Proponents of a new city in north central DeKalb County are opposing a proposal to annex some commercial property near I-85 into the city of Brookhaven.
In a statement released Oct. 9, representatives of LakesideYES and the City of Briarcliff Initiative asked for a halt on the annexation.
Earlier this week, Brookhaven city officials announced they received annexation applications from parties representing Children’s Healthcare of Georgia and Executive Park. The properties are located on the east side of I-85 and fronted by North Druid Hills Road.
“We certainly would like to see this area in the proposed city of Lakeside,” Mary Kay Woodworth, co-chair of LakesideYES!, said in the statement. “The CHOA properties have been in our map since 2013, and the Executive Park properties were added in 2014. We urge those businesses that are eager to become part of an incorporated city to wait just a little longer, as Lakeside will soon be up for a referendum.”
A proposal for a new city of Lakeside failed in the Georgia legislature in 2014 but is expected to be taken up right away by state lawmakers when they convene this January.
Representatives of LakesideYes! and the City of Briarcliff Initiative say they have been meeting in recent weeks to draw up a compromise map for lawmakers to consider next year. Each group had separate proposals during the 2014 legislative session.
“One thing both cityhood groups agree on is the need for this area that includes Executive Park and CHOA to be incorporated into Georgia’s next new city,” Woodworth added.