Tag Archives: LAKE

Data Center Prospects in Lowndes County –Lowndes County, GA 2026-03-09

So people can catch up on what is happening with datacenters, here is Lowndes County’s astonishingly informative post on the process going forward, illustrated and annotated with what has already happened.

This post does not mean that I or LAKE or any organization with which I am associated are in favor of or opposed to everything of anything in the county’s post. There are and will be plenty of other posts for such opinions.

[Data Center Prospects in Lowndes County, by Lowndes County, GA, 2026-03-09]
Data Center Prospects in Lowndes County, by Lowndes County, GA, 2026-03-09

Data Center Prospects in Lowndes County

Lowndes County, Georgia — On July 8, 2025, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning of REZ-2025-11, Coleman Road~719 acres from its current C-C (Crossroads Commercial) and CON (Conservation District) zoning classification to M-1 (Light Manufacturing) and CON (Conservation District) zoning classification with the following seven (7) conditions: Continue reading →

Packet: 4 Board Appointments, 1 Alcohol, 1 Easement Exchange, 2 Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC 2026-03-23

Update 2026-03-24: Videos: 4 Board Appointments, 1 Alcohol, 1 Easement Exchange, 2 Solid Waste Franchises @ LCC Work 2026-03-23.

This week, the Lowndes County Commission does not plan to approve spending any tax funds.

It does plan to appoint members to four boards.

And to approve a beer and wine license for a newly built establishment, plus a related easement exchange.

And to approve the usual two solid waste collection franchises.

[Packet: 4 Board Appointments, 1 Alcohol, 1 Easement Exchange, 2 Solid Waste Franchises, @ LCC 2026-03-23-24]
Packet: 4 Board Appointments, 1 Alcohol, 1 Easement Exchange, 2 Solid Waste Franchises, @ LCC 2026-03-23-24

Here is the agenda.

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

Images of each page are below.

LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor

Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Regular 2026-03-10

The Lowndes County Commissioners voted to table 5.a. REZ-2026-04 Jay Ma Khodiyar, 5507 Central St. Clyattville, R-10 To C-G until their first meeting in May.

They unanimously approved the other two rezonings, and all the other agenda items, at the Regular Session of Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

However, they spent almost 20 minutes on 5.c. REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, 3910 Val Way, R-A – P-D To P-D. One speaker got tired of them being called trailers and said they called them manufactured homes.

[Collage @ LCC 10 March 2026]
Collage @ LCC 10 March 2026

There were five Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, all against datacenters. One thought datacenters should go out in the woods in the country. I beg to differ.

They went into an executive session, but it’s not clear they said what for.

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 Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Work 2026-03-09

Update 2026-03-12: Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Regular 2026-03-10.

Mary Beth Brownlee did not appear to report on One Valdosta-Lowndes (OVL). We don’t know why. They didn’t say.

At their Monday morning Work Session, the Lowndes County Commission heard the three rezoning requests. They had the most discussion about the third one, 5.c. REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, ~34ac, 3910 Val Way R-A – P-D To P-D. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall seemed concerned that it’s about mobile homes. That is affordable housing these days.

They had less to say about the other items.

They voted Tuesday evening; LAKE videos of that to come.

[Collage @ LCC 9 March 2026]
Collage @ LCC 9 March 2026

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 Continue reading →

Packet: One-Valdosta Lowndes Report, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09

Update 2026-03-12: Videos: 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing Loan, LMIG @ LCC Work 2026-03-09.

In the Work Session Monday morning, Mary Beth Brownlee will report on One Valdosta-Lowndes (OVL). Be there or watch it in the forthcoming LAKE video, because the Lowndes County Commission does not post videos of its work sessions.

The rezoning the Planning Commission recommended against last month because of inadequate site plan now has an updated plan. That’s REZ-2026-06 Val Del Mobile Home Park, ~34ac, 3910 Val Way, R-A & P-D to P-D, County Utilities. The other two rezonings look much the same.

Also on the agenda is $1,491,023.01 more from GDOT for resurfacing Radar Site Road, Coffee Road, Hamby Lane, and Webb Road North. And another $1,100,000.00 from TIA for Kinderlou-Clyattville Road Paving and Drainage Improvements. Plus acceptance of a subdivision’s infrastructure, a beer and wine license, and a half-million dollar housing loan.

[Packet: One-Valdosta Lowndes, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09]
Packet: One-Valdosta Lowndes, 3 Rezonings, 1 Subdivision, Paving, Alcohol, Housing, LMIG @ LCC 2026-03-09

The Lowndes County Commissioners vote Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

Here is the agenda.

The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website. Images of each page are below.

See also the Continue reading →

Videos: 3 Lowndes County rezonings, one recommended against @ GLPC 2026-02-23

Two new Commissioners joined the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) this year: John “Mac” McCall joined in January for the first time. This February meeting was the first for Brian Touchton.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial because of inadequate site plan for 3. REZ-2026-04 VII7B, 5507 Central Street (Clyattville), 0095-022, R-10 to C-G.

GLPC recommended approval for the other two, with an added condition for 4. REZ-2026-05: 1925 Davis@84, U S Highway 84 West, 0059-090, ~21.7 acres.

[Collage @ LCC 23 February 2026]
Collage @ LCC 23 February 2026

GLPC recommends. The Lowndes County Commission will decide these three rezonings on March 10, 2026.

Here 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 Continue reading →

Packet: the 3 Lowndes County rezonings @ GLPC 2026-02-23

Received in response to a LAKE open records request, the board packet materials for Monday’s Greater Lowndes Planning Commission meeting are on the LAKE website with images below.

[Collage @ GLPC Packet 2026-02-23]
Collage @ GLPC Packet 2026-02-23

The delay, once again, was because I didn’t send the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) request until yesterday.

Although if the Lowndes County would put the board packet on lowndescounty.com, nobody would have to play open records tag.

Apparently two Planning Commissioners during the meeting said they got these materials late or not at all. So putting them on the county’s own website would let anyone pick them up, even Planning Commissioners.

See also Continue reading →

Agenda: Three Lowndes County Rezonings @ GLPC 2026-02-23

Update 2026-02-24: Packet: the 3 Lowndes County rezonings @ GLPC 2026-02-23.

February is a short month, and this Monday evening is the Regular Session of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC).

They have on their agenda three rezonings in Lowndes County, one commercial in Clyattville, and the other two subdivsions on US 84 and Val Del Road.

GLPC recommends. The Lowndes County Commission will decide on March 10, 2026.

[Collage @ GLPC Agenda 2026-02-23]
Collage @ GLPC Agenda 2026-02-23

Here is the GLPC agenda.

We don’t have the board packet, because I got the date wrong and only sent the open records request this morning.

Lowndes County could put the board packet on its own website, and nobody would have to play this game of tag.

Instead, I have included maps of the subject properties from the Lowndes County Tax Assessors.

Meanwhile, the county did send the draft minutes from the previous GLPC meeting. Those are 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, February 16, 2026 5:30 P.M. Work Session
Monday, February 23, 2026 5:30 P.M. Regular Session
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue, Valdosta, Georgia

Continue reading →

Meetings Cancelled this week –Lowndes County Commission 2026-02-23

Here’s what they wrote, “The Lowndes County Commission Meetings scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026, at 8:30 am and Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 5:30 pm, have been cancelled due to a lack of agenda items requiring attention at this time.”

[Lowndes County Commission Meetings Cancelled this week 2026-02-23, Work Session Monday morning and Regular Session Tuesday evening]
Lowndes County Commission Meetings Cancelled this week 2026-02-23, Work Session Monday morning and Regular Session Tuesday evening

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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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Videos: 3 rezonings, 1 Utility Easement Termination, Orr Road Bids, Backup Generators for Pruitt Health Facilities @ LCC Regular 2026-02-10

Two weeks ago at their Regular Session, the Lowndes County Commissioners discussed for nine minutes 5.c. REZ-2026-03 Villanueva Property, 6201 Union Rd, 6ac, E-A to C-G., mostly about fence colors. They ended up approving the rezoning with the staff-recommended conditions, except not the one about fence color.

They also talked for six and a half minutes about the agenda item they added, 6.b. Temporary Burn Ordinance.

Gretchen Quarterman noted, “There have been over 100 grass fires so far this year. Lowndes County (and surrounding counties) is in extreme drought. This temporary ordinance is made in conjunction with Georgia Forestry to protect property, people, resources, etc. This burn ban includes “recreational” fired and fires inside of a burn barrel. It does not ban outdoor grilling of food. (or so I thought I heard).”

She added, “The text of the county FB post is as follows:”

“Due to prolonged dry weather and worsening drought conditions, outdoor burning of yard debris is now restricted in the unincorporated areas of Lowndes County. To reduce wildfire risks and protect public safety, property, and natural resources, all open burning of yard debris, including leaves, limbs, grass, and other vegetative matter, is prohibited within the unincorporated area of Lowndes County until drought conditions improve.”

They passed all the agenda items unanimously.

[Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026]
Collage @ LCC 10 February 2026

Three citizens wished to be heard: Gretchen Quarterman about solid waste and recycling, Mary Roe about Paving of Green Road, and Joel Deon about Data Center concerns.

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 Continue reading →