Property Rights Matter
The Legislature is considering some bills to level the playing field regarding annexations. See if this information sounds familiar or makes sense to you.
HB2 asks that in cases where the county objects to a particular annexation the matter goes to binding arbitration and there is some real enforcement. Right now, cities can ignore county objections with no repercussions.
Senate Bill # 110 provides for a deannexation process.
If HB2 had been enacted 2 years ago, we could have avoided the Kelly Plantation fiasco! Whereby the county had to agree to the same density that McDonough was going to give...and at the same time provide a 'block' for future annexations in the Jonesboro Rd vicinity
HB123 requires an analysis of service delivery agreements. We all know the City of McDonough has annexed hundreds of acres in recent years with absolutely no plan or ability to provide fire, police, Water and sewage...to name a few. HB123 requires some kind of review of the city's ability to actually serve the newly annexed property.
Check out this PDF provided by Representative Doug Holt.
Contact your legislators to ask for their support of this legislation regarding rampant, uncontrolled annexation.
Thanks to Chris Rogers for reminding us about the importance of this legislation.
Comments
I think Larry is getting fearful of McDonough crawling right over to East Lake Road. :-)
Posted by: Joshua Patterson | February 17, 2007 12:48 PM
Bingo! But I have also been on the front of several Annexation Fever fights. This is a real problem in Henry - and the state.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | February 17, 2007 01:27 PM
If Joshua is insinuating that Larry does not care about rabid city annexations, he's very much wrong.
Secondly, citizens in the county's third district have banded together and are now incorporated as a not-for-profit organization under the name (3DCC-Third District Community Coalition). We are watching development activity very closely as an entire community of actively involved citizens. We realize that fighting rezonings only when they are at our back door does not work. We are acting globally, per se. Citizens in other districts should follow our lead--and we can help them do so.
While the report by the Association of County Commissioners accurately describes the problems with annexation and suggests some excellent proposed legislation--our Board of Commissioners in Henry County are being a bit hypocritical because they are approving high density developments in North Ola. Furthermore, sewerage lines are being installed in that area to allow for FUTURE HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENTS.
This "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" mentality demonstrated by county officials is also getting very old with us citizens. I firmly believe any proposed legislation should also include additional protections for citizens living in unincorporated areas.
Posted by: Penny | February 17, 2007 04:05 PM
I know that Josh was making a funny. We share many ideas about government and I know he recognizes the issues.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | February 17, 2007 04:18 PM
Dateline Atlanta, article by Dave Williams. Williams is published in the Gwinnett Daily Herald, Clayton Daily, Henry Herald and other publications.
Today's offline edition of the Henry Herald, State/Nation section, includes a full-page article about this topic.
McDonough's increase in grabbed land amounted to 50.9%. Locust Grove's increase was 172.3%
Among the top 10 cities, McDonough ranked 5th in largest land grab, while LG ranked 7th.
Stockbridge grew by 1087 acres, while Hampton grew by 44 acres in the same period.
Go to the
DCA Website and select Download for analysis of Georgia cities.
Note the 5-year span of land grabs: McDonough increased by 2,552 acres, while LG increased by 2,408 acres.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | February 17, 2007 04:33 PM
I know that Josh was making a funny.
Denoted by the smiley face(:-)), Penny.
Posted by: Joshua Patterson | February 17, 2007 05:03 PM
As Penny said, "our Board of Commissioners in Henry County are being a bit hypocritical.
Except for Bowman and Basler - the newbies - every member of the BoC has been heard my tirades. State law provide for limitations to zoning based on infrastructure like schools & roads. The County must locally adopt the code section 36-67-3 and/or its provisions.
We have heard every kind of smoke-and-mirror response. Yet they refuse to act. Therefore, acts of the state legislature are needed to provide protections we otherwise will never get.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | February 17, 2007 06:45 PM
I'm sorry, Joshua! I didn't see the smiley! I'm fast becoming blind as a bat in my advancing years.
As usual, Larry is right again. We do need our state legislature to step in and rescue us from "The Invasion of the Land Snatchers." ;-) (See, Joshua--I'm learning!)
Good evening to all!
Posted by: Penny | February 21, 2007 09:06 PM