Residents of North Druid Hills area petition for annexation into Brookhaven
An unincorporated area of DeKalb County that includes a large shopping center and multiple neighborhoods is petitioning to be annexed into the county’s largest city.
The annexation would include 1,090 tax parcels and 462 total acres, including portions of Toco Hills, Merry Hills and Biltmore Acres neighborhoods, into the city of Brookhaven, stated county officials. Located in unincorporated DeKalb County, the area is commonly referred to as North Druid Hills.
The area, which is made up of a mixture of homes, offices, and businesses, also includes the Toco Hill Shopping Center with 77 retail spaces.
An annexation petition, which reportedly passed the 60 percent threshold required to proceed, was received by the county last week, stated officials.
According to Georgia’s codes on annexation, “authority is granted to the governing bodies of the several municipal corporations of (the) state to annex to the existing corporate limits upon the written and signed application of not less than 60 percent of the electors residing in the area included in any such application and of the owners of not less than 60 percent of the land area, by acreage, included in such application.”
Meeting the 60 percent threshold requirement allows for Brookhaven city council members to vote to determine if the plans for annexation will move forward.
The proposed annexation, if approved, would be the largest in Georgia’s history to be accomplished through the 60 percent method, stated officials.
“It is crucial that we carefully consider the impacts of the potential annexation on our community, our resources, and our ability to provide essential services,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears.
Spears, along with DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry, will host a community meeting on June 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central DeKalb Senior Center, located at 1346 McConnell Drive in Decatur “to provide a platform for residents to gain a deeper understanding of the annexation proposal, ask questions, and voice their concerns,” stated a press release.
The community meeting will also be live streamed virtually at YouTube.com/DeKalbCountyGov.
A public hearing will then be held June 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Brookhaven’s City Hall located at 4362 Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.
According to Brookhaven officials, voting on annexation will occur July 25 at 7 p.m. during Brookhaven City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Brookhaven, which is the largest city in DeKalb County with approximately 58,000 residents, will establish a special tax district to fund improvements in services to annexed areas, according to a press release.
For more information, visit www.brookhavenga.gov and www.dekalbcountyga.gov.
