Athens Reporter

State Representative Chuck Efstration (R-Auburn) has introduced legislation that aims to establish the City of Mulberry in Gwinnett County. The proposal comes as a response to concerns about rapid growth and traffic congestion within the area.

According to a press release by the Georgia General Assembly, Efstration said, "After receiving feedback and community input at five meetings and town halls in my district over the past several months, I’m excited to introduce legislation on Monday that will help give my constituents the local control over planning and zoning they’ve been seeking. I look forward to working with partners in the House, Senate and local community to fight back against the out of control growth and traffic congestion issues plaguing northeastern Gwinnett."

The website cityofmulberryga.com provides details about the proposed City of Mulberry. It is projected to cover northeastern Gwinnett County and house around 35,000 residents. The initiative's objective is to grant local control without imposing property taxes. It intends to maintain existing services through contracts with Gwinnett County while allowing locally elected city council members to oversee planning and zoning. However, for this plan to come into fruition, it requires state legislative approval of a charter followed by voter endorsement in 2024.

An analysis by KB Advisory Group indicates that the proposed City of Mulberry appears financially feasible without necessitating a property tax. The proposed city would span 25.9 square miles and accommodate a population of approximately 41,000 with a high median household income. The study elaborates that their analysis adopted a conservative approach when estimating revenues and service costs, taking into account factors such as demographics, housing, and the local economy. Nevertheless, it acknowledges that their analysis may not encompass all future growth impacts or potential responses from the city towards economic changes, future ordinances, agreements with Gwinnett County or city council policies.

According to another press release by the Georgia General Assembly, Efstration, who now serves as the House Majority Leader, represents District 104, which includes parts of Barrow and Gwinnett counties. Elected to the House in 2013, his committee involvement comprises the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and memberships in various committees.