An individual with a request about family land
got told by staff he didn’t fit the letter of the zoning code,
in sharp contrast to the
Moody Housing item
which got to slide on traffic, safety, use of local contractors,
and vague affirmations from the developer that maybe there’d
be no mold or unpaid subcontractors this time.
Most of the attendees didn’t care, and walked out as soon
as this item started.
But some of the Commissioners did care.
County Planner Jason Davenport said nobody is currently renting the property and “you have the recommendation from staff”.
The applicant said the land had been deeded by grandmother
to family members years ago,
and one now wanted to sell his part.
The
TRC’s analysis
said the request didn’t meet ULDC requirements and
the
TRC’s recommendation was laconic:
3) REZ-2013-10 Stubbs, 4794 Stubbs Lane, 0069 063, 1.19 ac., 1 lot, E-A to R-1, well/septic
a) The TRC recommended denial of the request unanimously.
Commissioner Celine Gladwin asked how big the parcel applicant’s cousin got. One acre. Another Commissioner asked if purchase of additional land was not an option. Nope. Gladwin wondered if the adjoining owners would be interested in buying applicant’s property. He said he’d just as soon give it to them, since they were relatives.
Here’s Part 1 of 4:
Little guys must stick to the letter of the ULDC Part 1 of 4:
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 July 2013.
John Bailey of Hahira also spoke for,
saying he thought this was a hardship case, because they’d been paying
taxes on it for years and couldn’t sell it.
Here’s Part 2 of 4:
Little guys must stick to the letter of the ULDC Part 2 of 4:
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 July 2013.
Someone got up to speak against but thought it was about a property on Eager Road, so he sat back down.
Commissioner Tommy Willis asked how that one acre got cut out.
County Planner Jason Davenport said they had cut out that one
acre back in 2004, before the ULDC was passed in 2006,
but it’s not consistent with the ULDC.
He said he had “credible report” that the people who did this
“were told” that they needed to do something about the zoning.
Here’s Part 3 of 4:
Little guys must stick to the letter of the ULDC Part 3 of 4:
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 July 2013.
Commissioner Gladwin wondered about an acre across the street
that had been rezoned.
Davenport said it was an acre for a son by James Simpson in 2005;
staff recommended against it, GLPC recommended for, and County Commission
approved the rezoning.
He said that was
“before we had our provisions for family ties”.
Chairman Johnny Ball asked if this was a family ties situation.
Davenport said “in name only” and since the applicant wanted
to sell to somebody not a family member, that “we wouldn’t count
this as family ties”.
He said his primary concern was “I’ve learned that zoning can be contagious”
and other R-1 zoning might follow.
Commissioner Chip Wildes said “it would make sense to help this family”
and he made a motion to approve the request.
There was a second, no discussion, and the motion passed 6 to 1,
with Commissioner Gladwin in opposition.
Now I’m not in favor of lots of small lots, either, but the contrast between the way little guys and big guys are treated by staff is remarkable.
Here’s Part 4 of 4:
Little guys must stick to the letter of the ULDC Part 4 of 4:
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 July 2013.
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