Two neighborhood groups have taken positions against the possible annexation of land by the City of Decatur.
The Clairmont Heights Civic Association and Medlock Area Neighborhood Association started online petitions asking the City Commission to not annex two heavily commercial areas.
Those areas contain the Emory Commons Shopping Center and Suburban Plaza along with about 500 residents. The petitions say:
The inevitable tax increases will undoubtedly be a hardship for the tenants and owners of these properties, which are owned by families and individuals who have been long-time owners of their centers and have served our community well. To rip them out of the unincorporated area in order to enrich the Decatur city coffers seems excessively greedy, not in the best interest of surrounding neighborhoods, and in serious conflict with the positive image the City of Decatur has cultivated for years.
The Decatur City Commission is scheduled to decide Monday, Dec. 17, on how to proceed with annexation.
The city considered annexing six areas that would have brought in about 2,000 new residents, but City Manager Peggy Merriss recently proposed the city only annex the two heavily commercial areas.