Tag Archives: Zoning Administrator Teresa Willis

Videos: Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-10-16

Update 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.

[Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16]
Videos: Public Hearing, Berrien Planning Commission, Bradford Road subdividing, Part already subdivided in 2024, Rest recommended denial 2025-10-16

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

Videos: Bradford Road @ Berrien County Planning Commission 2025-08-21

Update 2025-09-08: Rescheduled, Public Notice for Public Hearing, Bradford Road subdivision 2025-09-18.

Here are WWALS videos of the hour in which several speakers brought up the lack of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan and many other subjects at the Berrien County Planning Commission. This Public Hearing was about a proposal to put a ten-house subdivision on agricultural land on Bradford, Strawder, and Old Valdosta Roads.

[Tabled: Bradford Road @ Berrien County Planning Commission 2025-08-21, No Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan]
Tabled: Bradford Road @ Berrien County Planning Commission 2025-08-21, No Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan

Lisa Sumner spoke first, about that Plan, and last, specifically wanting to know why were we meeting, since county ordinances require the Plan to be submitted. After much discussion among Commission and Staff, they moved to adjourn. Before the vote, Della Gladieux asked if people would get to speak next month. Yes, they said, people who had not already spoken.

Meanwhile, you can speak in other ways, such as signing the petition against this subdivision of ten houses on agricultural land:
https://chng.it/kKDVsN92xT

People who live in Berrien County can also call or write your Planning Commissioner or Berrien County Commissioner. Anyone can come to that next Planning Commission meeting, which will probably be September 18, since they seem to meet on the third Thursday of the month, at 201 North Davis Street, Nashville, GA 31639.

See for yourself in these WWALS videos of each spaaker, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

See also: Continue reading

Bradford Road Rezoning in Berrien County, GA, Land Development Districts 2025-08-21

Update 2025-08-22: WTXL TV: Berrien County subdivision delayed as soil permit question stalls planning commission 2025-08-21.

Thanks to Berrien County, Georgia, Zoning Administrator Teresa Willis for calling to discuss the proposed rezoning on Bradford Road.

[Bradford Road Rezoning, in Berrien County, GA, Land Development Districts, AU agricultural use]
Bradford Road Rezoning

She noted the current zoning is in the last map in the packet she previously sent:

[Map: Zoning map with recently purchased tracts in yellow]
Map: Zoning map with recently purchased tracts in yellow
PDF

Zoom in and look for the letters AU in black on the dark blue background. The entire area is zoned AU, which is for agricultural use.

She does not know what the proposed rezoning is, since the applicant has not sent further materials, and it is possible he may not do so until the day of the Planning Commission Public Hearing.

She said the housing subdivision he proposes does not necessarily require a rezoning. However, as I pointed out in the previous post, that would not really fit with the Comprehensive Plan.

She also sent an extract from the Berrien County Land Development Code with all the zoning district names. Continue reading