Here is the document Della Gladieux gave to the Berrien Planning Commissioners last Thursday, at the Public Hearing about subdidiving on Bradford Road in an agricultural character area.
You can see her present it in this WWALS video:
Continue readingUpdate 2025-10-21: Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems –Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.
The Berrien Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the proposed subdividing on Bradford Road.
However, that only applies to part of what (almost) everybody thought was being considered. It turns out the three lots at the corner of Bradford Road and Old Valdosta Highway were already divided out in October 2024.
Yet there are still many issues of urban sprawl and its costs, stormwater runoff, etc.
The Chairman not only moved to recommend denial, he also said the county should stop approving subdivisions until a Comprehensive Land Use Plan can be drawn up and enforced.
Applicant Cole Livingston and his attorney Danny Studstill said that when the applicant bought the property in an online auction, he understood that all agency permits were already in order. Also, the corner tracts were subdivided before he bought them.
Zoning Administrator Teresa Willis said those corner tracts were heard in the “9-19-24” Planning Commission meeting, and that the subdividing was approved in the October 2024 County Commission meeting. For more about that, see below after the WWALS videos of this October 2025 meeting.
It all still adds up to plopping ten houses in the middle of an agriculture character area, with runoff and recharge issues that affect the neighbors, Gin Branch Creek, the Withlacoochee River, and groundwater down to the Floridan Aquifer.
Chair Parrish Akins clarified that all the previous testimony in the preceding two Public Hearings was still valid. Then he asked for further comment for or against.
Della Gladieux supplied a tome of objections. Continue reading
Update 2025-10-20: Videos: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-10-16.
After it was tabled a second time, there’s yet another Public Hearing about plopping ten houses in the middle of an agriculture character area, with runoff and recharge issues that affect the neighbors, Gin Branch Creek, the Withlacoochee River, and groundwater down to the Floridan Aquifer. As well as all the usual issues of trespassing, poaching, pets, livestock, traffic, and road erosion.
Plus transparency and the Berrien Planning Commission should follow the Berrien County Code and Comprehensive Plan.
The farther out from existing services, the more a subdivision costs the county in calls on Sheriff Deputies, Fire Rescue, school buses and places at the schools. Property taxes on those houses would not pay for all that. The rest of Berrien County would have to pay the difference.
![[Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission, Thursday, October 16, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-16--bradford-road-subdividing-berrien-planning-commission/fbmany.jpg)
Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission, Thursday, October 16, 2025
For what happened at the previous Public Hearing and why it was tabled, see previous post:
https://wwals.net/?p=68463
Here’s a facebook event to encourage people to come to this Public Hearing:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1476163917000214/
This is what the Public Notices on the roads say:
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Hearing:
Cole Livingston, Subdividing multiple lots off the Old Valdosta Hwy, Bradford Rd and Strawder Rd
Ray City, Ga 31645Time: 5:30 October 16, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting
6:00 pm November 4, 2025 County Commissioners MeetingPublic Hearing
Location: Planning Commission 201 N. Davis Street Nashville GA
County Commissioner’s Board Room 201 North Davis Street Nashville Ga 31639 Continue reading
Update 2025-10-07: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.
I handed this letter to the Berrien Planning Commissioners and the Zoning Administrator before I spoke to them at the recent Public Hearing. They tabled this item for another month, awaiting more documents from the applicant, Cole Livingston, for his proposal to subdivide for ten houses in an agricultural character area on Bradford and Strawder Roads and Old Valdosta Highway, in Berrien County, Georgia, draining to Gin Branch Creek and the Withlacoochee River.
![[Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing, WWALS 2025-09-18, to Berrien Planning Commission]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-18--wwals-berrien-co-bradford-road/many.jpg)
Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing, WWALS 2025-09-18, to Berrien Planning Commission
September 18, 2025
To: Teresa Willis
Berrien County Zoning Administrator
229-686-2149
twillis@berriencountyga.gov
201 N. Davis Street Room 122
Nashville GA 31639Re: Subdividing M&P 061-14-000, 061-16-002, Old Valdosta Rd. & Bradford Rd.
Dear Berrien County Zoning Administrator and Planning Commission,
Please recommend denial of the proposed subdividing, because:
- House lots would produce more runoff, which would run onto neighboring properties, as attested by several neighbors at the previous Public Hearing on August 21, 2025. See attached LIDAR map and attached wetland and flood zone map.
- Runoff would carry trash and other contamination into Gin Branch Creek that runs north across Bradford Road and west into the Withlacoochee River. See attached map of Gin Branch Creek.
- Under Bradford Road and along Gin Branch Creek is an aquifer recharge zone, into the groundwater from which we all drink. We do not need to risk more contaminants possibly getting into that. See attached aquifer recharge map.
- Increased traffic and runoff would erode Bradford and Strawder Roads, requiring more work by the county to fix them.
- The houses would not be accessory to farm operations as in the Berrien County Comprehensive Plan Strategy for an Agriculture Character Area, which says: Continue reading
Update 2025-10-07: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision @ Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16.
Update 2025-09-22: Water issues, Bradford Road subdividing –WWALS to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-09-18.
Update 2025-09-20: Road costs, well risks, taxpayers should decide –Lisa Sumner for Wayne Nash 2025-09-18.
Once again, the Greater Berrien Planning Commission tabled the proposed Cole Livingston subdividing on Bradford and Strawder Roads and Old Valdosta Highway. Once again, it was because of missing materials from the applicant. They did not, however, mention the missing Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan that caused the previous tabling.
![[Tabled again, Bradford Road subdividing, @ Berrien Planning Commission, 2025-09-17]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-09-18--wwals-berrien-co-bradford-road-videos/many.jpg)
Tabled again, Bradford Road subdividing, @ Berrien Planning Commission, 2025-09-17
They did allow quite a few people to speak, even though they tabled this item.
Before all that, they tabled the minutes from the August 21 meeting due to transcription errors.
And they unanimously recommended approval for another item, a McCorvey duplex on Dawn Street, rezoning from R15 to R6.
If they stick to the third Thursday of the month, the next Public Hearing on the Livingston item will be Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Below are videos of each agenda item or speaker, followed by a WWALS video playlist.
See also Continue reading
Many students, some wanting to be interns, and many volunteers, at the WWALS Booth, at The Happening, VSU Front Lawn, Thursday, August 27, 2025.
This is the annual student orientation festival at Valdosta State University. It’s on a summer afternoon with classes in session, so students kept showing up between classes.
![[WWALS Booth at The Happening, VSU Front Lawn, 2025-08-28]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-28--happening-vsu-pictures/fbmany.jpg)
WWALS Booth at The Happening, VSU Front Lawn, 2025-08-28
Thanks to former WWALS Water Quality Tester Michael Bachrach and WWALS Board members Russ Tatum, Scotti Jay, and Sara Squires Jones for helping at the booth, along with premier volunteer Gretchen Quarterman, and Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman.
Scotti and Sara showed up just in time when I was talking about the 2023 fish kill and the 2025 sewage spill that Scotti discovered on One Mile Branch, the creek that runs through the VSU campus into Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River. Continue reading
VSU students, come to our informational booth about water issues, events, and outings.
WWALS members, you can help at the booth.
When: 1 PM, Thursday, August 28, 2025
Put In: VSU Front Lawn
![[WWALS Booth at The Happening at VSU, VSU Front Lawn, Thursday, August 28, 2025]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-08-28--happening-vsu/fbmany.jpg)
WWALS Booth at The Happening at VSU, VSU Front Lawn, Thursday, August 28, 2025
One Mile Branch runs through VSU. Downstream is the notoriously spilling Wainwright Drive manhole, on the way to Sugar Creek and the Withlacoochee River.
For more about The Happening at VSU, see:
https://www.valdosta.edu/student/student-life/special-events/the-happening/
Continue reading
Come see the WWALS Booth at this festival near Alapaha, Georgia. WWALS Members can volunteer to help with this education opportunity.
When: Gather 12 PM, festival 1 PM, end 5 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025
Put In: Gaskins Forest Education Center, 3359 Moore Sawmill Rd., Alapaha, Georgia 31622
![[A Day in the Woods, Gaskins Forest Education Center, Alapaha River, Alapaha, GA 2025-04-12]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-04-12--a-day-in-the-woods/fbmany.jpg)
A Day in the Woods, Gaskins Forest Education Center, Alapaha River, Alapaha, GA 2025-04-12
According to the Gaskins Forest Education Center (GFEC), A Day in the Woods “is a non-commercial community event for people of all ages and backgrounds. Over 40 presenters with hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations related to natural resources. Varied fire demonstrations.” Continue reading
Update 2025-01-17: OK Little and Withlacoochee Rivers, Dirty New River, Filthy Sugar Creek 2025-01-15.
Update 2025-01-13: Sugar Creek still filthy Saturday in Valdosta test results 2025-01-11.
WWALS has a new intern, who will also do water quality testing in Tifton, Georgia, on the New and Little Rivers.
![[New WWALS Intern, Samantha Carr, Southern Regional Technical College, Tifton, Georgia]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-01-10--samantha-carr-intern/fbmany.jpg)
New WWALS Intern, Samantha Carr, Southern Regional Technical College, Tifton, Georgia
New WWALS Intern Samantha Carr passed the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream (AAS) Chemical and Bacterial training. Continue reading
As Craig Pittman pointed out, SWFWMD issued a permit for the 3RT Sand Mine in Levy County. But that ERP says nothing about Rainbow Springs or FDEP’s Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) for the Rainbow Springs springshed. That ERP does not even mention that the mine site is in an aquifer recharge zone.
What is the use of BMAPs, or of Rainbow Springs being an Outstanding Florida Water, if FDEP’s own SWFWMD can issue a permit for a strip mine without mentioning either?
![[SWFWMD ERP for 3RT Sand Mine does not mention Rainbow Springs springshed]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-01-04--pittman-sand-mine/many.jpg)
SWFWMD ERP for 3RT Sand Mine does not mention Rainbow Springs springshed
Maybe you’d like to ask about that at FDEP’s meeting about Outstanding Florida Springs Basin Management Plans 2024-01-23. Sure, such meetings are usually public tellings at which the state ignores what citizens say.
But you can use that meeting as a forum to demonstrate opposition to the mine, so you can bring that up at the February 6 Levy County Commission meeting.
Craig Pittman, Florida Phoenix, January 4, 2024,
Florida observatory may be forced to shut down if county OKs sand mine:
Neighbors and astronomers join forces to ask Levy County to nix mining proposal
UF’s Rosemary Hill Observatory in Levy County would be next door to the proposed sand mine.
Pittman set up his story with an aside about Jake from State Farm and good neighbors, and then:
The idea of what constitutes a good neighbor came up last week when I first heard about a dispute that’s been going on in Levy County. It involves a wealthy farmer, a dirty mine, a lot of trucks, and the stars in the heavens.
Continue reading
![[Subdivisions in agricultural areas cause financial problems --Della Gladieux to Berrien Planning Commission 2025-10-16]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-16--della-gladieux-argument-bradford-road/fbmany.jpg)
![[Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2025-10-16--bradford-road-subdivision-berrien-planning-commission-videos/many.jpg)