ATLANTA — The effort to form the new city of Mulberry in Gwinnett County passed the Georgia House of Representatives Thursday.
House members voted 101-63 in favor of the measure after senators approved it last week. The bill now heads to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for his approval.
If signed by Kemp, residents living within the proposed city's boundaries will vote to determine if Mulberry should be created.
Original story:
Georgia lawmakers took a big step Thursday toward creating a new city in Gwinnett County called Mulberry.
This unincorporated area of Gwinnett County has a Buford address now, but that could change.
Backers and critics of the new city agree that it started with unease over a rezoning issue off Hamilton Mill Road – a proposed high-density apartment complex unpopular with neighbors.
"These residents do not feel represented," said state Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford), the bill sponsor, speaking in the senate chamber.
Dixon said the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners had been disregarding the opinions of residents. Sen. Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson) hinted the opposition was rooted in bigotry.
"We’re seeing this pattern of, I don’t want it in my backyard. I don’t want those people coming in my backyard. I want to create a boundary of my own and consolidate my affluency. And I want to keep certain people out," Merritt told senators.
Merritt said the zoning issue didn’t become a cityhood issue until Republican lawmakers got involved. But backers say their bill would give local residents better local control over issues arising in their community.
"Their voices are not being heard because of zonings that are coming up that they do not want by commissioners that do not represent that area, and they’re imposing their will on that area," Dixon said. "And that’s the outcry that’s become the reason for the formation of this city."
The City of Mulberry bill passed the Senate with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. It now goes to the House; the Republican caucus leader lives in the area and is one of the bill’s biggest backers.
If it passes the House, voters living within the proposed city's boundaries would vote on whether to create the city.