Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel

Should the County Commission approve rezoning for a subdivision just because developers say they won't compromise any more?

Bill Nijem presented Moody and schools nearby and the proposed house price as arguments for the Glen Laurel subdivision, plus county services, which, remember, were put in for them to use. This was after Pine Grove Elementary closed and moved farther away.

Here's Part 1 of 5:

Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel Part 1 of 5:
REZ-2010-06, Glen Laurel, Old Pine Rd,
Regular meeting, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 June 2010.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Commissioner Richard Lee said

We just got to get it right.

Bill Nijem said the developers had gone as far as they were willing to go. Barbara Herring said there might be a few lots they could change. Commissioner Lee said he was not insensitive to their costs, but maybe there could be some middle ground. Commissioner Joyce Evans asked about lot size. Barbara Herring spoke dismissively about "little things like that."

Here's Part 2 of 5:

Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel Part 2 of 5:
REZ-2010-06, Glen Laurel, Old Pine Rd,
Regular meeting, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 June 2010.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Commissioner Lee applauded the developers for what they presented, but said

If it could be less and still appropriate, still workable, there might be some movement....

Barbara Herring said they'd have to lose the green space on Old Pine Road, change some roads, around, add another intersecting road, etc. Basically, they refused to budge.

Here's Part 3 of 5:

Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel Part 3 of 5:
REZ-2010-06, Glen Laurel, Old Pine Rd,
Regular meeting, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 June 2010.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Commissioner Richard Lee made a motion to reject the rezoning. There was no second.

Commissioner G. Robert Carter made a motion to follow the TRC and the Planning Commission recommendations to approve. Commissioner Joyce Evans seconded.

Commissioner Lee asked which site plan it was a motion to approve: the former one that was approved by the Planning Commission, or the one the developers produced at the current Board of Commissioners meeting?

Here's Part 4 of 5:

Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel Part 4 of 5:
REZ-2010-06, Glen Laurel, Old Pine Rd,
Regular meeting, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 June 2010.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

The Commissioners voted 2 to 1 for the rezoning: Carter and Evans for with Lee against.

Here's Part 5 of 5:

Developers refused to budge and Commissioners caved: Glen Laurel Part 5 of 5:
REZ-2010-06, Glen Laurel, Old Pine Rd,
Regular meeting, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 8 June 2010.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman, John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Commissioner Carter told me that the county utilities were there so he thought there was no reason not to approve. I was probably not the only person to tell Commissioner Evans afterwards that I was disappointed in her vote.

Personally, I don't see why developers' profits have to outweigh all considerations of neighbors. Including traffic and safety, which were never addressed by the commissioners, except for Ashley Paulk's refusal to even talk about "Bemiss Highway".

Maybe there has been some change since then. Stay tuned for yesterday's rezoning next door.

-jsq