The Legislature and the coming Battle for Northlake Mall (Dunwoody: bill, deal)

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by jero23

Some counties operate these ways because they are essentially "urban counties", and with that responsibility comes providing base municipal services to all citizens (police, fire/rescue, sewer, planning/zoning, development services, etc.) I do agree some counties need to reevaluate their overall property tax millage, but incorporating an arbitrary municipality with no sense of place or true sense of community vis-a-via a "town center" or "main street" is foolish at best.

As another poster said, most of these reactionary municipalities are essentially faceless places where their only source of income are traffic tickets, property taxes, and a collection of chain stores. I ask people nowadays where is the "downtown area" of many of these reactionary municipalities formed in the past decade. Most of these places don't have any because they are essentially the definition of a "faceless place" with an office building as a "city hall" and still receiving many services from other sources aside from the "municipality" itself.

The state legislature requires studies to show that new municipalities can be finacially viable. Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven certainly have large commercial areas. The fact that people perceive that more tickets are being issued probably has to do with the fact that there is better policing going on.

Across the country, it is the norm for people to live in cities. The living in unincorporated areas is far more common in the South than anywhere else. Counties provide some services and cities provide some services. Folks in Georgia's newest cities are still funding that service provision. So, if Brookhaven gets its fire and library services from DeKalb, that portion of its property taxes goes to DeKalb.

For most who have supported the cities, excluding those in N. Fulton, the issue hasn't been the milage rate. (N. Fulton residents had concerns about taxation without representation as well as zoning, policing, etc) It has been zoning, code enforcement, and policing, etc. Stuff that impact the day to day life of those who live in the area. I do think it is harder to create a city from an area, like Brookhaven, that is really just an area than say a Dunwoody that has its village, longstanding community organizations, etc. Keep in mind that the voters in Milton knew that protecting their idyllic community from unwanted commercial and other development might cost more -- but it is only right they had the choice to incorporate.

[jero23]

Originally Posted by lastminutemom

The state legislature requires studies to show that new municipalities can be finacially viable. Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven certainly have large commercial areas. The fact that people perceive that more tickets are being issued probably has to do with the fact that there is better policing going on.

Across the country, it is the norm for people to live in cities. The living in unincorporated areas is far more common in the South than anywhere else. Counties provide some services and cities provide some services. Folks in Georgia's newest cities are still funding that service provision. So, if Brookhaven gets its fire and library services from DeKalb, that portion of its property taxes goes to DeKalb.

For most who have supported the cities, excluding those in N. Fulton, the issue hasn't been the milage rate. (N. Fulton residents had concerns about taxation without representation as well as zoning, policing, etc) It has been zoning, code enforcement, and policing, etc. Stuff that impact the day to day life of those who live in the area. I do think it is harder to create a city from an area, like Brookhaven, that is really just an area than say a Dunwoody that has its village, longstanding community organizations, etc. Keep in mind that the voters in Milton knew that protecting their idyllic community from unwanted commercial and other development might cost more -- but it is only right they had the choice to incorporate.

I agree most do live in municipalities. The reason why unincorporated areas in counties are/were so common in the South is the fact that the most Southern states have a long history of Dillion's Rule statutes on annexation or expansion of existing cities' boundaries. In this case, instead of allowing Atlanta expand its boundaries in the mid 20th century, the state restricted the city or any other existing municipalities to longstanding boundaries. As a result, with the exception of small areas like Druid Hills, East Atlanta, etc., is a boot-shaped city with its boundary essentially stopping at the DeKalb County line. However, I still say that creating additional layers of governmental bureaucracy is going to solve these longstanding issues.

All one has to do is look at Birmingham and how balkanized it is to be much smaller urbanized area when compared to Atlanta, but has nearly as many municipalities as this region. I used to live and worked in urban planning and community development field in that region and just doing a service delivery agreement between any 2 or more municipalities or amongst the municipalities and the Jefferson County government was a clear utter nightmare. There is always more than too many chiefs and no Indians when you are attempting to compromise any multi-jurisdiction agreements, and it usually results in more arguments rather than compromises or resolutions. It is clear duplication of existing services doesn't solve problems rather create more complexed ones. Usually, it is ones of the personality driven kind.

[arjay57]

I guess this is the right thread.

The Druid Hill Civic Association is inviting residents to a cityhood meeting on Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. at Church of the Epiphany, 2089 Ponce De Leon Ave. The meeting will include presentations about the Georgia State Assembly, Emory University, and the options under consideration for the competing cityhood efforts of Briarcliff, Lakeside and Tucker.

More...Druid Hills group hosting cityhood meeting - Atlanta INtown Paper

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I agree.
I wouldn't mind seeing the COA take North Druid Hills as well as Druid Hills and Emory. Decatur should incorporate 30033 as well.

North Druid Hills, Georgia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


File:North Druid Hills.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[jsvh]

Looks like Lakeside is a step closer to being on the ballot: Ga. Senate panel OKs new city vote - Atlanta Business Chronicle

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Looks like Lakeside is a step closer to being on the ballot: Ga. Senate panel OKs new city vote - Atlanta Business Chronicle

No!

[jeoff]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Looks like Lakeside is a step closer to being on the ballot: Ga. Senate panel OKs new city vote - Atlanta Business Chronicle

Wow! If this happens, would this push Druid Hills to annex to Atlanta?

[JPD]

Lakeside unveiled a different map at that meeting than the one used for their feasability study. The new map encroaches further on Tucker than the previous map by taking a large chunk of the Midvale and Livsey areas. That's a really sleazy move, by any measure.

[jsvh]

Briarcliff? Lakeside? Tucker? DeKalb cityhood bills carry on - Reporter Newspapers

...
Though the bill to incorporate a city of Lakeside was the only one of the three DeKalb city bills approved before Crossover Day, the House Governmental Affairs Committee agreed to hold hearings on each of the three proposals before making a recommendation on what the Legislature should do.
...

[JPD]

Lakeside and Tucker cityhood legislation was tabled today in an 8-7 decision.