In the final hours of the Georgia Legislative session, both LaVista Hills and Tucker cityhood bills were passed by lawmakers. They are now headed for Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk for his signature. If he doesn’t veto the bills, DeKalb residents who live in the proposed municipalities will go to the polls in November to vote on a referendum to incorporate.

According to the AJC, a conference committee split a disputed boundary between the two proposed cities southeast of Spaghetti Junction. Tucker would get a Wal-Mart and 500 residents, while LaVista Hills would get 1,500 residents. The revised map also removed the Medlock and Mason Mills neighborhoods from LaVista Hills after residents decided they were considering annexation into the city of Atlanta.

Collin Kelley has been the editor of Atlanta Intown for two decades and has been a journalist and freelance writer for 35 years. He’s also an award-winning poet and novelist.