Council Accepts Annexation Application, Increases Millage Rate

Now the waiting can commence.

On July 5, the Dacula City Council unanimously accepted an related to a 157-acre tract of property near Highway 316 and Winder Highway.

The application will now be sent to Gwinnett County for review.

“After 30 days, we’ll know whether or not we need to arbitrate or go forward with public hearings,” said Joey Murphy, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Dacula.

The application, Murphy emphasized, relates only to the annexation request itself, not to the “live, work, play” community proposed by the property developers. Any requests related to the development of the property would not be reviewed until the matter of annexation is settled.

In February of this year, that featured a convention center, town green, hotels, offices and apartments. Under the , a maximum of 39 of the 157 acres owned by the investment group could be developed as apartments. The architectural controls and square footage requirements limit the maximum number of apartments in the development to 616.

During Thursday night’s meeting, the council also voted to increase the city’s millage rate to 5.703. The new rate will result in increased tax revenue for the city of approximately $103 or 0.02 percent more than was collected in 2011.

City leaders . said the city's tax digest fell from $124 million in 2011 to $111 million for 2012 -- an amount that is $35 million less than the 2009 high of $146 million. Without a millage rate increase, the city stood to lose approximately $10,000 in revenue.

The millage rate increase passed by a vote of 3-1 with voting against the increase.

In other business, Mayor Wilbanks and the Dacula City Council recognized the youth group for their volunteer efforts in placing markers on stormwater inlets throughout the city. 

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