Tucker and LaVista Hills make case for cityhood

Georgia lawmakers are warning supporters of the proposed cities of LaVista Hills and Tucker that they need to be able to agree on shared borders if either of them wants to win approval.

The rival cities presented their competing maps to a panel of five legislators charged with drawing compromise boundaries for consideration by the full Georgia General Assembly next year. More than 100 people attended the meeting in a packed room near the Capitol.

Representatives for LaVista Hills said they would improve police services to their area, while Tucker’s supporters argued that their long-standing community shouldn’t be split up.

Their dispute surrounds the high-value retail area surrounding Northlake Mall and a more residential region to the southeast of Spaghetti Junction. Both hoped-for cities want those areas included in their maps.

Leaders of the two cityhood movements told lawmakers they’d be willing to move forward even if they don’t get what they want.

But it’s unclear how financially feasible each city would be if it loses too much commercial property, which generates a great deal of tax revenue to fund local government services.