New Annexation Legislation Aimed at Dunwoody Sponsored by Jacobs, Taylor

Reps. Mike Jacobs and Tom Taylor have introduced new legislation that would help Dunwoody annex parts of the North Brookhaven neighborhoods of Murphey Candler and Silver Lake.

k he planned to introduce legislation that would pave the way for such annexation, though citizens would ultimately make a decision on the issue.

Jacobs said he’s heard from residents in North Brookhaven that they’d like to explore options to give them more local control. He said he’d like to start discussions about either annexation or possible incorporation of a city of Brookhaven.

The legislation for annexation was introduced Tuesday.

You can see a full copy of the proposal here.

It is written with Dunwoody, the state’s newest city, in mind.

“The governing authority of any municipality first incorporated on or after December 1, 2008 shall be authorized to extend the corporate limits of such municipality to include any unincorporated contiguous area within four miles of the corporate limits of such municipality under the conditions and procedures provided in this article and Article 1 of his chapter,” it reads.

Jacobs said Tuesday that the area between the DeKalb County/Fulton County border and Murphey Candler Park from east to west, and the area from 285 to Windsor Parkway NE from north to south, could be included in such an annexation.

The bill sets up a procedure by which Dunwoody could more easily incorporate the neighborhoods, which are currently part of unincorporated DeKalb County.

The procedure would be as follows:

• First, the city would pass a resolution of intent to annex, which would outline the boundaries of the area in question and set up a public hearing including residents of the city and the area to be annexed.

• Second, the city can call for a referendum to approve or reject the annexation. The referendum would be put on the ballot for residents living of the area of proposed annexation.

• Third, should the referendum pass, the city would identify the annexed territory to the Department of Community Affairs and the governing authority of the county where the annexed area is located. After approval of annexation, the municipality would have authority to bring water and sewer lines, among other capital facilities, into the area “in an effective and expeditious manner prior to the effective date of annexation.”

The legislation would sunset at the end of 2013.