Doraville swallows up islands abutting Dunwoody and includes Friday's Plaza and Oasis Goodtime Emporium

Several months ago Governor Deal signed Senate Bill 532, which expanded the City of Doraville's borders by roughly a half square mile on January 1, 2013.  As featured in the map above, the areas situated to the east and west of Doraville’s northern point, have existed as islands of incorporated DeKalb County since the City of Dunwoody formed in 2008.  This annexation did not require a vote unlike the 2008 attempt which included a larger Southern area and failed.

Surrounded on all sides by the City’s existing borders and the City of Dunwoody, the western area includes the old Fridays Plaza and the Van Fleet Circle and Ridgway Drive residential neighborhoods west of Peachtree Boulevard.  This annexation also directly affected the Texaco Station on the Dunwoody side of PIB at Tilly Mill which was within unincorporated DeKalb, but now will be governed and paroled by the City of Doraville.

Across Peachtree Industrial Blvd, is the Tilly Mill Crossing shopping center (old Friday's Plaza) and the Oasis Goodtime Emporium which was also transferred over to Doraville which necessitated them to make numerous ordinance changes on sexually oriented businesses and where those types of businesses should be allowed to be located.

Based on my cursory reading of the ordinance passed just weeks ago, it appears that the Oasis may be allowed in a M-2 heavy manufacturing district (page 94)  which seems very different than the commercial district it currently appears to be zoned for?

I haven't talked to Doraville Councilwoman Pam Fleming in a while but I can tell you that she will fight hard to turn the Friday's Plaza into a "Family oriented shopping center".  In fact, you can read her own words and watch her in a video I taped where she fought against another nightclub going into that location.

I am very glad that this annexation went through and it will be interesting to watch what the City of Doraville does with this island where little oversight was given in the past and then see what happens near Friday's Plaza as that area has so much unrealized potential.

Unincorporated islands between Dunwoody and Doraville proposed to be annexed by Doraville

Video

On Monday March 19th at the DeKalb Delegation Meeting, Rep Elena Parent discussed issues related to some citizen opposition of several small islands of unincorporated DeKalb County that are proposed to be annexed by the City of Doraville. The issue being raised by these citizens has to do with the ongoing code enforcement problems related to an Islamic Mosque that is currently being handled by DeKalb County whereby those opposed to the annexation do not believe that the City of Doraville will adequately handle the ongoing enforcement of the issue.

If SB532 is approved in the legislature this year, Doraville will take over two separate islands of unincorporated land. The first starts at the Dunwoody border on Tilly Mill at the creek just north of PIB whereby the Texaco and that entire intersection will then be under the control of Doraville (now they only have the liquor store / gas station on the east side up to the dry cleaners near Stonington). Doraville will also take over the unincorporated Ridgeway Drive neighborhood to match up with the Carver Circle neighborhood which is already within the City of Doraville. The city line would then cross over PIB and Doraville would control the Adult entertainment establishment “The Oasis”, the Friday’s Plaza and the neighborhood behind the Home Depot where the Mosque is located. The second area proposed to be annexed is an industrial area with apartments South of PIB at Winters Chapel (near QuickTrip).

The unincorporated islands are definitely a police problem and if this legislation is approved it should be beneficial to the residents of the City of Dunwoody whereby the two city departments could partner in uniform enforcement and provide mutual aid to one another.

I wish we were able to clean up the City boundary lines whereby the City of Dunwoody would on this side of PIB and Doraville could be on the other but I guess that would just make too much sense?

The attached video was not purposely cut short on the last speaker, YouTube just has a 15 min limit.

Rep. Mike Jacobs discusses HB 428 which paves a path to Annexation and possible Brookhaven Cityhood

As your State Representative, I am committed to increasing your voice in local government and to helping provide the highest quality governance at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer. That is why I have introduced a piece of legislation, House Bill 428, that will create a path for the unincorporated neighborhoods around Murphey Candler Park, West Nancy Creek Drive, and Silver Lake to join one of our adjacent municipalities, either Chamblee or Dunwoody. 

Presently, these neighborhoods exist as an “unincorporated peninsula” of land sandwiched between the City of Dunwoody to the north, the City of Chamblee to the east, and the City of Sandy Springs to the west. There is only one major arterial road into this area from the rest of unincorporated DeKalb: Ashford Dunwoody Road.

The purpose of HB 428 is to kick off a community conversation about possible avenues to the incorporation of our neighborhoods. Click here to read the version of HB 428 that will be presented on Tuesday to a subcommittee of the House Governmental Affairs Committee.

The version of the bill that was originally introduced only applied to Dunwoody, but that was based upon my own incorrect perception that Chamblee – having recently completed an annexation of Huntley Hills and other neighborhoods east of Chamblee Dunwoody Road – would not be interested in undertaking any further annexations any time soon. I had a productive conversation with Chamblee Mayor Eric Clarkson in which he made clear that it’s possible Chamblee could consider further annexation. So, the bill has been changed accordingly.

HB 428 will allow for adjacent municipalities to annex neighborhoods in an “unincorporated peninsula” (an unincorporated area that is 75% or more surrounded by cities) after the adoption of a city council resolution and the passage of a referendum by the citizens in the unincorporated area. In other words, there is absolutely no scenario in which your neighborhood would be annexed into a neighboring city before you receive all of the facts about the annexation and are given the opportunity to cast your vote at the ballot box.

The key annexation procedure that HB 428 does change is DeKalb County’s unilateral veto power over the ability of our neighborhoods to be annexed into Chamblee or Dunwoody via this simple “resolution and referendum” method.

As the Dunwoody Crier has noted, my interest in annexation is driven by “increasing discontent with DeKalb County Government: rising tax bills, fewer services, inefficient government, and a lack of confidence that things are going to get better at the county.”

Police response times in Chamblee and Dunwoody are far below those in unincorporated DeKalb. Dunwoody is planning major improvements to their local parks. Chamblee and Dunwoody are both conservatively managed and are experiencing budget surpluses. And in stark contrast to CEO Burrell Ellis’ constant drumbeat for higher property taxes, Chamblee is considering cutting its millage rate this year.

It simply is not true that incorporation into a city necessarily means that your property taxes will go up. Many cities are actually able to deliver better services and a lower tax burden than can be found in nearby unincorporated areas.

Another option that might be worth exploring is the incorporation of a new municipality altogether, perhaps a City of Brookhaven that could reach as far south as Buford Highway or even I-85. Of course, such an option would require interest from neighborhoods south of Windsor Parkway such as Historic Brookhaven, Ashford Park, Brookhaven Heights, Brookhaven Fields, and Drew Valley.

If citizens are interested, I’m willing to explore a broader City of Brookhaven. It would require a separate piece of legislation that cannot be passed until 2014 at the earliest, which would give us plenty of time to thoroughly explore this option.

HB 428 is not an actual annexation plan of any sort. No annexation of any neighborhoods by either Chamblee or Dunwoody is imminent.

The latest version of HB 428 will make it clear that any annexation cannot involve the “cherry picking” of large-scale commercial property such as the Perimeter Summit development on the south side of I-285, adjacent to Dunwoody. This is because another provision of law that is applicable to HB 428 requires any such annexation to include territory that “is subdivided into lots and tracts such that at least 60 percent of the total acreage consists of lots and tracts five acres or less in size and such that at least 60 percent of the total number of lots and tracts are one acre or less in size.”

HB 428 is a means of opening up our community’s options. Having options is never a bad thing.

Please forward this e-mail to your neighbors, particularly if you live in the neighborhoods around Murphey Candler Park, West Nancy Creek Drive, and Silver Lake. If citizens would like to stay informed about the prospect of annexation or a new city in North DeKalb and are not on my e-mail list, they should e-mail me at repjacobs@comcast.net and I will add them to my e-mail list. E-mail me, too, with your thoughts on this issue. I look forward to hearing from you.

I will announce a community meeting about cityhood and annexation in the near future.

Annexation Proposal Could Expand Dunwoody Southward or start the City of Brookhaven

An expanded Dunwoody?

At Tuesday night's Transportation meeting, Peter Cox of the Dunwoody Patch pulled me aside informing me that Rep. Mike Jacobs was dropping a bill to propose annexation of the City of Dunwoody south of I285.   With the City of Chamblee annexing everything east of Chamblee Dunwoody Road to form a tight Chamblee / Doraville / Dunwoody line; I was aware that this was a possibility but was unsure if, or when it would be proposed.   A quick search of the Ga Legislature website shows that HB428 was dropped on March 1st by both Representatives Mike Jacobs and Tom Taylor and it appears to just be a place holder for next year in case the research shows that this move makes sense.  As I am quoted in the full article below, lots and lots research and financial analysis needs to be conducted before this is seriously considered by anybody.

Annexation Proposal Could Expand Dunwoody Southward

Rep. Mike Jacobs says he'd like to start a conversation about possibly annexing neighborhoods just south of 285 into Dunwoody, or allowing Brookhaven to become a city.

If the idea gets support, Dunwoody’s border could head southward.

Rep. Mike Jacobs said he may introduce a bill that could pave the way for Dunwoody to annex an area known as North Brookhaven, just south of 285.   Jacobs, who lives in that area, says he has been getting a stronger and stronger message from residents that they want more local control of their community.

“I think it is fair to say that there is a growing interest in some type of incorporation into a city in the neighborhoods south of 285, around Murphey Candler Park and even around Silver Lake,” he said. “Whether Dunwoody is a willing dance partner for annexation is an open question right now.”

If annexation is on the table, it would have to get backing from Dunwoody city officials and residents, as well as residents south of 285, he said.   “The reality is the area that would be annexed includes some important assets,” he said, listing Candler and its ballfields, the section of Perimeter Center south of 285 and Blackburn Park. “It’s an attractive area.”

Jacobs has discussed the possibility with Dunwoody city officials.  “There have been very preliminary discussions, with no specific plans on the table,” he said.

Though the idea has been brought up before, Dunwoody Councilmen Robert Wittenstein and John Heneghan said it was the first time they’d heard anything concrete about a possible annexation bid.  “I think that most of us would be very supportive of at least looking at the idea,” said Wittenstein said.  He said he’s not surprised that some residents of that area have been talking about annexation, as he thinks Dunwoody has done a good job of providing services at a low tax rate.  But, he said that taking on such facilities at Murphey Candler Park would bring on some financial questions for the city of Dunwoody, and such issues would have to be weighed in any decision.

Heneghan agreed.  “It’s something that needs to be studied and needs to be looked at,” he said.  He said that Murphey Candler is used by many Dunwoody residents already, and there are similarities between the communities.  He said there would be plenty of discussion ahead if the idea gets traction.  “That’s not a decision that’s going to happen overnight,” Heneghan said. “Do we the city want them to be part of Dunwoody and do they want to be part of us? It can’t be a one-sided decision. It’s got to be a win-win for everybody or it doesn’t work.”

The neighborhoods in question are the Murphey Candler Park and Silver Lake neighborhoods of unincorporated DeKalb County.  Annexing those neighborhoods into Dunwoody or allowing them to join other Brookhaven communities in an incorporation effort are two options Jacobs wants to put on the table.

“In terms of a new city altogether, the question there is whether there is interest as you get south of these neighborhoods,” he said.  The issue has been discussed before, but he said it seems to have picked up traction, especially with residents in the North Brookhaven area.  “Almost everyone is sounding favorable to it now,” he said. “It’s a remarkable change from just a couple of years ago.”

He’s hoping to start a public conversation about the area’s options within the next few months.  “I am committed to looking at the issue, particularly in light of how badly things are going in DeKalb County right now,” he said. “The county government is bloated in areas that are far flung from its core mission.”   He said that key services are being cut, while there are still many non-essential positions in the county government.  “That, in turn, changes basic things like response times, ability to maintain assets like Murphey Candler and Blackburn Park,” he said, “which is very likely to drive citizens into the arms of a city.”

Jacobs wouldn’t go into too much detail about the possible annexation legislation, but said it would create an avenue for annexation of that part of unincorporated DeKalb County into Dunwoody. He did say that because of Chamblee’s recent annexation, he doubts that city would be looking to make any new annexations in the next two to three years.  Jacobs said he is considering a broadly worded bill that would “take into account any kind of scenario that might come up.”  He said it would allow for citizens to easily move forward with annexation, if that is an option they support.

“There’s no scenario where an annexation would move forward without buy-in from the city that would be doing annexation and the citizens of the area that would be annexed,” he said.