Deadline Nears for Berkeley Lake to Annex Business Properties

Peachtree Corners' bid for cityhood has created a scramble for surrounding cities to annex in nearby businesses before the referendum vote on Nov. 8.

leaders would like to annex in an adjacent industrial area which is currently within the proposed Peachtree Corners city borders.

The city recently annexed 27 businesses along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard's west side and is interested in the 100+ businesses on the east side as well.

Berkeley Lake, which is primarily made up of residential properties, had passed a resolution in 2009 to begin looking for opportunities to annex in commercial properties in an effort to diversity its tax base.

Representatives of Berkeley Lake have been meeting with a number of those businesses to give owners a chance to be annexed before the referendum vote next month. Sixty percent of property owners would need to agree to the annexation, and the remaining 40 percent would automatically be included.

Until the referendum passed, businesses didn't have a real reason to consider annexation into any city's limits. Now business owners and operators have two choices, the status quo, which would automatically add them into the city limits of the new city of Peachtree Corners should the referendum pass on Nov. 8, or consider the possibility of choosing annexation into one of the surrounding cities.

It was the reason , who is spearheading Peachtree Corners efforts toward cityhood, recently met with business owners in the area that Berkeley Lake is also interested in to explain the advantages of being part of the new city.

"It's in your long-term best interest to be part of Peachtree Corners," explained Mason who sited the city's low millage rate (up to 1 mill), and the fact that the city's charter requires that any increases to that millage rate would have to be approved through a referendum. "We're the only city in Georgia to require a referendum to change the charter or to raise taxes," said Mason.

But Berkeley Lake leaders were taken aback at the far-reaching borders of Peachtree Corners that stretched to North Berkeley Lake Road, territory that this town of some 2,000 citizens felt that perhaps this area belong to their town.

"We were shocked when we saw the map that took Peachtree Corners boundaries all the way up here," said Rodney Hammond who serves on Berkeley Lake's planning and zoning board.

The new city's borders were decided based on the "Peachtree Corners 2007 Overlay District," explained Mason.

At stake are the businesses between North Berkley Lake Road to the north and South Old Peachtree Road to the south and lying between Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Buford Highway.

Berkeley Lake leaders point out the advantage of being part of their city. Mayor Lois Salter addressed the difference in the millage rates between Berkeley Lake and Peachtree Corners.

"Our current millage rate (5.83) was made in preparation to pay for the whole dam repair ourselves, which now with FEMA and GEMA reimbursement, will not be necessary. Thus our millage rate can go down before taxes are due next year."

Salter also pointed out that Berkeley Lake's millage rate includes the cost of stormwater infrastructure. And the city also offers flat rates for business licenses and occupational taxes. Salter said in addition to Gwinnett County police and fire protection, the city has a paid public safety patrol for additional security for its citizens and businesses.

Under Peachtree Corners city charter Gwinnett County will continue collecting stormwater fees as well as business license and occupational taxes for the city of Peachtree Corners. The county will also continue providing fire and police protection.

"It's a business question, it's a business decision," said Wayne Knox, who is also involved with Peachtree Corners city initiative efforts. And for business owners and operators the decision to be annexed into the city of Berkeley Lake will have to made quickly, the deadline is the end of the week.