Norcross: Local Businesses Unaware of Peachtree Corners Plans, Annexation Choice

A Norcross official said that the city has sent out an “Annexation Invitation” to some local businesses inside the proposed City of Peachtree Corners boundaries, as was reported. And he said that the businesses in the area have been largely unaware of Peachtree Corners plans for incorporation and the choice to be annexed into Norcross. 

“Most of the business called up and said, ‘What annexation?’” said Rusty Warner, Economic Development Manager for the City of Norcross, who has been leading the city effort to invite businesses into Norcross, a directive he said came from the Councilmember Ross Kaul and the City Manager.  He said he couldn’t think of one person he spoke who was already aware of the plans.

The packet sent to businesses in an area around Peachtree Industrial Boulevard included a letter to the landowner—not necessarily the business owner—that listed what the City of Norcross sees as the benefits it offers over Peachtree Corners: local police, city run electricity and gas and what the letter describes as “established business and social organizations,” like the DDA and NDA, among other things.

The $500 fee for annexation has been waived until Sept. 15, which Warner said is the drop deadline to get the application through the proper channels before the vote for Peachtree Corners "city lite" charter could go through in November.

In first two weeks after the annexation mailing went out, Warner said he had 20 to 30 phone calls per day for about two weeks. He said he tried to educate the land and business owners about what was happening, while leaving the Peachtree Corners questions alone. 

Any business with a contiguous border to Norcross can apply to become a part of the City of Norcross.

UPCCA President Mike Mason brought up the issue of contiguous borders in this recent article in Peachtree Corners Patch. He said that he was surprised by Norcross’s outreach effort beyond the Triangle area. “This is a big expansion into areas deep in the heart of Peachtree Corners that are not contiguous to the City of Norcross,” he said.

Warner said that any mailings sent out beyond a targeted area must have been a mistake.  He said that he has informed all of the businesses that have called that a neighboring company or residence that borders Norcross must also become annexed, so that the border is contiguous. 

Warner said the only place he has left to grow is to the south--and he admits that his priority now is to get the businesses to the north on board while he can. 

Only residents of Peachtree Corners can vote on the incorporation measure—business owners will not have a say. Still, annexation before the vote is a gamble for businesses: If the measure doesn’t pass, the businesses in the area could remain in no city. If a business waits, and the city bid goes through, Peachtree Corners it is. Leaving the new city would require approval to de-annex, something it could feasibly deny. 

In March, the City of Norcross approved CarMax’s request to be annexed into the borders. 

Norcross is pursuing annexation plans to the south along Mitchell Road, another measure that will be voted on in November. “We’ll treat the job differently,” said Warner. He said he plans on keeping businesses in the area informed.

Editor's note: A few clarifications were offered on June 24: Warner says his priority is to get businesses to the north of the city in while he can. And also adds that the directive came specifically from Ross Kaul and the City Manager, not the entire Council.