Stockbridge leaders on Monday called a proposal to create a city of Eagles Landing by taking land from the city of Stockbridge “unprecedented” and warned that the move could have dire consequences across the state if successful.
In an early morning press conference outside Stockbridge City Hall, the leaders said allowing the de-annexation of Henry County's biggest town to help form the city of Eagle's Landing could be used by other Georgia communities to break away from cities.
Residents of unincorporated Henry County and Eagle's Landing, which includes a tony golfing community located in the city of Stockbridge, are pushing the creation of the new city. They argue that it would offer them the ability to create parks they say they currently don't have and improve access to police services. They also said a city of Eagles Landing would be able to attract higher-end restaurants and retail by creating a town with a higher overall income.
Opponents said the move would rob Stockbridge of half of its tax base and force the city to implement a city tax to survive.
“Today we stand unified together to say we won’t stand for this,” House member Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge), who represents Stockbridge and opposes the de-annexation, said at the press conference. “If it will happen to this city, it will also happen to your city.”
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