Sandy Springs has opened the door for providing economic benefits to businesses moving to the city, and on Oct. 4 put out the welcome mat by passing an economic incentives policy.
But the incentives policy can be discontinued at the City Council’s discretion and the council has the flexibility to add additional incentives if needed.
At that same meeting the council finally agreed to pay for right of way for the Roswell Road Streetscape project, an issue the city previously delayed to pressure property owners not to erect billboards along the road.
Council members praised the adoption of the new incentives policy.
“That will bring good jobs and good businesses to Sandy Springs that will add to the tax base long term,” Councilman Gabriel Sterling said.
“We’re in a competitive world,” Councilman Chip Collins said. “We’ve got to do whatever the market requires to attract businesses here.”
According to the wording of the new economic incentives policy, the city of Sandy Springs’ can modify its agreement to offer incentives to businesses at any time. The city also retains the right to call back any of the incentives it has given if the businesses don’t hold up their end of the agreement with the city.
Under the policy adopted by the council, businesses will be eligible for waiving business taxes from 1-3 years depending on the amount of jobs created. The value of the business tax waiver would be up to $75,000 each year, according to the policy.
In addition, the city would provide companies an expedited permitting process, and waive permit and impact fees.
The city’s policy also states the city has the right to audit businesses to ensure they are abiding by their agreements with the city.
On the billboards issue the council decided to spend $540,000 to buy the rights of way needed for the Roswell Road Streetscape project between Johnson Ferry and Abernathy roads. The money would match the $2.16 million in federal money awarded for the project. At its Aug. 2 meeting, Mayor Eva Galambos asked the council to delay the issue, saying she didn’t want to spend money on a road where property owners wanted to erect billboards.
With a deadline looming to move on the project or lose funding, the council voted to buy the right of way.
When asked if something had changed regarding property owners who wanted to put billboards along the road, Galambos smiled and said, “I think the message may have hit home.”
In other business the City Council:
– Approved changing Colonel Drive to Pride Place at the request of Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, but not before hearing the objections of residents along nearby Carroll Manor Drive. The school is the only property on that stretch of road. The school decided to request the name change because Colonel Drive reflects mascots of the original occupants of the property, Crestwood High School. Pride is an acronym for the school’s motto, “Producing Responsible Individuals Determined to Excel.
– Approved an approximately $213,000 contract increase for The Collaborative, the city’s community development contractor. The total contract is now worth $2.4 million.
