Planning commission divided on zoning issues

Published 8:44 pm Monday, December 5, 2005

VALDOSTA — A series of split votes on zoning and land use dominated the Monday meeting of the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission as three rezoning requests squeaked through on 4-3 votes.

The Commission was divided on a request from Jeff Cooper to rezone 0.7278 acres on Maxine Street from Single Family Residential to Rural Commercial for the construction and operation of an automobile body repair shop and garage.

Staff planners with the South Georgia Regional Development Center recommended approval for the proposal even though the area is depicted as future residential on the future land use map, because the request is consistent with existing land use. Several adjacent properties are already zoned for commercial usage.

The proposal received adverse comment from the county engineer, who noted that Maxine Street was not suited to handle traffic loads generally associated with commercial development. The Health Department also expressed concerns that the site did not have enough suitable area for on-site sewage disposal and needed city sewer service which is not available. Cooper indicated that he had received an approved septic tank plan and additionally noted that the site plan included buffering protections for nearby residential lots. The Board recommended approving the request 4-3.

Also difficult for the Commission was a request from J.C. McMullen to rezone 28.99 acres off Johnston Road and McMullen Drive in southeastern Lowndes County from Agricultural Use to Single Family Residential in order to build an additional phase of the existing McMullen Estates subdivision.

Staff planners recommended denial on the basis that much of the surrounding area was divided into parcels much larger than five acres and because McMullen proposed only one access road with a cul-de-sac for the 23-home subdivision. McMullen said he would seek approval for another access to the site, though that did not change staff’s recommendation. The Board again recommended approval for the request on a 4-3 vote with the condition that McMullen provide a 20-foot buffer along the western portion of the property.

The final 4-3 decision came in favor of a request from John Bennett for a special exception to run his law office from his home on North Oak Street, adjacent to the Valdosta Family Medicine property.

Bennett originally requested that the lot be rezoned to Office-Professional. The Commission recommended denial for that request, and the Valdosta City Council tabled the matter after city officials suggested Bennett seek a special exception rather than a full rezoning.

The area south of Bennett’s property underwent a controversial rezoning in 2000 from Single Family Residential to Office-Professional and neighbors balked at Bennett’s original rezoning request as risking further deterioration of the neighborhood.

In an effort to mitigate any negative effects from the special exception, planners recommended a series of conditions be tied to approval. The Commission voted 4-3 to recommend approval for the request on the condition that the exception be granted in the name of the applicant only for the express purpose of establishing an attorney’s office, that the number of employees be limited to two, that the hours of operation be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and that he be permitted one sign, attached to the building not bigger than four feet by four feet in size.

The GLPC is a recommending body that advises municipal governments on final zoning and land use decisions. Final action on Lowndes County zoning matters will be taken by the Board of Commissioners on April 9. Final action on Valdosta zoning matters will be taken by City Council on April 11.



To contact reporter Bill Roberts, please call 244-3400, ext. 245.