VALDOSTA — The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission recommended denial of a zoning change for a project that would have put 68 lots on Val-Del Road.

Tom Call and Karen Faucette on behalf of GW Farms, LLC requested to rezone 98.95 acres from estate-agriculture to low density residential. The developer plans to put more than 60 lots at about an acre a piece on an almost 100-acre plot of land.

County planning and zoning staff members recommended denial to the authority because they found the rezoning inconsistent with the character of the area.

Several residents spoke against the project. 

Most of the residents had concerns about how developing the land would impact the flow of water, the impact on the water table because the new residents use well systems and how putting so many new houses on Val-Del Road would impact traffic.

Call spoke on behalf of the applicant and stated the zoning change is not spot zoning because there is an acreage of land directly north of the subject property currently zoned as low density residential. Call said the applicant is following the precedent set by the acreage to the North.

Commissioners Ed Hightower, Tommy Willis, Jody Hall, Calvin Graham and Vicki Rountree voted to deny recommendation for the zoning change. Johnny Ball and Gerald McClendon voted against the recommendation. Keith Sandlin abstained from the vote.

The case will have its final hearing before the county commission at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Lowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex in the Commission Chambers.

Audobon Heights, a subdivision off of East Stanfill Street, was denied recommendation for an amendment to an already approved planned development in a R-15 and R-10 zoning.

In the original planned development, the subject property was approved for several apartment complexes with a maximum of 64 units; however, the developer wants to adjust the plan to build 21 single-family homes that target families looking to downsize instead. The subject property is the last portion of land to be developed in the subdivision.

The 21 houses would create a high-density population area with some lot sizes being between 4,000-6,000 square feet. Other lots are expected to exceed 8,000 square feet. Many of the commissioners had concerns about the density of the houses and the length of the proposed driveways.

Rountree, who lives near the subject property, said she would rather see 21 houses be built than 64 apartment units because of how the development could affect traffic in the area. 

Hightower, Willis, Graham, Ball, Hall and McClendon voted to deny the amendment. Sandlin and Rountree voted against the recommendation of denial. 

Staff recommended denial for the proposed amendment.

The case will have its final hearing before the Hahira City Council, 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Hahira courthouse.

Shannon Perkins was unanimously granted a recommendation of approval for a conditional use permit at 704 Holly Drive for a personal care home in R-10 zoning.

Storey Machining Services and Quilian Powell Construction were unanimously granted a recommendation of approval to rezone 2.42 acres from duplex-residential to manufacturing/heavy industrial at 308 and 312 Tucker Road.

Staff recommended approval for the zoning change with buffers to respect the remaining residential zoning in the area. Staff recommended approval because the current zoning is non-compliant and is inconsistent with the industrial character of the area.

Chadd Mathis was unanimously granted a recommendation for approval of a planned development in R-6 and R-10 zoning at 207 Gard St.

Staff recommended approval of the planned development, and is looking to find ways to decrease setbacks near utility lines and other obstructions on the land to give the proposed duplexes more space between units.

The developer plans to build several duplexes that will match the duplexes leading to the subject property. The proposed duplexes will have a shared driveway as opposed to building a new road.

The cases will have their final hearing before the Valdosta City Council at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 11, at city hall.

The Planning Commission meets 5:30 p.m. the last Monday of every month at 325 W. Savannah Ave. It is a recommending body only. The meetings are open to the public. 

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1257.