Planning commission recommends rezoning for Cedar Subdivision to allow ~265 homes and commercial frontage

The Greater Lowndes Planning Commission on March 30 recommended approval of a rezoning for the Cedar Subdivision, a roughly 184-acre assemblage with frontage on Madison Highway, Whitewater Road and Cedar Road, that the applicant proposes to develop into about 265 single-family homes and future commercial acreage.

Planner JD Dillard told commissioners the property is located within the Urban Service Area, the Valdosta Airport Overlay and Community Activity Center and Suburban Character Areas, and sits in groundwater recharge and multiple wetland areas; some wetlands have been delineated and could require Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional review. The county Technical Review Committee recommended approval of R-10 and C-H zoning as shown on the conceptual plan, with one condition: any vehicular ingress/egress off Cedar Road must be paved by the property owner/developer to the nearest paved street, with the developer responsible for design, right-of-way acquisition if needed, utility relocation and construction costs.

Attorney Bill Nijem, representing the applicant, noted the eastern C-H portion abuts I-75 and said the conceptual plan aligns with the county’s Comprehensive Plan and the character-area recommendations. Commissioner Brian Touchton recused from the item before discussion; the commission voted to recommend approval (motion by Franklin Bailey, second by Tommy Willis) by a recorded 9-0 vote.

The recommendation is advisory; final approval will be made by the applicable local member governments at their scheduled public hearings listed on the GLPC agenda. The file notes potential environmental permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for any wetland impacts and the paving condition that must be satisfied during development review.