Chamblee Mayor: We May Have To Shelf Annexation Talk

BROOKHAVEN, GA -- Mayor Eric Clarkson said Friday that annexation talk in Chamblee may have run out of time as the legislative session grows to an end.

"The Council and I believe that no actions concerning Chamblee annexation will move forward in this year’s General Assembly Session," Clarkson said in a statement Friday.

The statement comes as the city has considered partnering with several municipalities to shore up its tax base, including Doraville. Chamblee is looking to grow as it is close to several unincorporated areas of DeKalb County.

In the last year, several communities such as neighboring LaVista Hills have considered being annexed into Chamblee.

Clarkson said that he is open to merger talks with other cities, but it must be done with due diligence.

"The City of Chamblee has in the past, and always will listen to annexation requests and be open to the idea if it can be determined to have a positive impact on our community. However in this case, and after hearing from State Representatives, it appears that there is not enough time left in this legislative session for a proper analysis of the request," he said.

In recent years, several DeKalb cities, such as Clarkston, Stone Mountain and Avondale Estates have looked to expand through annexations.

Image via Google Street View