Cityhood for a Healthier County

Photo credit: John Trainor

We, the Concerned Citizens for Cityhood of South DeKalb Inc. (CCCSD), are residents of unincorporated south DeKalb County, GA concerned about taxes, property values, crime, responsiveness of government, education and specifically economic development. We are proposing to form a local city government structure known as Greenhaven with a focus on economic growth and community participation in South DeKalb. 

As members of CCCSD travel around the southern part of DeKalb County, we encounter a number of citizens that do not know whether they are in a city or county (unincorporated area) because where they live has the same name as the city (e.g., city of Decatur, Stone Mountain, Clarkston or Lithonia vs. unincorporated Decatur, Stone Mountain, Clarkston or Lithonia).  If you vote for a Mayor, you are in a city. Otherwise, you are in unincorporated county (95% of south DeKalb). 

In the United States, counties serve as the principal political subdivision of a state. In Georgia, cities have home rule, which means they can create their own laws (as long as they do not conflict with state law).  In other words, cities can be more aggressive in pursuing their objectives. People often form cities to obtain more services or a higher quality of services.

CCCSD is proposing to create Greenhaven from most of the unincorporated portions of south DeKalb County because that will create a change in the government structure enabling residents to become more aggressive about focusing on economic development and raising the quality of services we receive.  A city focuses on itself and fights for increased housing values, better maintenance of commercial corridors, improved transportation infrastructure, and more economic development.  Cityhood provides an opportunity to focus on economic development in South DeKalb.  And, because of the economic benefits that cities generally bring, they often improve the health of the county in which they reside.

 In the current structure, a DeKalb County District Commissioner represents 145,000 residents. In the proposed city structure of Greenhaven, a District Councilperson represents 49,000 residents.  Key Greenhaven staff such as the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the City Attorney and the City Clerk will be required to become residents of the municipality.  In this new government structure, you will be represented by a neighbor in a smaller district.

Residents of the community will have two ways to voice where and how their tax dollar is spent – through their City Council person and also through their Community Area Planning Unit (CAPU).  Residents of the community will have a voice in the design, zoning, land use and economic development they need, want and desire.   

People are desiring change in South DeKalb – better services, more beautification and more economic development.  We propose Greenhaven as the means and the way to get what we want.  We leave you with a question.  If we do nothing different, what will change?

Mr. Finley

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Greenhaven is a proposed city that comprises much of the unincorporated area south of US-78 and Memorial Drive in DeKalb County. Bills proposing the city were sponsored by 12 DeKalb county delegates in the 2015 legislative session.  The bills carry over into the 2016 session where legislators will vote on whether to allow citizens a public referendum on creating a city of Greenhaven.

BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR DESTINY!

• Join us as a volunteer by emailing us at GreenhavenGA@gmail.com.
• Support this effort with a modest contribution of $5, $20, $100 or whatever you’re able to do today by going to bit.ly/GreenhavenGA 
• Invite us to your homeowner association meeting or attend one of our public meetings.
• For more information go to our blog -  www.GreenhavenGA.blogspot.com