The choice is yours

More than 1,000 people showed up last Thursday at the Georgia International Convention Center to learn more about the issues currently impacting the future of South Fulton County. Front and center in the presentation was the idea that the time has come for something different, something that is needful, something that meets the current and future needs of the unincorporated areas of South Fulton. Unless, of course, those in the unincorporated areas would rather be slowly annexed by the City of Atlanta and the cities in South Fulton: something that is guaranteed to happen.

What was proposed was the transformation of unincorporated South Fulton into its own city. Following on the heels of the incorporation of Sandy Springs and in anticipation of the upcoming legislation to consider creating the cities of Johns Creek and Milton in North Fulton, the idea of creating a city out of South Fulton where none exists today may seem ill-conceived, reactionary or even outrageous. Far from it.

There will be plenty of conversation and debate on this and other ideas in the coming weeks and months. And this newspaper will make sure you hee about them. But for now, here are some initial thoughts for consideration. Politics and politicians aside, there are some stark realities that must be acknowledged by the residents that currently call South Fulton home. The reality is that South Fulton’s days are numbered. It may be next month or next year, but, rest assured, Atlanta will attempt to march west with annexation in mind. And Atlanta will not be alone. It will be joined by the cities of South Fulton for whom the prospect of gaining ground, literally, will be a deliciously unavoidable fact of life. And this will be the case regardless the outcome of the current attempt to create two new cities in North Fulton, an event that would erase the remaining unincorporated areas of North Fulton.

So why would Atlanta, East Point, College Park, Union City, Fairburn or Palmetto be interested in annexing portions of unincorporated South Fulton? That’s easy. It’s the rapidly expanding tax base. Those of you that live in unincorporated South Fulton or those who routinely drive the area have doubtless noticed the changes in very recent years. Unincorporated South Fulton is growing fast, really fast. It’s population in the 2000 Census was just under 53,000 people. And with many thousands of homes in the planning stages or underway, or already built and occupied, and with an average of 2.7 persons per household, well, you do the math. And if you are familiar with the area you’ve noticed that home prices aren’t exactly cheap. Far from it.

If South Fulton incorporated today it would be, geographically, the second largest city in Georgia (only Columbus would be larger) and the 12th largest in population (and that number will no doubt change when the 2010 Census numbers come in). It would be a city where the average price of a home is $200,000 today and increasing each month as new construction is completed.

South Fulton is too close to the shadow of Atlanta to have been passed over forever. For those who live there and for those who would, the old days are gone. The untouched rural landscape will continue to alter regardless anyone’s preference to the contrary. This is a fact in any metro area in this country. So the option works like this. Would you rather have some control of your own destiny, over things like building codes, land use and development, or would you leave that privilege to someone else and hope they have your best interest at heart? The choice is yours!