AJC: Sagamore Hills, North Briarcliff Considering Cityhood

Residents in the Sagamore Hills and North Briarcliff communities are exploring cityhood options as new municipalities in northern DeKalb County place more fianancial pressure on residents in unincorporated areas, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.

The communities have been inspired by the recent vote to incorporate Brookhaven's 49,000 residents, the newspaper reported. News about Sagamore Hills and North Briarcliff was included in a larger story about the cityhood and annexation movement across northern DeKalb County that's claimed Dunwoody and Brookhaven while Chamblee and Decatur both chase large expansions into unincorporated territory.

From the story:

Nancy Love, a leader of the [Civic Association Network], an umbrella group trying to pull north-central DeKalb civic associations together, said the referendum in July to form Brookhaven, a city with 49,000 residents, has caused its neighbors to start buzzing about their options. She thinks a combination of areas south of I-85, bookended by Northlake Mall on the east and the proposed commercial development near North Druid Hills Road on the west, might make for a natural city.

"There's a lot of confusion as to what would be best," said Love, who lives in the Sagamore Hills area. "There's a substantial number of people who are serious at this point. But they don't feel they are ready to have their names in public discussion."

An AJC graphic also said the Druid Hills community is considering cityhood in addition to Sagamore Hills and North Briarcliff.

Love's organization, the Civic Association Network, represents neighborhood associations from communities including Medlock, Sagamore Hills, North Briarcliff, Dresden East, Lavista Park, Leafmore-Creek Park Hills and Laurel Ridge, totaling roughly 15,000 households. The North Briarcliff Civic Association is the largest in the North Druid Hills-Briarcliff area, however, representing 3,000 households.

Jeff Rader, DeKalb County's commissioner for District 2, told the AJC there was only one way to quell cityhood talk – pass a county budget with no tax increase next year.

"If we can keep the millage rate stable, we'll look like we're doing our part," he said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The AJC story has not appeared online yet (as far as I can tell). When and if it does, I will link out to it in this story.

What do you think of the idea of forming a new city (or cities) in the North Briarcliff and Sagamore Hills area? Tell us in the comments section below.