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, April 17, 2023 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, April 24, 2023 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia
It took the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC)
about an hour to consider the Valdosta and Lowndes County rezonings.
Each case had quite a few citizen speakers and much Commissioner discussion.
FINAL ACTION by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta, Georgia, Lowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 5:30 p.m.
Point of Contact: JD Dillard, County Planner, (229) 671-2430
FINAL ACTION by the City of Valdosta Mayor-Council, 216 E. Central Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia, Valdosta City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd Floor Thursday, March 9th, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Point of Contact: Matt Martin – Planning and Zoning Administrator (229) 259-3563
Videos: One rezoning each, Valdosta and Lwondes County @ GLPC 2023-02-27
Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), Regular Session, February 27, 2023, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, .
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE).
-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!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate
The one Valdosta case before the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
tomorrow evening is for rezoning 1.76 acres from R-6 to R-M at 915 West Street,
“to develop it as an apartment complex with 12 dwelling units.”
The one Lowndes County case
is for rezoning about 8 acres from R-1 (Low Density Residential) to P-D (Planned Development)
on Janes Road at Smith Street.
That’s all I know, because the county has still not sent the relevant board packet materials in response to a LAKE open records request.
As a placeholder, I put in a map from the Lowndes County Tax Assessors.
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.
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.
If you do not think “commercial and shopping options in Lowndes County”
should include a development foothold in an agricultural and forestry area,
here are ways you can oppose it: a survey, a petition, letters, call your Commissioner, and speak in the Public Hearing.
Which appears to be sufficient notice according to
O.C.G.A. 36-66-4(a): “A local government taking action resulting in a zoning decision shall provide for a hearing on the proposed action. At least 15 but not more than 45 days prior to the date of the hearing, the local government shall cause to be published within a newspaper of general circulation within the territorial boundaries of the local government a notice of the hearing. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the hearing.”
The notice says opponents of the rezoning have to file a disclosure report about campaign contributions.
The same law, O.C.G.A. 36-67A-3 (2010)
says the applicant must also file a disclosure report.
I will include a request for that in the LAKE open records request before the January 24th Public Hearing.
Valdosta Daily Times, City and Public Notices, January 8, 2023,
The newspaper of record reported on the unusual redo of a zoning decision by the Lowndes County Commission, noting the Commissioners did not follow the law in at least two ways.
But it did not say who discovered those infractions: the County Attorney? The County Planner? The Chairman who cast the tie-breaking vote? Somebody who sued or threatened to sue?
Want to dig into that question, VDT?
Meanwhile, the Commission will proceed with correcting its infractions in three agenda items this evening.
VALDOSTA — The Lowndes County Commission will have to revisit
a controversial rezoning decision in light of a discovery that the
original vote was invalid due to a “failure to follow zoning
procedures.”
The Valdosta meeting about grants to non-profits from American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) funds consisted of
a five-minute welcome by Valdosta City Manager Mark Barber,
and a summary of the application process by Mike Smith of Valdosta United Way,
followed by a half hour of questions and answers.
![[Agenda and rezonings @ GLPC 2023-04-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-04-24--glpc-agenda/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 27 February 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-02-27--glpc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Valdosta and Lowndes County cases @ GLPC 2023-02-27]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-02-27--glpc-packet/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 30 January 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-01-30--glpc-videos/many.jpg)
![[Packet materials for REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-01-30--glpc-packet/thomas.jpg)
![[Cases @ GLPC 2023-01-30]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-01-30--glpc-packet/many.jpg)
![[Trash bags across GA 122 from the rezoning notice sign]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-01-12--dg-survey/20230113_095210.jpg)
![[Public Notice and Future Development Map, REZ-2022-20, GA 122 @ Skipper Bridge Road]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-01-08--public-notice/many.jpg)
![[Chuck Dinkins, Valdosta Finance Director, and Mike Smith, Valdosta United Way ]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/valdosta/2022-05-27--arpa-non-profit-videos/sddefault.jpg)