Commission narrowly backs 159-foot telecom tower at Langdale Park site despite park and procedural concerns

Planning staff presented TWR-2026-02 seeking permission to construct an approximately 159-foot telecommunications tower on a 10,000-square-foot leased area within Langdale Park, a Valdosta Lowndes Parks & Recreation Authority (VLPRA) property. JD Dillard said the proposal met the standards for new tower development in ULDC Section 5.05.05, the Federal Aviation Administration determined the tower to be "No Hazard to Air Navigation," and airport and military bases were notified and offered no objection.

Vertical Bridge representative Kaitlynn Isley attended to answer technical questions. Opponent John S. Quaterman argued the application did not include required ULDC components — notably an inventory of existing sites and demonstration that collocation alternatives had been exhausted — and raised concerns about effects on a scenic view corridor and adjacency to trails. Quaterman urged staff to make the fuller record available to the public before a quasi‑judicial decision. Planning staff defended their analysis and recommendation. After debate, the commission voted 7-2 to recommend approval; Commissioners Foreman and Graham dissented.

Next steps: as this is an advisory recommendation on planning standards (the underlying decision is quasi‑judicial at the Board of Commissioners), the application will proceed to the next decision body for final determination and the FEMA CLOMR/floodplain review will continue as the project advances.