Upson County commissioners deny rezoning for Serenity Lake development after contested public hearing

The Upson County Board of Commissioners on April 22 denied a request to rezone roughly 266 acres north of Spurlock Bluff for a planned mixed-use development called Serenity Lake, rejecting the applicant’s proposal to change the property from AR (Agricultural-Residential) to PM (Planned Mixed).

The development applicant, 10 Acres Lake LLC (represented at the hearing by Dan Springhetti and engineer Larry French), sought approval of a development plan the county planner described as a proposal to create single-family lots, an amenity area and limited neighborhood commercial uses. Staff recommended approval; the county planning commission had unanimously recommended denial on April 14, 2025, citing inconsistency with the county’s comprehensive plan and the forestry/low-density character the commission said applies to the corridor.

The planning staff, represented by Doug Currier, told commissioners the plan was intended to preserve natural amenities such as Reeves Creek and floodplain areas, and that the PM zoning would allow design flexibility and conditions tied to a development plan. Currier said the submittal in the county packet…