Atlanta's quickly growing region means many communities are seeking to incorporate. Several controversial processes, however, have compelled the state to reform the incorporation process.
"Don’t expect any more new cities to pop up in metro Atlanta this year," writes Mark Niesse in breaking the news about a new rule approved by the Georgia Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee.
The new rule will require proposed municipalities to undertake a two-year review process before lawmakers can consider them for incorporation. "The rule could put a pause on incorporations after three cities — South Fulton, Stonecrest and Tucker — were created in the last two years. In all, 10 cities have formed in DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties since 2005," adds Nieese.
The new rules approved by the committee follow several years of contentious debates and failed attempts at legislation on the incorporation process for communities around Atlanta. Most recently, in March 2016, a bill that would have implemented deeper feasibility studies and a formal legislative process passed the Senate 55-1 but failed to get a hearing in the House.
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