Key points:
• The Norcross City Council approved a moratorium on demolition permits for pre-1950 structures until November 2.
• Council members approved the fiscal year 2027 budget with a $22.5 million operating budget, while maintaining a flat property tax rate of 6.249 mills.
• Elected officials unanimously approved updates to the city’s official zoning map, reflecting 12 changes since the start of 2022.
The Norcross City Council narrowly approved a moratorium on demolition permits for pre-1950 structures until Nov. 2 at its Aug. 10 meeting, looking to align policy with the community’s desired historical character.
Originally, the historic preservation moratorium was set for six months through January 2027. Council members opted to shorten the prohibition period to 84 days and focus on defining what qualifies as historic. Properties owned by the city and the downtown development authority are exempt.
The moratorium is citywide, not exclusive to the city’s national historic district. During the discussion, city officials said they do not think post-war ranches built in the late 1940s would qualify as a historic homes worth preserving in the community.
Historic preservation moratorium
While council members already vote on demolition permits for historic structures, city officials said the community has raised concerns about the pace of recent tear-downs.
Council Member Andrew Hixson said he supports a temporary block on new permits because he doesn’t feel confident about discerning which properties are historic.
“The historic value that all of our homes present to us is worth having a robust discussion, where we are able to honestly define what a historic home is,” Hixson said. “I don’t want to tread on people’s private property rights.I just want us to be able to protect what is a brand we market on.”
The city attorney told the council that the Norcross Historic Preservation Board is required to be a part of the process to amend the existing statute. After a new policy is drafted, elected officials must approve it.
Council Member Matt Myers, who abstained from the moratorium vote, said he thinks the Nov. 2 deadline is more reasonable and gives staff and community members ample time to craft a better policy. Myers, who was opposed to a moratorium, said the existing criteria leave too much up for interpretation.
“I want to make sure there is a process that’s standardized so there’s equity and fairness across everyone,” Myers said. “We have an opportunity to do something really special … and really not have to address this conversation again in terms of what we define as historic and what are possible replacements for a particular property.”
Zoning map update
Assistant City Manager Tracey Rye said elected officials have approved 12 zoning changes since the start of 2022, and the city needs to update the official map. Some changes include adding the Norcross Women’s Club building to the downtown historic district and reclassifying parcels within the planned residence district (PRD) classification for grouped residential projects.
Myers said the council’s map amendments, or rezonings, show only two traditional residential properties (R-100) shifted to a low-scale commercial use. The other changes maintained a residential classification or involved different uses.
“[It helps] get a flavor for how this council has continuously voted for quite some time now,” Myers said. “I know there are some comments in the community that we are changing everything from one thing to another … this is a record of what this council has actually done in practice that fits our community’s character, guidelines, and what our community has asked.”
City budget approval
Before the unanimous zoning map approval, the Norcross City Council held two other public hearings, agreeing to a spending plan and property tax rate, beginning this fall.
During the approval of the fiscal year 2027 budget and 2026 millage rate, no residents spoke. The city’s operating budget is about $22.5 million ($62.6 million across all funds), and its property tax rate is staying flat at 6.249 mills (for the fifth straight year).
Finance Director Jon Robinson said the city’s reserves are above six months of operating costs, or about $11 million, which is considered “healthy.”
As part of the new budget, beginning Sept. 1, council members approved a new police records clerk, a couple of promotions, and the reclassification of a part-time tourism assistant to full-time.
Elected officials also okayed a 4.7 percent increase in residential and commercial solid waste collection fees, effective Sept. 1, because of its contract with Waste Management (including increases based on the consumer price index).
