Annexations Prompt Town Hall Meeting in Peachtree Corners

There are now so many efforts to attract commercial properties into certain city limits that Peachtree Corners representatives feel the need to clear the air.

A special town hall meeting is scheduled for business and commercial property owners to learn more about annexation and the upcoming Peachtree Corners incorporation vote.

The event will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Winners Chapel International Church – 4537 South Berkeley Lake Road, Suite 104.

Meeting organizers include those working in support of the upcoming Nov. 8 vote where residents will determine whether Peachtree Corners should become Georgia’s newest city.

Border ‘conflict’
Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake are equally eyeing existing commercial spaces along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard – properties now in unincorporated Gwinnett County.

According to Wayne Knox, 's vice president of land use, just recently Peachtree Corners supporters sent a letter to businesses inviting them to the town hall meeting and refuting a sales pitch they received from Berkeley Lake representatives.

“Much of what you have been told about the benefits of joining Berkeley Lake is incomplete and misleading. This is a major decision that deserves nothing less than full knowledge of the facts,” the letter read in part.

At issue are such points as property tax millage rates, stormwater utility fees and the cost of conducting business within city limits. Berkeley Lake argues that they are, in many instances, able to produce savings to commercial landowners; Peachtree Corners states that the new city will ultimately have lower property taxes, among other benefits.

Potential annexations
Berkeley Lake recently marked the addition of business lands along a short segment of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from the Berkeley Commons subdivision up to North Berkeley Lake Road. These businesses include banks and the Peachtree Lakes Business Park.

The commercial areas were added by annexation through locally sponsored legislation carried out in the Georgia General Assembly. But in advance of the potential incorporation of Peachtree Corners, municipalities including Berkeley Lake are courting other businesses to join their cities.

According to Berkeley Lake Mayor Lois Salter, as many as 17 other businesses have formally requested to be annexed into her city. Area businesses owners are independently contacting their commercial neighbors, seeking their support to join Berkeley Lake. 

Salter said each city has worked in a collegial manner to make their case to the business leaders, and she expects the cooperative nature of the efforts to continue.

“I have not wanted our city to be in any sort of battle with Peachtree Corners,” she said. “I think we all are just trying to respectfully present the facts to the business owners, support them in making their decision and respect whatever decision they make.”