Commissioners approve R21 zoning at River Run Farm despite neighbors’ water‑quality and fire‑safety concerns

Lowndes County commissioners approved a rezoning request to change approximately 15.3 acres from commercial (CC) to R21 for the River Run Farm parcel along Lake Alapaha Boulevard, allowing additional residential development in the Lake Alapaha Plantation area.

Planning staff told commissioners the parcel is consistent with the suburban future land‑use designation and within the urban service area. Staff and the Engineering/Environmental review noted utility constraints and water‑system issues; staff said the county and the power company are in design phases to relocate buried utilities and improve drainage and that a March 27 bid opening and a May–June notice‑to‑proceed are planned for a project that would include a new well site and a larger 20,000‑gallon tank to increase storage capacity.

Neighbors objected at the public hearing, focusing on water quality, low tank storage and firefighting capacity. Amy Watts said the neighborhood’s water system has repeatedly exceeded EPA‑recommended limits for total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and haloacetic acids (HAA5) in recent years and said violations have occurred every quarter since 2020. Pete Sturgill and other residents said they experience persistent low pressure and roadway flooding and told commissioners they have seen limited remedial action despite earlier promises.

Property owner Larry Sanders, who sought the rezoning, said he intended to develop no more than nine lots initially and said he would coordinate with the county on drainage and water‑system improvements. Sanders said he would build homes gradually and was willing to wait on construction until utilities are in place; he said he would not be satisfied with a restrictive condition that limited his future options across his entire holdings.

The planning commission had recommended approval with a planning‑commission condition limiting development to no more than nine lots (motion passed 6‑3). At the county meeting, commissioners debated whether to adopt conditions or approve without restriction. After motions and discussion, the board approved R21 for the subject acreage and the motion carried. Commissioners and staff said county engineering, EPD reporting and water‑system upgrades are planned and that developers and the county will need to coordinate further engineering and permitting before construction.

The rezoning approval does not itself authorize construction; specific lot plats, septic permits, well permits, and infrastructure work must be completed before any building.