Key points:
•The Fulton County Development Authority is now required to get consent from city leaders before acquiring property or initiating projects within Sandy Springs.
• Mayor Rusty Paul said it’s important for city leaders to be informed about future development and land use.
• Develop Fulton and Sandy Springs officials urge collaboration.
Sandy Springs officials clawed back some local control, requiring the Fulton County Development Authority to get their approval before initiating projects within the city.
Council members voted unanimously Jan. 6 to require Develop Fulton to notify the mayor before it acquires properties within the city or engages in property tax incentive projects.
Development authorities use tools like tax abatements, low-interest loans, grants, and tax credits. The incentives can help attract private investment for economic growth and community enhancements.
The resolution says the move allows the city and its Development Authority to retain control over future incentives, ensure transparency, and support the city’s long-term vision.
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City Attorney Dan Lee said the passage of HB 155 last May allows Sandy Springs to require the countywide development authority to get its approval before buying property within city limits or engaging in any bond financing.
Council Member Melody Kelley pushed back on language requiring only the mayor’s approval. Sandy Springs staff later updated the memo, requiring notification to other elected officials.
Develop Fulton speaks out
After the resolution passed unanimously, Develop Fulton Executive Director Sarah-Elizabeth Langford gave a statement.
“Develop Fulton’s mission is rooted in partnership and driven by a commitment to ensure that vital economic development projects advance job creation, responsible growth, and an expanded tax base that benefits residents across Fulton County,” Langford said. “We value close collaboration with the county’s cities and look forward to working together to support high-quality development that aligns with local priorities, strengthens community trust, and delivers long-term economic value.”
Develop Fulton officials declined to answer follow-up questions about specific projects within the city and how the resolution affects their relationship.
Sandy Springs is the second city in north Fulton to require local approval before initiating projects, following Milton’s decision in December 2025.
Sandy Springs resident Laura Kurlander-Nagel, secretary of the Develop Fulton Board, said she is disappointed but understands why the city introduced the legislation.
“We don’t want to work independently,” Kurlander-Nagel told elected officials during public comment. “I feel like this resolution was drafted as a response to former Councilwoman Reichel’s block of a project that we were working on, The Reserve at Ridgewood. We were seeking to upgrade the property through a bond resolution.”
As a resident of the city, Kurlander-Nagel said she wants apartment complexes approved. She also said she wants more affordable housing options through collaboration with Develop Fulton.
Reichel, who ran for mayor last year but failed to make the runoff, addressed Develop Fulton’s proposal in a September 2024 op-ed. She said affordable housing does not have to be of low quality and questioned how tens of millions in revenue bonds would be spent.
Mayor pushes back
After the board member’s comments, Mayor Rusty Paul said the problem is that Develop Fulton has not collaborated with the city. He said board members voted on projects within Sandy Springs without speaking with city leaders.
Paul asked Kurlander-Nagel why she had never spoken to the city council during her 18 months as a board member. Both officials claim a lack of communication.
“Historically, the Development Authority and Sandy Springs had an informal agreement that they would consult with the city … that has ceased to happen,” Paul said. “The purpose of this resolution is to make sure that we’re informed, not just informed, but that we’re collaborated with, consulted with … Without it, we don’t have a partnership.”
Without requiring the city’s approval, Paul said the only input city officials have on projects is permitting. He said the city needs to be informed before the late stages of a project.
“I think this is very important,” Paul said. “While the [Fulton County] Development Authority does not have zoning powers … their inducements have a real impact on our land use policies, on the development within our community.”