Bank Looks at Coming into Norcross Instead of Peachtree Corners

The Bank of North Georgia, which is in the area Peachtree Corners would like to incorporate as a city, is looking into being annexed into the Norcross city limits.

Branch Manager Rachel Cook said she has alerted her superiors to the current plans for Peachtree Corners for cityhood—and has presented them with the options so they can decide, “Do we want to be in Peachtree Corners or in Norcross?”

The Peachtree Corners cityhood charter passed the Senate on March 31, 2011 and could soon land on the governor's desk to sign. The residents of Peachtree Corners would vote on the measure but local businesses would not cast a vote. 

Peachtree Corners seeks to provide zoning, code enforcement and trash pickup in the area but would not provide any other government services, including police protection. 

Cook said her personal preference is to be in Norcross because city police protection would be included in the extra taxes assessed to her business. But, she stressed, it isn’t only her decision. 

The Fifth/Third Bank on Holcomb Bridge Road was recently robbed. Cook said she knows of several other bank robberies in the area. "It just happens," she said, "But around here it does seem to be happening more." 

Mayor Bucky Johnson said the annexation request would be a good thing—and that a business can request to come into the city at any time. If the Peachtree Corners cityhood bid goes through, any annexation into Norcross would need to happen beforehand. 

He said the City of Norcross will not actively pursue annexation of businesses in the area proposed for incorporation by Peachtree Corners.

But the city will continue to pursue other annexations, says Johnson, including some restaurants on Jimmy Carter Boulevard that may not realize that they can have a liquor license in the city limits and the Beaver Ruin Business Center, near CarMax. 

Plans are currently moving forward for the annexation of CarMax into the Norcross city limits.