Floyd Would Like Annex Vote Next Year

Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd said Monday night he'd like to see an annexation referendum next year on two unincorporated areas: Suburban Plaza and the Publix shopping center at Clairemont Avenue and North Decatur Road.

However, the mayor said the city will need input and approval from because annexation would affect the school system.

"We're committed to at least investigating annexation of these areas," Floyd said.

Floyd spoke at a joint meeting of the city commission and the school board. He brought up the idea a few weeks ago .

He said one purpose of annexing the heavily commercial land would be to have some say over development which could affect Decatur.

"We would want control of all the commercial areas," he said.

Selig Enterprises owns both shopping centers. The developers want -- an idea that .

Annexation would also increase the city's commercial tax base. The area under consideration doesn't include a lot of residential area, Floyd said.

Floyd said he hopes the state legislature can approve a referendum next session and that a vote could be held in the summer of 2013 or November 2013.

Decatur and Avondale Estates just annexed . That was done through the legislature and didn't require a referendum because no residential areas are involved.