Six areas are seeking to form cities this year:
- Greenhaven: Covers most of South DeKalb with a population of 294,000
- LaVista Hills: Includes north-central DeKalb and nearly 65,000 residents
- Sharon Springs: Located in Forsyth County with a population of about 50,000
- South Fulton: Ranges from Atlanta to Chattahoochee Hills and from College Park to Douglas County, with 90,000 residents.
- Stonecrest: Reaches across the southeastern part of DeKalb near Stonecrest Mall and Lithonia, covering 50,000 residents.
- Tucker: Borders the eastern edge of I-285 and stretches outside the perimeter, with a population of 35,000
Three would-be Atlanta-area cities are closer to becoming reality this week after Georgia lawmakers pushed proposals through preliminary votes with little opposition.
Efforts to form cities of LaVista Hills, South Fulton and Tucker could come to a vote before the full state House of Representatives next week. If approved, the measures calling for November referendums on cityhood would be considered by the state Senate next.
In rapid-fire succession, the cityhood bills were introduced Monday, passed by a subcommittee Tuesday and authorized by the House Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. The committee signed off on all three of the measures, which allow residents in the boundaries of the proposed cities to vote on cityhood, within 10 minutes.
“The ultimate goal is to allow the public to decide how they’re going to be governed, and we’re trying to give them that opportunity,” said Rep. Ed Rynders, R-Albany, the chairman of the committee.
But Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, said she was concerned that the drive toward cityhood was causing “confusion and conflict” among residents who aren’t sure which city they would end up in.
For example, part of the Druid Hills neighborhood is covered by LaVista Hills while also being considered for annexation into Atlanta, and Stone Mountain’s expansion plans conflict with Tucker’s map. Those disputes will have to be resolved later when annexation bills are introduced.
“Moving this fast with the conflicting borders generates more confusion,” Oliver said. “When our process is flawed, it doesn’t add to public trust.”
The Georgia General Assembly hasn’t yet reviewed proposals for three other cities: Greenhaven, Sharon Springs and Stonecrest. It’s unclear whether those movements will advance before the March 13 deadline for bills to clear either the House or Senate.
Supporters of the LaVista Hills, South Fulton and Tucker said they were optimistic that their bills will continue toward final approval.
“We’re asking for a chance to allow the community to vote for increased local control over decisions affecting their lives,” said Michelle Penkava of Tucker 2015.
A city of Tucker, as envisioned under House Bill 515, would include nearly 35,000 people and land from the eastern edge of I-285 outside of the perimeter.
LaVista Hills would be located mostly inside the perimeter, and it would cover nearly 65,000 residents in the north-central part of DeKalb County, according to House Bill 520.
South Fulton, which is proposed in House Bill 514, would cover most of the land south of Atlanta that isn’t already part of a city, with about 90,000 residents.
Legislators seem ready to end the yearly debate at the Capitol over whether to form new cities, said Allen Venet, of LaVista Hills Yes.
“I think they’re just tired of this, and they’re ready to let the people have their vote,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that’s identical to its companion legislation in the House.
Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, the committee chairman, noted that several other cities have formed in Fulton County over the last decade.
“I think we’ve gotten reasonably good and creative cities in the last 10 years,” Albers said of Senate Bill 189. “This one is really no different.”
The bill has bipartisan support, but that’s no guarantee it will pass. Last year, a similar bill passed the House by died without a vote in the Senate.
About the Author
