North Druid residents a TAD upset
Former school board member Paul Womack scolds county commissioners for pursuing the creation of a tax allocation district, which he said is being pushed through to appease developers. |
by Andy Phelan
andy@dekalbchamp.com
Emory professor Alan Abramowitz doesn’t need to check a textbook to describe how he thinks local politicians and developers are framing the debate of whether to create a special tax district in the car-choked intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff roads.
Abramowitz, a political scientist, is concerned the tax district is being used to set the table for a $1 billion mini-city being proposed by the Sembler Co., who wants to build more than 1.5 million square feet of stores, offices and restaurants, and more than 3,500 residential units here.
“They are trying to scare people,” said Abramowitz, a political scientist and resident of the North Druid Hills area. “It’s just a bunch of saber rattling. They telling people big development is coming, and we need to get in front of it. It’s so clear this is all about Sembler.”
County Commissioners Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader proposed the 417-acre tax allocation district or TAD for the area. The board of commissioners approved the district Dec. 11 by a 5-2 vote..
TADs are tools local governments use to help redevelop an area using revenues obtained from the increased assessed value.
County and schools continue to collect tax revenue from the properties within the borders of the district but as its value increases, the increment is used to fund infrastructure improvements like sidewalks, bike paths, roads, streetlights, greenspace and even schools.
Rader said the county’s ability to fund infrastructure is extremely limited. Other than matching state and federal funds, DeKalb uses 20 percent of HOST revenue, or about $20 million, to fund roads, sidewalks and intersection improvements.
“One of the reasons people are so concerned about development in this area is because the infrastructure is so inadequate,” said Rader, who acknowledged the TAD is “not a panacea” or cure all. “But this is a way to begin to address that situation.”
Rader indicated the sooner the county creates the TAD, the sooner the increments can begin to generate revenue for improvements.
But a group calling itself StandUp DeKalb, who is opposed to the Sembler project, says the developer should pay for the infrastructure improvements, not taxpayers. Some say the approval of the tax district is “being pushed through too quickly.”
“Why should taxpayers’ money be used to make improvements for Sembler’s development,” asked resident Jeff Holmes at a Dec. 4 public meeting at Kittredge Elementary. “Why, as elected officials, would you even consider ignoring the pleas of your constituents. Stop the madness of this development that will make all our lives miserable.”
Planning Commissioner Larry Danese addressed the commissioners and residents at the public hearing Dec. 4.
“A TAD is something we really need to do here,” he said. “It will help solve the problems you see out your windshield and in your rearview mirrors,” said Denese, referring to all the traffic.
County officials say if a TAD were formed in the area, it would generate more than $15 million for local improvements over 25 years. If schools also participated, the district would generate more than $55 million.
“But why approve a TAD before even the traffic study for the area is complete,” said Abramowitz, also a member of StandUp DeKalb. “Sure, there’s always going to be new development here, but that doesn’t need to be a mini city. Everything doesn’t have to be a massive redevelopment.” |
