Let's Incorporate Vinings (Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Smyrna: Home Depot, taxes, legal)

[RandomName]

Seriously, what do we have to do to make this a reality? Vinings residents have been talking about this for years but it's about time we start taking action. Vinings shouldn't be left by the wayside as Sandy Springs and Smyrna make forward progress (as a result of having greater control over tax revenues).

I've heard arguments that this will mean greater taxes for Vinings and at first I was opposed to this (nobody wants higher taxes). However, this is not necessarily true - Vinings will simply have greater control over the tax revenues from its area (as opposed to being managed however Cobb County sees fit). In addition, the tax revenue from the numerous offices and business, notably Cumberland Mall and the Cumberland/Galleria office skyrises, will be streaming into Vinings' coffers. Vinings is a rich area and it'll have a rich revenue stream, especially "per capita" for its small population of 10,000.

The borders (as discussed at length previously) should be Atlanta Rd. from the Chattahoochee River to Paces Ferry Rd to Spring Hill Parkway to the Cumberland Blvd. bridge, "connecting" to I-285 and continuing Northeast to I-75 and then Southwest to the Chattahoochee River again. All of that is unincorporated Cobb County and commonly known as Vinings. Let's make it official.

What are the legal steps that we need to go about doing this? How can we set up community meetings? This will take legal/government expertise (which I don't have) but if Sandy Springs could do it, then so can we.

THIS... IS... VININGS!!!

[atlantagreg30127]

Some reading on the subject:

Georgia Township Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vinings, Georgia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (read under "Government").

[SoBuKev]

That's not Vinings. It's Smynings. Vinings is a small village inside I-285 down to the river at Canoe.

[RandomName]

Originally Posted by SoBuKev

That's not Vinings. It's Smynings. Vinings is a small village inside I-285 down to the river at Canoe.

True, the border is generally bounded on the West by I-285; however, there is a small area just outside I-285 that I described above which isn't in Smyrna city limits. May as well include it in Vinings, right? Notably... Home Depot's HQ.

[KevK]

What should happen is that Smyrna should officially annex Vinings into the city proper.

[RandomName]

Originally Posted by KevK

What should happen is that Smyrna should officially annex Vinings into the city proper.

I think Vinings would incorporate itself than be annexed by Smyrna. In fact, the only reason that Vinings residents are content with the status-quo is because no other city is attempting to annex them.

Btw Greg I read up on the township act link you provided but the info seems to be old (referring to a 2007 vote that failed). Any update on this?

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by Skypirate7

Btw Greg I read up on the township act link you provided but the info seems to be old (referring to a 2007 vote that failed). Any update on this?

To my knowledge they haven't pursued it since 2007/08.

[netdragon]

Originally Posted by Skypirate7

In fact, the only reason that Vinings residents are content with the status-quo is because no other city is attempting to annex them.

That's not true. Atlanta is always trying to annex Vinings. It's up to the Vinings residents, so there is no reason for them not to be content.

Incoporation would bleed Vinings residents dry. There aren't enough people in Vinings to be able to support a viable city. It isn't a farm-town and has a lot of big-city problems to deal with. Cobb County helps spread that out.

If it were ever to incorporate, it would only be viable to incorporate along with Cumberland, along with the area near the intersection of Power's Ferry and Aker's Mill.

However, Smyrna may get there first.

Anyway, Vinings is doing just fine as-is. It doesn't need to incorporate until the rest of Cobb County has incorporated and county services get cut back. That may never happen.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by netdragon

Anyway, Vinings is doing just fine as-is. It doesn't need to incorporate until the rest of Cobb County has incorporated and county services get cut back. That may never happen.

That is my impression. Are Vinings residents so discontent with Cobb Co. services that they would resort to this? If so, it's news to me...I don't they are facing the serious issues that Sandy Springs was with Fulton Co. or that Dunwoody was with DeKalb Co.
Apples and Oranges.

[wxjay]

No, there is no reason for Vinings to incorporate. It failed for Vinings residents on a vote, and I am not necessarily for it right now either. And if you want to point to Sandy Springs as an example, there are quite a few differences there. However, one of the major things is that Sandy Springs has had quite a few bad "humps" to overcome in the last few years. I know that this is somewhat inevitable, but it isn't promising for people.