Criminal Defense Attorney in Bloomingdale, GA.

Ask us Anything

912-704-5150

Let's Discuss Your Case

Drug Attorney Bloomingdale, GA
State Crimes

Learn about our areas of experties involving state crimes, and better understand your rights.

 Drug Defense Lawyer Bloomingdale, GA
Federal Crimes

Learn about our areas of experties involving state crimes, and better understand your rights.

If you are accused of a crime, the only thing standing between your freedom and a verdict of "guilty" is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Bloomingdale, GA.

Those who have been arrested before know that life in the legal system is no laughing matter. Aside from the imminent ramifications of fines and jail time, any goals you have of bettering yourself and advancing your life could be compromised. Without a trusted attorney by your side, you could face a lifetime of embarrassment and poor employment prospects due to a tarnished criminal record.

The good news? Dennis O'Brien and his team of experienced lawyers in Bloomingdale are ready to clear your name. By retaining the help of a criminal defense attorney early in the legal process, you have a much better chance of securing your freedom and living a life as a productive member of society.

At O'Brien Law Firm PC, our practice was founded to fight for the rights of individuals accused of or charged with a crime. Our team of legal experts is well-equipped to take even the most difficult, contentious cases. From violent felonies to DUI, there is nothing we haven't seen and handled. As a former law enforcement officer, founding attorney Dennis O'Brien knows exactly how much a person can lose if convicted. That's why we work tirelessly to secure a verdict that is favorable for our clients.

Regardless of how serious or minor your case may be, know that we will fight fearlessly on your behalf. You deserve zealous representation - when you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, you will receive nothing less.

 Drug Lawyer Bloomingdale, GA
Service Areas

The O'Brien Law Firm PC Difference

Many of our clients are surprised to discover that founding lawyer Dennis O'Brien was a police officer prior to his criminal defense career. As a former Field Training Officer for the Memphis Police Department, he has over two decades of knowledge and experience in the criminal justice system. Dennis truly understands the nuance and complexities involved in a criminal defense case. This rare experience gives Dennis a clear edge in any criminal defense case and gives clients priceless peace of mind when they need it the most. Unlike some criminal defense attorneys in Bloomingdale, Dennis O'Brien and his team believe that every client deserves effective, empathetic legal assistance. While some Bloomingdale criminal defense firms will take weekends off or pass along cases to paralegals, Dennis personally reviews each of his cases. There is no case too small or big for O'Brien Law Firm PC. When you hire our firm, you can rest easy knowing that we will be by your side when the going gets tough.

 Federal Defense Attorney Bloomingdale, GA
Here are just a few reasons why O'Brien Law Firm PC is Bloomingdale's top choice in criminal defense:
  • Vigorous Representation
  • Fierce Dedication to Clients
  • Unmatched Experience
  • Face-to-Face Counsel
  • Prompt Response to Inquiries and Questions
  • Commitment to Defending Your Rights
  • Thorough, Effective Research and Investigation
  • Contact Us or Call: 912-704-5150
 Criminal Defense Law Firms Bloomingdale, GA
Our firm has represented hundreds of criminal defense clients in Bloomingdale and is highly qualified to take your case. Some of our specialties include:

Drug Cases in Bloomingdale, GA

When you are charged with a drug crime in Bloomingdale, it can change your life forever. Georgia imposes very strict punishments for drug offenses. The truth is, it's hard to get your life back on track with a drug charge on your record. Your freedom and way of life could be in the hands of your criminal defense attorney. As such, you need a competent lawyer with years of experience handling drug cases. Leaving your fate in the hands of an incompetent attorney could have long-lasting effects on your family and may result in a conviction.

 Criminal Defense Lawyers Bloomingdale, GA

Consequences for drug crimes in Bloomingdale often include:

  • Jail
  • Prison
  • Heavy fines
  • Community service
  • Court-ordered drug and alcohol counseling
  • Probation or parole
  • Permanent criminal record

While the consequences for a drug crime in Georgia are serious, there's reason to be hopeful: O'Brien Law Firm PC is here to fight for you. Remember - being charged with a drug crime is NOT the same thing as being convicted.

Our stellar team has represented many clients facing numerous drug-related charges. While each situation varies, one constant remains the same for clients facing drug charges: a fear of what lies ahead. At O'Brien Law Firm PC our job is to help you overcome the fear of the unknown. We do so by ensuring you understand your charges, the possible outcomes associated with those charges, and the options you need to consider from a criminal defense standpoint.

With more than a decade of experience as Bloomingdale drug crime attorneys, we have the experience and resources to defend you in court no matter what your charges may be, including:

  • Marijuana
  • Crack
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Methamphetamine
  • Ecstasy

No matter what charge you are facing, our team has the experience and resources to build a comprehensive defense strategy for your drug case in Bloomingdale, GA. Without a criminal defense attorney acting as your advocate, you could be facing very harsh penalties. Here are a few punishments you could be facing for drug crimes in Bloomingdale:

  • Schedule I or Schedule II Drug Possession
    Schedule I or Schedule II Drug Possession:

    Having less than a gram (or one milliliter for liquids) of this type of drug results in a prison term of one to three years. Having four grams or milliliter carries a term of one to eight years.

  • Schedule III, IV, or V Drug Possession
    Schedule III, IV, or V Drug Possession:

    Any substance on this list is punishable by a prison sentence of one to three years.

  • Non-Narcotic Schedule II Drug Possession
    Non-Narcotic Schedule II Drug Possession:

    If you have less than two grams or milliliters of this substance, punishments can be between one year and three years. Having up to four grams or milliliters results in a prison sentence of one to eight years.

  • Possession of Marijuana
    Possession of Marijuana:

    Those who are in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana are subject to a jail sentence of up to 12 months. Fines may be no more than $1,000. Possession of more than an ounce of marijuana can result in a prison term of one to 10 years.

To avoid these life-changing punishments, you must take action now. Contact O'Brien Law Firm today for a consultation about your case.

Contact Me!
 Defense Lawyers Bloomingdale, GA
 Criminal Defense Attorney Bloomingdale, GA

Violent Crime Cases in Bloomingdale, GA

Violent crime offenses in Bloomingdale typically involve some form of bodily harm to another individual, actions committed against an individual's will, or threatening someone with bodily harm. Aggravated violent offenses are more severe charges and often occur when a violent crime is made more serious due to circumstances like deadly weapons.

Much like serious drug cases, violent crimes create an added layer of negativity that follows the accused for the rest of their life. In these cases, even an accusation is enough to cause irreparable damage to a person's reputation. Those convicted of a violent crime face severe penalties that can include years in a correctional facility.

Common crimes of this nature include but are not limited to:
  • Murder
  • Assault with the intent to murder
  • Vehicular homicide
  • Domestic violence
  • Assault
  • Battery
  • Kidnapping
  • Rape
  • Robbery
  • Carjacking

When you are accused of any of the above crimes, your freedom hangs in the balance. The outcome of your case will determine whether you leave the courtroom with your freedom intact or stripped away to serve time behind bars. Because the punishments for violent crimes are so extreme, you should be seeking legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Bloomingdale, GA, as soon as possible. As a former police officer with a long record of positive verdicts in violent crime cases, Dennis O'Brien is well equipped to represent you in court.

Having a criminal defense lawyer by your side is the best way to avoid the serious punishments associated with violent crimes. These punishments usually result in prison time if convicted and include:
Forced rape: 20 years
Armed robbery: Up to 20 years
Simple assault: Up to 12 months
Aggravated assault: 10 to 20 years
Aggravated battery: Up to 20 years
Involuntary manslaughter: One to 20 years
Vehicular homicide Up to 15 years
Murder: Life in prison or the death sentence
Zealous Representation Without Judgement

As a former police officer, Dennis O'Brien has seen the toll it takes on a person when charged with a crime. His time in law enforcement allows him to empathize with his clients who desperately need competent representation. Despite being innocent until proven guilty, accusations are scary, and conviction could be a reality. That is why you must work with a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer in Bloomingdale, GA who will work tirelessly to clear your name.

Clients choose O'Brien Law Firm because we believe in open communication, honesty, and hard work. It is not our job to act as judges for those who have been accused of crimes. Rather, our goal is to find the best defense that allows us to protect our clients' rights and freedoms.

DUI Cases in Bloomingdale, GA

Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common crimes committed in Georgia. Punishments for such a crime can be severe, and for understandable reasons - when a person operates a vehicle while they are intoxicated, they're putting their life and the lives of others at risk.

While DUI is a serious crime that completely upend the accused's life, the earnest desire to end drunk driving can make police officers too eager to catch a person who they believe is under the influence.

 Criminal Defense Law Firm Bloomingdale, GA

The city of Bloomingdale, Georgia, has implemented severe punishments for DUI, even for first-time offenders. Individuals charged with DUI in Bloomingdale could face:

  • Very expensive fines and fees
  • Loss of license
  • Incarceration

Fortunately, if you or someone you love has been charged with DUI, there is hope. This is particularly true when the accused is administered a breath or blood test for DUI. In fact, cases that involve a breath and/or blood test are beaten daily. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, we will dive deep into your DUI case in Bloomingdale and examine every angle possible for your case to be dismissed. Here are just a few questions our team will investigate:

  • Was the stop legal? If not, your case could be dismissed
  • Is there enough evidence or probable cause to arrest you? If not, Dennis O'Brien will file a pre-trial motion and will fight hard to have your case dismissed before trial.
  • Did the police read you your implied consent rights? If not, your case could be thrown out. Failure to read implied consent rights to the accused is one of the most common police errors.
  • Were your blood testing records and breathalyzer results maintained? Breath testing comes with inherent weaknesses that can create doubt in a juror's mind.

There are numerous ways to beat a DUI case in Georgia, from unreliable field sobriety tests to inaccurate state-administered breath tests. As a veteran criminal defense lawyer in Bloomingdale, GA, Dennis O'Brien has the knowledge and experience to expose the state's mistakes and fight for your rights. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC your chances of dismissal are greatly increased. When your case is dismissed, you can continue living life without the burden of a criminal record.

 Criminal Justice Attorney Bloomingdale, GA

If you or someone you love is accused of a crime in Bloomingdale, GA, don't leave fate up to the prosecution. Take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family before it's too late.

Contact us

Latest News in Bloomingdale, GA

Bloomingdale Elementary School to be demolished next summer; new facility coming fall 2025

At the end of the current school year, the Bloomingdale Elementary School building will be demolished to make way for a completely new school facility, according to the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS).Students and staff will relocate to a “swing site” during demolition and construction, which is slated to begin in September 2023 and finish July 2025. An exact location for the swin...

At the end of the current school year, the Bloomingdale Elementary School building will be demolished to make way for a completely new school facility, according to the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS).

Students and staff will relocate to a “swing site” during demolition and construction, which is slated to begin in September 2023 and finish July 2025. An exact location for the swing site has yet to be determined, according to district officials, but students will remain together and not be split up into different schools.

The school district will host a District 7 Town Hall meeting Nov. 17 at the Bloomingdale Elementary School at 6:30 p.m., where officials will provide additional information.

More:Bloomingdale has a new growth plan. What does this mean for future development in the city?

Bloomingdale Elementary, which serves about 380 pre-k through fifth grade students, is located at 101 East Main Street, just south of U.S. 80. The new school facility will be built on the same site.

The current elementary school building is about 60 years old and is in need of upgrades, according to the district’s project executive, Slade Helmly.

Critical systems have exceeded their useful system life, said Helmly. That includes the HVAC, electrical, fire protection, plumbing, architecture and technological infrastructure.

“You can imagine a school from 60 years ago needs big upgrades,” said Helmly, “It makes more sense to build new than renovate existing.”

Bloomingdale Elementary school was originally slated for renovations as part of ESPLOST IV plans. ESPLOST is a penny sales tax on goods and services purchased within the county that is used to fund capital improvement projects for the county school district. Extended through a voter referendum every five years, ESPLOST has generated more than $1 billion for public schools since its inception in 2006.

More:ESPLOST IV will be on the ballot for everyone in Chatham County on Nov. 2. But what is ESPLOST?

Original plans to repair Bloomingdale Elementary shifted when total costs for renovations exceeded 50% of costs to build a replacement facility, said SCCPSS spokesperson Sheila Blanco. At that rate, it would be more cost-effective to build an entirely new facility, said Blanco.

The exact cost for the new school building isn’t finalized, but Helmly puts construction for new facilities generally around $25 to $30 million. White Bluff Elementary, which was completed July of 2020 and serves about 650 students, cost $22.6 million to construct.

More:Port Wentworth Elementary to close in May while residents share concerns on its future use

At the Oct. 5 school board meeting, district officials approved transferring $28,705,000 from various ESPLOST IV accounts – specifically Pooler Elementary School and Bloomingdale Elementary School renovation accounts – to a new school replacement account. Construction for the replacement school will come entirely from ESPLOST funds.

As the project is still in its early stages, specific design plans have not been drawn up yet. According to the program schedule, the project is still in its programming phase, which will be followed by schematic development and design development in February 2023.

Once the baseline spaces have been established according to Georgia Department of Education standards, community meetings to solicit input from staff and community members and stakeholders will begin, said Helmly.

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

Warehouse project coming soon to Bloomingdale's Ottawa Farms

Bloomingdale City Council approved the first phase of a 4.5 million square foot warehouse project known as the Ottawa Farms Tracts during last Thursday’s council meeting. The large-scale, long-term project anticipates the building of nine warehouses on more than 400 acres of land over the course of the next d...

Bloomingdale City Council approved the first phase of a 4.5 million square foot warehouse project known as the Ottawa Farms Tracts during last Thursday’s council meeting. The large-scale, long-term project anticipates the building of nine warehouses on more than 400 acres of land over the course of the next decade.

McCraney Property Company, a Florida-based company that develops and manages commercial/industrial, office/flex, office and warehouse distribution properties, is the developer for the project. McCraney received approval for tract A, the first warehouse building comprising about 33 acres, located off of Bloomingdale Road and adjacent to the city’s main visitor attraction, the Ottawa Farms.

Story continues below.

The warehouse project stirred controversy in the small and quiet residential town when Ottawa Farms' owner, Pete Waller, requested that a significant portion of his agricultural land be rezoned to light industrial in 2019.

Previously:Industrial development proposed for Ottawa Farms site

The six-person council was evenly split on the rezoning decision, with then-mayor Ben Rozier breaking the tie with a yes vote. In a previous interview, Rozier told the Savannah Morning News that Waller had talked about possibly deannexing and incorporating his land into the neighboring city of Pooler if Bloomingdale did not approve the rezoning,

'It's in your blood': Ottawa Farms' Pete Waller reminisces on decades of farming in Chatham

Ottawa Farms encompasses nearly 800 acres of land south of residential neighborhoods near U.S. 80. About 150 acres will remain agricultural, according to previous interviews with Waller. The third-generation farmer recognizes residents’ desire to preserve the last-remaining farm in Chatham County, but he said the math is no longer there to maintain farmland in this region.

Skyrocketing property taxes have rendered the agricultural business unfeasible. To keep the land in his name, Waller is renting, not selling, the parcels to the warehouse business.

Before:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development

Residents and city officials across western Chatham County are resisting the pressures of industrialization as the rapid growth of the Port of Savannah continues to bolster the logistics and manufacturing industries.

In January, Bloomingdale's council unanimously approved an eight-month moratorium on applications for industrial and multi-family developments while the city assesses its infrastructure capacity and ensures current land use falls in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Also:A second West Chatham city freezes industrial development. Why growth trends are troubling

More recently, Garden City followed suit by imposing its own moratorium on industrial rezoning applications, citing a need to increase residential builds in the industrial and commercial-heavy municipality.

Goals outlined in Bloomingdale’s 2021 comprehensive plan include preserving the small city charm by discouraging heavy industry and large, multifamily, high-density developments such as apartments, which would strain the city’s limited infrastructure capacity.

However, with the warehouse park in tow, city officials hope the project can be a financial windfall to the city of 2,800. Attracting light industrial and the jobs that come with it is also part of Bloomingdale’s long-term goals to sustaining the municipality's economy.

According to previous reporting from the Savannah Morning News, the $300 million investment would create upwards of 1,000 new jobs in a city with 300 to 500 jobs.

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

West Chatham residents speak out against potential rezoning of 630-acre project

BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WSAV) – West Chatham County residents are voicing their concerns about the potential rezoning of land next to their neighborhood.Off John Carter Road in Bloomingdale sits 630 acres of undeveloped land. It’s owned by the Savannah Economic Development Authority and officials said they intend for it to be a manufacturing park.Residents who live next to the property said the project is already doing damage to their homes.“My father is 85 years old and within about three to four weeks of t...

BLOOMINGDALE, Ga. (WSAV) – West Chatham County residents are voicing their concerns about the potential rezoning of land next to their neighborhood.

Off John Carter Road in Bloomingdale sits 630 acres of undeveloped land. It’s owned by the Savannah Economic Development Authority and officials said they intend for it to be a manufacturing park.

Residents who live next to the property said the project is already doing damage to their homes.

“My father is 85 years old and within about three to four weeks of the clearing of this property, we noticed differences in our homes and his septic tank would just pour water into it so we had to drop an actual pump in it to keep it operating,” said Cheryl Sanderlin, a resident for 30 years. “We used to have a lot of wildlife in our front yards, we could sit in that big window there and actually see deer eating in our front yards. We don’t see that anymore.”

Residents like Cheryl, many who have lived in the neighborhood for decades, said they feel blindsided and left out of the conversation.

“With our neighborhood backing up to it, with two schools nearby, with 10,000 more homes coming, we are definitely concerned on whether this is something that will make noise all night long, have lights all night long, continue to cause flooding issues,” Cheryl said.

On Saturday, officials from SEDA met with neighbors for the first time. Residents repeatedly asked why the group is trying to rezone the property from Industrial Light to Industrial Heavy, something they believe will only do more harm.

“Our response to that is to best place this manufacturing center, this Class A industrial manufacturing, to be prime real estate for high-wage jobs,” said Jesse Dillon, vice president for business development at SEDA. “Put us in the best possible competitive situation to attract high wages to the community.”

Dillion added that the organization has no intention to cause harm to neighbors. Residents are also calling for more transparency, claiming they were not properly notified of SEDA’s petition to change the zoning.

“There are three ways to notify property owners,” explained Harold Yellin, an attorney representing SEDA. “Advertising, which we did. Notice to neighbors within 300 feet, which we believe was done. And the signs, which we did according to state zoning procedure law. Notwithstanding that we’ll come back and do it again. If we can find property off-site that doesn’t even belong to us but the property owner says it’s OK, we’d otherwise be trespassing but we’re willing to put additional signs.”

Neighbors and SEDA officials said their meeting was productive and the start of finding a solution to make residents more comfortable.

But still, Cheryl is concerned about what will happen to the quiet, peaceful neighborhood she and her family have called home for 30 years.

“I mean, at a certain point can you sleep at night, will the lights be blaring through your window, will the noise be loud?”, she said. “I mean, at a certain point you have to weigh can you still live there?”

The Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission will take up the rezoning petition at its meeting on September 29th.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

'It's in your blood': Ottawa Farms' Pete Waller reminisces on decades of farming in Chatham

Pete Waller is a business man by trade but a farmer by heart. The 89- year-old runs an insulation business where he earns most of his living, but his real pride and joy is cultivating the 150-acres of fertile soil that is Ottawa Farms, one of the last remaining farms in Chatham County.Waller spends his mornings herding cattle, running the lengths of green pastures in his tractor and spitting chewing tobacco into a red Solo nestled in the cupholder of his truck.He doesn’t need to be working out in the fields...

Pete Waller is a business man by trade but a farmer by heart. The 89- year-old runs an insulation business where he earns most of his living, but his real pride and joy is cultivating the 150-acres of fertile soil that is Ottawa Farms, one of the last remaining farms in Chatham County.

Waller spends his mornings herding cattle, running the lengths of green pastures in his tractor and spitting chewing tobacco into a red Solo nestled in the cupholder of his truck.

He doesn’t need to be working out in the fields, but he does it anyway.

“I like to smell that dirt when you plow it up,” Waller chuckled. “I enjoy cutting that hay and rolling it back.”

He’s wearing a dress shirt and polka-dot suspenders. But for the purposes of farm work, he’s in denim jeans and sneakers.

“It’s in your blood, you can’t get it out.”

But Waller, a third-generation farmer, recognizes the changing agricultural landscape. He watched the 150 acres of land his grandfather first purchased in 1873 grow to around 800. Now he’s back to 150, as plans to lease and develop the remaining acreage into warehouses come to fruition.

Read more:'Check back in three years': Savannah's record growth exerts pressure on rural communities

“The math is not there to hold onto the land today,” said Waller, speaking of skyrocketing property values pushing out smaller-scale farmers like him. “It’s the writing on the wall.”

Waller, however, is business savvy. He said there’s no plans to sell the land outright as he still owns the parcels.

“You don’t sell the goose that lays the golden egg; we leased the goose,” Waller said with a laugh.

Before:Industrial development proposed for Ottawa Farms site

The fight to rezone the land from agricultural to industrial took nearly two years. At the end of that controversial battle in 2021, Waller entered into a contract with the Florida-based McCraney Property Company. Nearly 600 acres of land abutting the green plains of the farm will be razed and turned into warehousing, to the dismay of residents.

“Everybody don’t like change. They want to see a farm,” said Waller, “but they don’t own it … they don’t pay taxes on it.”

Waller stood watch as flocks of black and brown cattle roamed in the tall grass toward the shade of a tree draped in Spanish moss. The rule of thumb is you can’t fall in love with them, he said of the beef cattle.

Once the 10-year warehouse project is complete, the pasture will be gone.

"We saw what was happening"

Waller watched the region transform in the nearly nine decades he’s lived in the city of Bloomingdale. The area once bustled with dairies and vegetable patches. Families owned several acres to farm and raised their own small herd of cattle. In the ‘30s and ‘40s, he said, you either farmed or worked for the railroad.

“We didn’t have trucks coming from Florida bringing in vegetables,” said Waller. “Everything was grown here.”

When Waller took over the farm in his teens after his father’s death, the land had been in his family for at least 70 years. He quit high school and went to work in the shipyard as a machinist, hustling during the day and farming at night.

Even then, farm work was no way to earn money. He found himself in the insulation business. Then, by 23-years-old, he wound up overseeing 700 men at a cement company in North Carolina. Three years later, he returned home.

Waller started running his own insulation business in the early ‘60s while he still worked the farm. But the landscape was shifting.

More:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development

“We saw what was happening,” he said, “after the I-95 went up.”

Pooler, still one of the fastest growing cities in the region, began to balloon.

Anticipating the risk of Bloomingdale being annexed into its neighboring cities, he, along with four other residents, worked to incorporate the town.

“I took the charter to Atlanta,” Waller said as he recalled his first ever plane trip.

In his office, he pointed to a black and white photo of himself, three other men and then-governor Jimmy Carter smiling with the charter in hand. In 1974, Bloomingdale was incorporated.

Inevitable change

Development continues to explode in the region, transforming the once-sprawling agricultural town. Manufacturing and logistics in the area boomed as the Port of Savannah expanded, growing into one of the busiest ports in the nation.

Today, industrialization is at the heart of residents’ concerns. For Bloomingdale, a city of about 2,600, existence is always in flux. City officials say they’re trying to balance the financial flush warehousing can bring with the quality of life of residents.

Waller knows farming isn’t what’s sustainable here. In 1957 he bought an acre of land for $57, he said. Now that same acre is worth $150,000. The writing is on the wall for all farmers. Even those more inland as growth spills into nearby counties.

Also:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development

To further supplement his income, Waller opened up the fields to another kind of business – agritourism.

“We were doing this before we realized what it was called,” he said, “We plant about five acres of strawberries every year, three acres of blackberries and five acres of blueberries, all pick-your-own operations.”

The annual strawberry festival is set for this weekend – April 2nd-3rd – and normally attracts up to 10,000 people, said Waller.

Ottawa hosts other attractions as well, such as sunflower picking. For school field trips, he’s installed a giant metal slide, a note he took from the farms up in North Carolina. Nearby is a general store that sells farm-made goods.

A goat that pops its head over a wooden fence is, perhaps, the main attraction. Waller grabs a handful of tobacco and feeds it to him. The goat laps it up, its mouth grinding side to side with sounds of cows mooing in the distance.

“Back then we didn’t have to fence them in,” Waller recalled when his father was alive, “We used to have an open range. Where Home Depot is, we used to run the cows. Where Lowe’s is, we used to run the cows.”

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

'It's in your blood': Ottawa Farms' Pete Waller reminisces on decades of farming in Chatham

Pete Waller is a business man by trade but a farmer by heart. The 89- year-old runs an insulation business where he earns most of his living, but his real pride and joy is cultivating the 150-acres of fertile soil that is Ottawa Farms, one of the last remaining farms in Chatham County.Waller spends his mornings herding cattle, running the lengths of green pastures in his tractor and spitting chewing tobacco into a red Solo nestled in the cupholder of his truck.He doesn’t need to be working out in the fields...

Pete Waller is a business man by trade but a farmer by heart. The 89- year-old runs an insulation business where he earns most of his living, but his real pride and joy is cultivating the 150-acres of fertile soil that is Ottawa Farms, one of the last remaining farms in Chatham County.

Waller spends his mornings herding cattle, running the lengths of green pastures in his tractor and spitting chewing tobacco into a red Solo nestled in the cupholder of his truck.

He doesn’t need to be working out in the fields, but he does it anyway.

“I like to smell that dirt when you plow it up,” Waller chuckled. “I enjoy cutting that hay and rolling it back.”

He’s wearing a dress shirt and polka-dot suspenders. But for the purposes of farm work, he’s in denim jeans and sneakers.

“It’s in your blood, you can’t get it out.”

But Waller, a third-generation farmer, recognizes the changing agricultural landscape. He watched the 150 acres of land his grandfather first purchased in 1873 grow to around 800. Now he’s back to 150, as plans to lease and develop the remaining acreage into warehouses come to fruition.

Read more:'Check back in three years': Savannah's record growth exerts pressure on rural communities

“The math is not there to hold onto the land today,” said Waller, speaking of skyrocketing property values pushing out smaller-scale farmers like him. “It’s the writing on the wall.”

Waller, however, is business savvy. He said there’s no plans to sell the land outright as he still owns the parcels.

“You don’t sell the goose that lays the golden egg; we leased the goose,” Waller said with a laugh.

Before:Industrial development proposed for Ottawa Farms site

The fight to rezone the land from agricultural to industrial took nearly two years. At the end of that controversial battle in 2021, Waller entered into a contract with the Florida-based McCraney Property Company. Nearly 600 acres of land abutting the green plains of the farm will be razed and turned into warehousing, to the dismay of residents.

“Everybody don’t like change. They want to see a farm,” said Waller, “but they don’t own it … they don’t pay taxes on it.”

Waller stood watch as flocks of black and brown cattle roamed in the tall grass toward the shade of a tree draped in Spanish moss. The rule of thumb is you can’t fall in love with them, he said of the beef cattle.

Once the 10-year warehouse project is complete, the pasture will be gone.

"We saw what was happening"

Waller watched the region transform in the nearly nine decades he’s lived in the city of Bloomingdale. The area once bustled with dairies and vegetable patches. Families owned several acres to farm and raised their own small herd of cattle. In the ‘30s and ‘40s, he said, you either farmed or worked for the railroad.

“We didn’t have trucks coming from Florida bringing in vegetables,” said Waller. “Everything was grown here.”

When Waller took over the farm in his teens after his father’s death, the land had been in his family for at least 70 years. He quit high school and went to work in the shipyard as a machinist, hustling during the day and farming at night.

Even then, farm work was no way to earn money. He found himself in the insulation business. Then, by 23-years-old, he wound up overseeing 700 men at a cement company in North Carolina. Three years later, he returned home.

Waller started running his own insulation business in the early ‘60s while he still worked the farm. But the landscape was shifting.

More:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development

“We saw what was happening,” he said, “after the I-95 went up.”

Pooler, still one of the fastest growing cities in the region, began to balloon.

Anticipating the risk of Bloomingdale being annexed into its neighboring cities, he, along with four other residents, worked to incorporate the town.

“I took the charter to Atlanta,” Waller said as he recalled his first ever plane trip.

In his office, he pointed to a black and white photo of himself, three other men and then-governor Jimmy Carter smiling with the charter in hand. In 1974, Bloomingdale was incorporated.

Inevitable change

Development continues to explode in the region, transforming the once-sprawling agricultural town. Manufacturing and logistics in the area boomed as the Port of Savannah expanded, growing into one of the busiest ports in the nation.

Today, industrialization is at the heart of residents’ concerns. For Bloomingdale, a city of about 2,600, existence is always in flux. City officials say they’re trying to balance the financial flush warehousing can bring with the quality of life of residents.

Waller knows farming isn’t what’s sustainable here. In 1957 he bought an acre of land for $57, he said. Now that same acre is worth $150,000. The writing is on the wall for all farmers. Even those more inland as growth spills into nearby counties.

Also:Bloomingdale council: City 'not open for business' for warehouse, apartment development

To further supplement his income, Waller opened up the fields to another kind of business – agritourism.

“We were doing this before we realized what it was called,” he said, “We plant about five acres of strawberries every year, three acres of blackberries and five acres of blueberries, all pick-your-own operations.”

The annual strawberry festival is set for this weekend – April 2nd-3rd – and normally attracts up to 10,000 people, said Waller.

Ottawa hosts other attractions as well, such as sunflower picking. For school field trips, he’s installed a giant metal slide, a note he took from the farms up in North Carolina. Nearby is a general store that sells farm-made goods.

A goat that pops its head over a wooden fence is, perhaps, the main attraction. Waller grabs a handful of tobacco and feeds it to him. The goat laps it up, its mouth grinding side to side with sounds of cows mooing in the distance.

“Back then we didn’t have to fence them in,” Waller recalled when his father was alive, “We used to have an open range. Where Home Depot is, we used to run the cows. Where Lowe’s is, we used to run the cows.”

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.