Not on
the agenda,
they started with
a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan.
Expecting from
the email announcement about the Comprehensive Plan
that this would be a typical SGRC tables-and-easels mill-about meeting,
I didn’t show up on the dot and was quite surprised to find
the Planning Commission and staff in their usual spots.
See separate post.
Here are the LAKE videos with some notes, followed by a video playlist. Continue reading
The owner of
a parcel on US 41 South wants to rezone
from R-10 back to Estate Agriculture.
That Lowndes County case is the opposite of the Hahira case that wants
rezoning
from single-family to multi-family,
and there are many other cases in between, plus
another cemetery case!
Here’s the agenda for Monday’s Regular Session, and also for last Monday’s Work Session, even though it doesn’t say that.
Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
Continue reading
Lowndes County City of Valdosta City of Dasher City of Hahira City of Lake Park
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue
Tuesday, January 25, 2016 * 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing
The secretive Project Max container company
better not be like when the Industrial Authority bragged about a prospect that would bring in 300 clean jobs and it turned out to be
a private prison,
which fortunately (after much public opposition) never happened.
At last Tuesday’s Lowndes County Commissioner Regular Session, nearby landowner Mike Paine said he is afraid of many things, because it’s a rush job
and nobody has told him anything concrete.
The Industrial Authority, now called the Development Authority, says we should
trust them.
It would help if they wouldn’t say things like no emissions but steam,
when burning natural gas produces CO2,
and if they would admit that methane often leaks, and then it’s a far worse
greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
5.a. REZ-2016-01 Project Max, Rocky Ford Rd, E-A to M-2 123 acres
Video. About the public hearing for rezoning from Estate Agricultural (E-A) to heavy-duty manufacturing (M-2) for the hush-hush Project Max, the big-fish container manufacturing plant proposed for Rocky Ford Road, next to the protected watershed of Mud Swamp and near Valdosta Airport, see Continue reading
Even the Planning Commissioners weren’t told what company “Project Max” is, because
the Development Authority is still bidding the location as one of two
being considered by the company.
See also the
agenda
the
previous update.
Planning Commissioners did have quite a few questions about expansion, appropriate zoning, any potential pollution or contamination, etc.
Naturally, the Planning Commission recommended approval,
so the actual decision will be before the County Commission
next Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, here are links to the LAKE videos of the Planning Commission, with a few notes, followed by a video playlist. Continue reading
We still don’t know what company
might locate on Rocky Ford Road,
but we’re told it’s clean,
needs water to cool its boiler which will be fired by natural gas,
that it rejected Bassford Business Park because of air quality
(too near Sterling Chemical?), and we have the location of the new site,
which turns out to be on
land owned by Langdale Capital Assets, Inc.
Speaking for the rezoning from the Development Authority were Executive Director Andrea Schruijer, Industry Coordinator Stan Crance, and Chairman Tom Call. Every Lowndes County Commissioner was present. When asked how an agenda the same day was enough notice, Lowndes County Planner Jason Davenport said the Special Called Meeting was actually announced in the Valdosta Daily Times last week. Also that the rezoning will only take effect if the Development Authority buys the land first. Gretchen asked a few questions about parking: if the business is going to expand, will there be enough? Someone told Gretchen that the company would have solar power.
We shall see. And you will be able to see this meeting by tomorrow in the LAKE videos Gretchen took. Continue reading
Update 7:30 PM 5 Jan 2016: The land is owned by Langdale, and why not Bassford Business Park.
Henry Manufacturing (the one in Oregon? Decatur, GA?) on the agenda for a Special Called Meeting of the Planning Commission, just announced today, for 5:30 PM today. Apparently the Development Authority thinks it’s landed a big fish and wants a rezoning for it. Which 134 acres on Rocky Ford Road is not clear: there’s no such size tract according to the Tax Assessors’ map.
All the large tracts are owned either by Langdale Company or a Langdale investment corporation. Or it could be out of the 219.99 acre tract owned by the Paine Clarence M. Family Trust or the 187.76 acre tract owned by Griffin LLC. As usual, we the taxpayers are left guessing. Tonight at 5:30 PM maybe we’ll find out. -jsq Continue reading
An organic food company is the first thing it finally lands, after trying for years to lure traditional “industrial” businesses to Miller Business Park, and after the Industrial Authority renamed itself the Development Authority. Well, go real food! And congratulations Development Authority! For more local agriculture, come to South Georgia Growing Local Saturday 26 February 2016 at Pine Grove Middle School.
Valdosta, Georgia — December 15, 2015—The Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority (VLCDA) and Nature Nate’s announce the expansion of Nature Nate’s honey processing operations to Valdosta, GA. The project represents a $1.75 million investment, will create 10 jobs immediately and at least 15 jobs after 36 months.
“We welcome Nature Nate’s as our first tenant within Miller Business Park and Continue reading
The only named existing industry project is
Smith Drug, which
according to the VDT,
showed up here in 2009.
Tuesday 8 Sep 2015 at 10AM (no reason given for the odd date and time), the Development Authority is preparing for the Chamber Economic Summit 2015-010-08 and various other events, plus the usual reports. Here’s the agenda.
Valdosta-Lowndes Development Authority
Continue reading
Tuesday, September 8, 2015 11:00 a.m.
Development Authority Conference Room/103 Roosevelt Drive
Monthly Meeting Agenda
They meet again tonight; here are videos from last month, when
Electrical Test Labs of Georgia was recognized, and claimed dibs on some land.
The Development Authority re-elected its same officers, after extending the term of the Chairman to two years.
SGRC’s Corey Hull presented very briefly about the 2040 Transporation Plan, and asked for questions. The Development Authority had none.
Lots of dials showing Continue reading
The Development Authority begins tonight with a
presentation
by
A foreign trade zone is a federally approved location within the United States, which is considered outside of US Customs territory where domestic and foreign merchandise may be placed without formal customs entry and without payment of duties and taxes. Subzones are special-purpose facilities for companies unable to operate effectively at public zone sites. Foreign trade zones are usually located in or near Customs ports of entry, at industrial parks or terminal warehouse facilities. Their purpose is to attract and promote international trade and commerce.
WTC has more on that page, but never actually says where FTZ 104 is.
Mary Carr Mayle, SavannaNow, 31 May 2015, World Trade Center Savannah expands FTZ 104, Continue reading