Decatur gets sponsor for partial annexation
State Representative Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates told the AJC Friday she will sponsor a portion of Decatur’s annexation master plan, with hopes of submitting the bill early next week.
But Drenner will sponsor only what she represents, essentially unincorporated areas east of Church Street and all of DeKalb Industrial Way. This includes Patel Plaza, the apartments on DeKalb Industrial, the shopping center anchored by Kroger, DeKalb Medical Center, a neighborhood along Sycamore Drive and the United Methodist Children’s Home.
It doesn’t include Suburban Plaza or the four commercial centers at North Decatur Road and Clairemont Avenue, both long coveted by the city. Decatur City Manager Peggy Merriss believes the city may be running out of time for those commercial areas.
“We will certainly work with [Drenner] to achieve [getting partial annexation approved],” Merriss said. “As long as it’s a part of the master plan, it’s a step in the right direction. But it doesn’t look promising for [Suburban and North Decatur/Clairemont] this year.”
