Category Archives: Valdosta City Council

Packet: Five Valdosta rezonings, one Lowndes County, Lake Park Case pulled @ GLPC 2023-05-22

Update 2023-06-11: Videos: Five Valdosta rezonings, one Lowndes County, Lake Park Case pulled @ GLPC 2023-05-22.

These redevelopment rezonings all look unremarkable, although one never knows who will turn out to be in opposition or support.

In addition to the five Valdosta items and the one Lowndes County item on the agenda for Monday evening’s Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting, there was a Lake Park item, but it was pulled. I have included the packet materials for Lake Park anyway, for comparison in case it turns up in a later meeting.

[Rezoning Maps @ GLPC Packet 2023-05-22]
Rezoning Maps @ GLPC Packet 2023-05-22

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

Here is the agenda.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission ~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, May 15, 2023 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, May 22, 2023 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Agenda: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27

Update 2023-03-29: Videos: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27.

All four Planning Commission cases for tonight are Valdosta cases.

[Agenda, cases, GLPC 2023-03-27]
Agenda, cases, GLPC 2023-03-27

Here is the agenda.

Thanks to Valdosta City Planner for sending those board packet items, which are on the LAKE website.

When we get the minutes for the previous GLPC meeting from Lowndes County, we will put that there, too.

Update 2023-03-29: those previous minutes are in the post with the LAKE videos of the most recent GLPC session.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission ~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, March 20, 2023 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, March 27, 2023 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Videos: Four Valdosta cases @ GLPC 2023-03-27

All four cases got recommendations from the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) for approval by the Valdosta Mayor and Council. However, all but the first and last were on split votes, and the last had one Commissioner recuse himself.

[Collage @ GLPC 27 March 2023]
Collage @ GLPC 27 March 2023

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

See also the agenda and the board packet items for the Valdosta cases. Lowndes County later sent the minutes of the previous GLPC meeting in response to a LAKE open records request, after only one reminder. Continue reading →

Videos: One rezoning each, Valdosta and Lowndes County @ GLPC 2023-02-27

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.

The one Lowndes County case got a 6:2 recommendation to deny. It will be decided by the Lowndes County Commission tomorrow evening, March 14, 2023.

The one Valdosta case got a unanimous recommendation to approve. It was decided by the Valdosta Mayor and Council on March 9th.

[Collage @ LCC 27 February 2023]
Collage @ LCC 27 February 2023

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

See also the agenda and the board packet materials for the Valdosta item. And the board packet materials for the Lowndes County rezoning that the county got around to sending the day after the GLPC meeting are linked into the agenda post for the deciding Lowndes County Commission meeting.

Here’s a LAKE video playlist:


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

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One case each: Valdosta, Lowndes County @ GLPC 2023-02-27

Update 2023-03-13: Videos: One rezoning each, Valdosta and Lwondes County @ GLPC 2023-02-27.

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.

[Valdosta and Lowndes County cases @ GLPC 2023-02-27]
Valdosta and Lowndes County cases @ GLPC 2023-02-27

Here is the agenda. The board packet materials that Matt Martin sent on February 14, 2023, is on the LAKE website, and images from it are below after the agenda. Continue reading →

Videos: Hahira Bojangles with gas station rezoning @ GLPC 2023-01-30

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.

[Collage @ LCC 30 January 2023]
Collage @ LCC 30 January 2023

Local attorney Brad Folsom spoke for. Nobody spoke against.

The Valdosta rezoning also got a unanimous recommendation of approval, 5. VA-2023-01 3095 James Road Rezone 1.92 acres from PMD to C-H. So did the Lowndes County rezoning, 6. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Highway, 0136-029C ~10 acres R-1 to R-A.

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

See also the agenda and the board packet.

For the Lowndes County rezoning, 6. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Highway, 0136-029C ~10 acres R-1 to R-A, see Packet: Agricultural rezoning, Tourism, lot purchase, Firefighters, Sewer Main Open Cut @ LCC 2023-02-13. Continue reading →

Videos: Opposition gets Dollar General on GA 122 & Skipper Bridge voted down @ GLPC 2022-11-28

Update 2022-12-09: Agenda: Sprawl on Skipper Bridge Road and Purchase of Land Between the Rivers @ LCC 2022-12-12.

Update 2022-12-09: Massive citizen opposition to development foothold in agricultural and forestry area @ GLPC 2022-12-08.

The eight citizens who spoke against the Dollar General rezoning at GA 122 and Skipper Bridge Road get star billing.

[Collage @ GLPC 28 November 2022]
Collage @ GLPC 28 November 2022

“We don’t need to have new commercial zoning in our area.” —Gretchen Quarterman

“We have no interest in adding convenience to our peaceful little community.” —Becky Rowntree Harris

“The river is literally my back yard.” —Danielle Jackson

“Ten-day is an absolute joke.” —Samuel Heath Dawson

“And the other 112 acres would be the next battle.” —William Pope

“Put it across from Ashley Paulk’s development.” —Roxanne Newton

“Even with the goose egg [?] it’s still a Dollar General and I do not want this.” —Dan Richardson

“Please take the wishes of the many, versus the dollars of the few.” —Last Speaker

GLPC voted 7:1 to recommend disapproval. The actual rezoning decision will be made by the Lowndes County Commission at its Regular Session, Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, 5:30 PM. If you don’t want that store in an agricultural area, attracting still more subdivisions still farther north in the county, call or write your county commissioner or come speak against at that meeting. If somebody wants to start a petition, that might also help.

Or you can jump to the full meeting, in which you’ll learn the Hahira deannexation was unanimously voted against, GLPC has a new board member, Ron Bythwood, and a new Chair and Vice-Chair starting in January.

So, about 5. REZ-2022-20 Teramore, Hwy 122/Skipper Bridge Rd, 0067 051, 3.0 ac.E-A to C-C. Continue reading →

Big rezoning inside Valdosta among 5 Valdosta cases, 2 Hahira, 3 Lowndes County @ GLPC 2022-11-28

Update 2022-11-29: Dollar General, GA 122 & Skipper Bridge Road @ GLPC 2022-11-28.

Inside the City of Valdosta, something may finally happen with the Loch-Winn Farms property off of James Road and Riverside Road, near the Withlacoochee River that has been becalmed since 2008. The inland part of the property may be rezoned for 130 house lots.

Hahira may get a Red Owl drive-through coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. And a landowner on Hagan Bridge Road wants to deannex some property from Hahira.

Lowndes County may get a subdivision way out west of Snake Nation Road, near the Little River: REZ-2022-18 Hilton, Chug A Lug Road, 0033 023B, ~8.3 acres.

[Collage @ GLPC 2022-11-28]
Collage @ GLPC 2022-11-28

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

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
~ Lowndes County ~ City of Valdosta ~ City of Dasher ~
~ City of Hahira ~ City of Lake Park ~ City of Remerton ~
Monday, November 21, 2022 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, November 28, 2022 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Videos: FY24 5311, USGS, Code Red, Disaster, Hazard, Facilities, TIA, FY23 Law, SDS, Exit 13 @ LCC 2022-10-25

Everything passed unanimously at the Regular Session of the Lowndes County Commission on Tuesday, October 27, 2022. There were a few questions, but nothing contentious.

[Collage @ LCC 2022-10-25]
Collage @ LCC 2022-10-25

Chairman Bill Slaughter said Valdosta had supplied all the needed signatures from the City of Valdosta for the Service Delivery Agreement, although two of the smaller cities (unnamed) still needed to sign. City Manager Paige Dukes whispered to the Chairman that Valdosta City Council Andy Gibbs was in the room, and the Chairman thanked him.

The County Manager in her Report said Finance Director Stephanie Black had finished the “budget report” and it is on the county’s website for use by Commission, staff, and citizens. She didn’t say where, but I’m guessing she meant the Operating Budget, Fiscal Year 2023. She also said the county is going to update its noise ordinance to “get in line with citizens’ expectations”. On November 7th at 4-7 PM there wil be an Internet session with Windstream.

Rachel Thrasher said the county’s new videos have gotten 6,000 views in six weeks. She didn’t say where. But here’s one, on facebook, about golf cart accidents.

Robert Tracy proposed a special session of the Commission that citizens could attend, about property taxes. Apparently as the Tax Assessors catch up with a many-year backlog of appraisals, there have been some sudden rises in appraisals.

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

See also the LAKE videos of the previous morning’s Work Session and agenda and board packet.

Continue reading →

Videos: River Gauges, Lift Station, Disaster Relief, Hazards, Facilities, TIA, Service Delivery @ LCC 2022-10-24

Most items sailed through this morning’s Work Session of the Lowndes County Commission. They vote tomorrow, Tuesday evening, at 5:30 PM.

The county continues to be unhappy with the City of Valdosta about the Service Delivery Agreement.

Chairman Bill Slaughter asked to have the Patrol Car Laptop Lease tabled for further clarification.


[River Gauges, Hazard Mitigation, Facilities, Service Delivery, Lift Station, Reports @ LCC 2022-09-24]
River Gauges, Hazard Mitigation, Facilities, Service Delivery, Lift Station, Reports @ LCC 2022-09-24

Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen, followed by a LAKE video playlist. See also the agenda and board packet. Continue reading →