Now you can see what they were looking at: those documents are on the LAKE website for REZ-2013-08 MFH, for a subdivision on Roberts Road immediately next to Moody AFB.

First County Planner Jason Davenport said a few words about the TRC recommendation.

Commissioner Ted Raker (Hahira) wanted clarification about this application would require additional changes to meet the requirements of the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), specifically that it would not help with safety, fire, health, general welfare, etc. “In fact seven out of the eleven were negative.”

Davenport confirmed that that was correct, and that was staff’s analysis. Staff paid by your tax dollars, so you shouldn’t have to file an open records request and pay ten dollars when staff could just put it on the web with the GLPC agenda, which they also don’t now but could easily put on the web.

Nobody spoke for the request. Numerous people spoke in opposition.

Tom Kurrie said in 38 years of practicing law I’ve never seen … two applications for the construction of Moody housing.” Kurrie quoted from the applicant’s submittal letter about the property being wholly contingent on use for Moody housing and on a contract to be awarded. Kurrie said that contract had actually already been awarded to someone else. He went on for more than six minutes, largely naming specific people.

Ron Borders spoke against as the chair of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee and on behalf of the Chamber’s 1,400 members because he believed it would affect the future of Moody AFB.

Jeff Marshall of Cat Creek Road because it would affect his family farm.

James ? spoke against, saying he was one of the initial contractors who didn’t get the deal, and he had unfavorable words to say about the applicant. He also said he just gained a lot of respect for the Chamber.

Commission Discussion included wondering if they’d gotten a response from Moody. Davenport shuffled through his papers and couldn’t find it, but said he had forwarded it by email. Here it is, a letter from Diondra R. Nichols 23 July 2013, saying

In response to subject, see email below stating Moody supports guidelines established in the MAZ.

New Commissioner Celine Gladwin said she was surprised nobody was representing the applicant. She said the application was huge, the size of a town, and not only didn’t meet the code, it was also lacking many elements needed for a planned development of such a scale.

Commissioner Jody Hall wondered how GLPC could approve this request and deny any other request in the MAZ; he said he couldn’t.

Commissioner Ted Raker moved to deny the rezoning application because:

1. It was not fully compliant with the ULDC
2. It was not consistent of the stated intent of the zoning district
3. It was not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan

Commissioner Tommy Willis seconded. With no further discussion, they unanimously approved the motion.

That’s merely advisory, of course; the County Commission would decide. That should be easy, since the applicant has withdrawn the application.

Here’s the video:

Planning Commission on subdivision next to Moody AFB, REZ-2013-08 MFH Tract A
Regular Session, Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC),
Video by Gretchen Quarterman for Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange (LAKE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 29 July 2013.

-jsq

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