Decatur Planning To Annex

Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd said he wanted during his state of the city speech a few months ago.

Now the city commission and staff are taking steps to do more than that. As first reported on Decatur Metro, the city has taken the first real steps to annex that property, along with the Publix-anchored shopping center on the north side of town and the United Methodist Children's Home.

A colorized map showing the land under consideration has been posted on the City of Decatur website, along with frequently asked questions about annexation.

The commission plans a public work session at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 to talk about the possible annexation.

Decatur Metro asked City Manager Peggy Merriss why these areas were considered for annexation and she replied:

The areas to the northeast and northwest extend the City limits to North Decatur Road and incorporate major commercial properties and gateways into the City. The other areas represent neighborhoods that have corresponded with the City to indicate interest and are already working on some type of petition or process.  The last areas are partial lots where the existing city limits bisect the parcel and it’s a matter of bringing them in or taking them out in order to clean up the city limits.

Floyd said last April that he'd like to see an annexation referendum in 2013 on Suburban Plaza and the Publix shopping center at Clairemont Avenue and North Decatur Road.

However, the mayor said the city wold need input and approval from because annexation would affect the school system. He said the referendum could be held in the summer or November 2013.

Decatur annexed some land earlier this month, as did Avondale Estates.

Through an act of the legislature, the cities took in previously unincorporated commercial property between the two cities. The cities now have a contiguous border at Sams Crossing. The annexation was effective July 1. 

Because the newly proposed annexation would include some residential area, a referendum would have to be held.

Other stories about annexation: