Local News
Rezoning will create industrial park on south end
VALDOSTA — A future industrial park is planned for the south end of town between South Patterson Street and New Statenville Highway.
The Valdosta City Council approved rezoning of the 360.58-acre property at Thursday’s meeting. It was rezoned office/wholesale/light industrial.
The city council also annexed 29.55 acres of the same property into the city.
The property is owned by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority.
Brad Lofton, executive director of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority, said that the master plan for the property provides for its main entrance to be located off Highway 41, connecting back to Clay Road.
He also assured the city council that the lakes on the property, one of which exceeds 40 acres, will be used as amenities on the property.
“This is a good economic development for the south side of town,” Lofton said.
In other news:
• Pallbearer Road will become an extension of Baytree Road.
An apartment complex is being developed on the road and will face Interstate 75.
The developers requested the name change as the road will be the address for the apartment complex.
• The city council approved a variety of text amendments to the Land Development Regulations, an ongoing process of clarifying the directives within the document.
At Tuesday’s meeting, council members requested that Anne-Marie Wolff, planning and zoning administrator, clarify the amendment pertaining to sign regulations.
On Thursday Wolff said that banner signs are not allowed on residences and that temporary free-standing signs at residences are not to exceed six feet.
Industries and businesses may have a free-standing or banner sign not exceeding 32 feet.
• The city council approved a conditional use permit in a single-family residential zoning district to build a church as requested by House of Joy, a property located at 2061 E. Park Ave. Mayor John Fretti told the representative from the church that ground must be broken on the property within 12 months or the church will be required to resubmit an application for a permit.
• Property located between Boone Drive and North Oak Street, south of West College Street, was rezoned from two-family residential to multifamily residential. The 0.8 acres will the site of proposed apartments being developed by Kurt Lamon.
• Improvements at Country Club Road and Perimeter Road were approved by the city council at a cost of $116,778.25 with a 10 percent contingency. The work will be performed by Rountree Construction.
• A contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation was approved to construct a sidewalk on Gordon Street between Hightower Street and Lankford Drive.
• The city council approved a surplus of equipment from the Valdosta Fire Department. The equipment will be donated to the Lake Park Fire Department.
• Surplus equipment from the McKey Park Renovation Project will be donated to the Valdosta City School System to be used at the Valdosta High School tennis courts.
• The Valdosta Fire Department will submit a grant for an additional 12 firefighters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. The no-match grant would help the department obtain a Class One ISO rating, which significantly lowers insurance rates, Chief J.D. Rice said.
• Utility department worker and supervisor of the storm drainage system Scott Nobles was named the city’s employee of the month.
- Local News
-
-
Nathan Deal visits Valdosta
Republican Nathan Deal stopped in Valdosta on Thursday, staying just long enough to answer a few questions and make a brief statement to both the media and his supporters.
-
Brother shoots brother in Cook
A 13-year-old boy is dead, the victim of a single gunshot wound to the face. His 14-year-old brother has been identified as the shooter, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. However, the investigation continues, Cook County Sheriff Johnny Daughtry said Thursday.
-
Undercover Uncovered: To save his ministry, man shares his undercover past
Jim Harnage knew something was wrong when several participating families suddenly backed out of a new program within his Silent Ministries.
He soon learned why.
Some of the participants told Harnage that they had heard he once worked undercover with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They asked him if this was true. Harnage did not initially know how to reply to the question.
The reason? -
Sharper Fest 2010 scheduled for this weekend
With a theme of “Walk Against Violence,” Sharper Fest 2010 is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 1.
In addition to an anti-violence message, the day promises “the largest kids’ festival in the South,” with free bounce houses and slide rides throughout the day, says organizer Dexter Sharper. Participants can also expect characters, face-painting and children’s train rides. - Night Moves for Friday July 30, 2010
-
Early voting underway in primary runoff
A total of 84 people cast ballots on Thursday, the first day of early voting in the 2010 General Primary/Special Election runoff. Of those, 72 were Republicans and 12 were Democrats.
-
Dive Right In: Wild Adventures diving show makes a splash
At 31 feet above the water’s surface, Manuel Mendes pauses on the metal tower.
-
Senators battle for Wanat
A group of politicians representing a broad spectrum of Americans took up the fight of a few last week.
-
Back Behind Bars: Authorities locate inmates accidentally released
Three Lowndes County jail inmates accidentally released a week ago into the general public are back behind bars.
- Night Moves for Thursday July 29, 2010
- More Local News Headlines
-
