Brookhaven Cityhood Topic at Ashford Park General Meeting

Dispelling myths of Brookhaven’s proposed cityhood or annexation, while outlining options and next steps in the process, was the focus of the Ashford Park Civic Association Meeting Thursday night.

The organization commissioned the help of Mallard Holliday, a member of the Dunwoody non-profit that helped raise money for its cityhood study, and Nick Guerrero, a Chamblee resident who helped lead a group of residents in Embry Hills to successfully petition Chamblee for annexation. The two offered insight into both processes and what taxpayers could look forward to.

“The biggest misconception that I’ve seen is that people think the [hopper bill] will make you a city on day one,” Holliday said. “All it does is give your community the right to vote on the option.”

Holliday said residents often make the mistake of “jumping ahead in the process” to talk about fees and taxes. "Right now, you just want to get your study done, then you can start building from there."

Guerrero's process was much different, he said.

"Because we were seeking to join another town, we didn't have to worry about raising money for the study, only convincing Chamblee of the annexation," he said.

A little more than 20 locals attended Thursday’s meeting - among them were State Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-80) and Rep. Elena Parent (D-81).  While disappointed at what he considered to be low turnout, Jim Eyre, the association’s vice president, said he felt the information was useful.

“I want the residents to be fully aware of what their options are,” Holliday and Guerrero’s prospective he said provided that perspective.

Ashford Park Civic Association leadership and many of the community's members openly opposed Brookhaven’s cityhood or annexation option at the public town hall meeting sponsored by Jacobs in March. The community claimed its primary reason was the lack of tax base to support city governmental services such as police, parks and recreation, and planning and zoning.

Still Eyre said, he wanted to present an objective setting to allow everyone an opportunity to learn the facts.

The idea of turning Brookhaven into its own city is a years-old conversation that until this year, never advanced further than neighborhood talk.  In 2008, Jacobs proposed similar legislation to incorporate Brookhaven, though it never materialized.

Jacobs introduced the HB 636 in March, a hopper bill "to incorporate the City of Brookhaven in DeKalb County; to provide for a charter for the City of Brookhaven; to provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city; to provide for general powers and limitations on powers."

Jacobs said last night that the committee was already working toward raising the funds for the study.

Eyre said the association is willing to meet as often as needed to keep Ashford Park residents abreast of the developments. 

"I'll sit in the park and talk to people on park benches if I need to," Eyre said.