College Avenue Annexation Bills Pass Senate, Headed to Governor’s Desk
Decatur Metro | March 26, 2012From David Milliron’s Avondale Estate’s “City Happenings” Facebook page…
Congratulations! The Senate just voted on and passed the Avondale Estates and Decatur annexation bills that will permit the two cities to join borders at Sams Crossing. This legislation brings 23 commercial properties into the City of Avondale Estates and 10 into the City of Decatur. The twin bills now head to the Governor for his signature. The vote tally: Yea (45), Nay (3). THANK YOU!
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In other news, office supply stores around the metro area report that sign-making materials are selling at a record pace.
Ha!
I heard plottings of a ceremonial meeting of the mayors at the Sams/College intersection that will please DM readers immensely. Cross your fingers.
Will they hammer in a golden railroad spike?
Or maybe drink a ceremonial Growler?
This is the first step in Decatur taking over Avondale Estates.
Ummmm…. no
Yay!!!!
What are the areas tat will be annexed, and which city gets which pieces?
Avondale Estates will add all the businesses along both sides of E. College Ave. between from the gas stations at Livingstone Place to Sams Crossing. I believe the annexation on Decatur’s side is everything from the present city limits (MARTA station?) to Sams Crossing
Are the Avondale Station Apartments being annexed as well ? I read it was just the businesses. If not, won’t this create the island of dekalb county inside Avondale estates?
Ralph Ellis over at Patch said they will remain unincorporated Dekalb.
if not that is pretty crazy, the island of dekalb.
makes me think of the episode of 30 rock where Kenneth writes home…
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/Pics/Blogs/1000656/tumblr_laoaifBnlL1qz82gvo1_500-001.jpg
It wouldn’t be that unusual. Forrest Hills is also in no mans land bordered by Decatur and Avondale Estates.
Forrest Hills, Katie Kerr, and parts of Derrydown are in unincorporated DeKalb. These small areas all have direct access to DeKalb County via Katie Kerr (Sam’s Crossing) and Columbia; no islands.
The Avondale Station Apartments only have one way in & out. After annexation it will be a complete DeKalb island inside Avondale Estates.
Makes me wonder why these residents weren’t annexed along with the commercial property.
I believe, if included in the annexation bill, the residents would have had a vote in the process unlike the commercial property owners who had no vote. They also would have voting rights for the Avondale Estates Mayor and Board of Commissioners. Makes me think. How about you?
If they were organized and motivated, the apartment residents could have a big impact on Avondale Est. elections.
The apartments weren’t annexed b/c children live in apartments, and children are expensive to educate. Plus, our schools are already experiencing huge increases in enrollment. The commercial properties, unlike residences, are a huge net increase in the tax base.
Isn’t Avondale Est. part of the DeKalb County School district already? So if the apartments became part of that City, there is no impact on the schools.
Correct. School impacts have nothing to do with Avondale annexation debates. Multifamily units would likely be net positive to AE.
I seem to recall that their being able to handle it through the legislature was because it was solely commercial. If they’d included residences, they’d have had to put it up to a public vote. Can anyone confirm that?
Yeah, that’s how I remember it too. But I can’t confirm.
Helpful, I know.
So there was nothing devious. Darn!
I believe what DM says is correct. Purely commercial can be done without a popular vote. I think that’s how the DeVry property was annexed to Decatur.
Now all the no mans land residents need is annexation behind the businesses. That’s sure to come next!
So, any idea when the Gov is supposed to be signing it yet ?
RE: Island of Dekalb Yes, it will cause a island if by that you mean you have to enter the city of Avondale to get into the apartments, but that is not how the law see’s it. Under the OCGA you only have a island when the property is surrounded on all sides by a city or two cites and the property is now surrounded on ALL sides by incorporated land regardless of what city it is. The Avondale Station apartments while being inside the city by roadway are not bound by the city of Avondale or Decatur on the rear of the property thereby removing any possibility that it could be a “island”. It all comes down to how it looks on the map. Also, the Devry annexation was not a “legislative” annexation as was this one. True it was commercial but it was done under the 100% method and was voluntary as it was requested by the owner who wanted his/her property to be in the city of Decatur.
Also…. Here is a thought. Now that it is legal to buy alcohol on Sunday, why do all the cities in Dekalb County EXCEPT Atlanta mimic the alcohol cut off time of 11:30 in the evening that the County has. All you have to do is go into Atlanta or ride east on I-20 to Rockdale County or Conyers and you can buy Beer and wine all night long. If these cities really want to show their independence they should pass ordinances that allow for 24 beverage sales. It doesn’t make sense to give the tax dollars to the city of Atlanta. Now, if they did that and I had a package store or convience store, etc. that was near one of these cities, well you can bet I would want to annex my business and land into the city because they could offer me something the county was too conservative to do….
Yep believe it or not they can pass their own ordinances and regulate alcohol sales and hours without getting the permission of Dekalb Co. If you’re gonna be independent be independent. The first city to do it will get the jump on the rest. I for one think it is neanderthal to let me go to a bar till 4am but I can’t buy beer to take to my own home after 11:30 pm. That’s nuts !!!