2006 will be the year that determines whether unincorporated  north east Fulton County becomes a city. Originally referred to as "Johns Creek," the new name appeared on the legislation to put incorporation to a vote, "Riverside." 

Letter to the Editor - Jan 25, 2006:

Riverside?  What Happened to Johns Creek?

It has been a busy holiday season, and yes, I have missed a few issues of the paper.  But I felt somewhat like Rip van Winkle when I read in the January 18^th edition of the Johns Creek Herald  that the new city of “Johns Creek” was now being referred to as “Riverside.”  When did that happen?  How did that happen?  Riverside?

The name Riverside brings forth a mental picture of a warehouse district on the banks of an industrial river.  The sort of place you don’t let your wife or children go after dark.  The name really does not adequately depict the beautiful area of North East Fulton County that we call home.  Of course, the developers in favor of a new city government may have plans to do away with some of the park land along the Chattahoochee to put in a commercial warehouse district.  After all, one of the key elements of the sales pitch for incorporating has been a more “agreeable” zoning and building department. 

Personally, I think a lot of thought and study should go into development projects.  Otherwise you get, well, Gwinnett County.  The Pleasant Hill and Jimmy Carter Blvd. corridors are case studies in development gone awry.      

The other key selling point for Newco (I actually like the name “Newco” better than Riverside … can’t get the warehouses and barges off my mind) is the notion that we will somehow get to keep more of our tax dollars.  Well, not really.  We will be spending the savings on another layer of government, and government does not come cheap … have you seen what congressmen are going for these days?  Whew.

A few weeks ago the Johns Creek Herald noted that there was no organized opposition to incorporation.  A better question would have been who is behind the money “selling” the incorporation initiative, and why.  I do recognize when I am being “sold” something, and hopefully so will my Newco neighbors. 

All in all, “Riverside” versus “Johns Creek” may just be the first of many bait and switches to follow.  Perhaps a better name for the new city would be Sheets Creek … because that is exactly where we may find ourselves, and without the proverbial paddle.

Stephen P. Galop

Duluth, Georgia

UPDATE:

A week after this letter appeared in the Johns Creek Herald the bill to put the incorporation of North East Fulton County to vote was amended, the new city name will be Johns Creek.

Pitfalls of incorporation:

Increased Property Taxes (additional layers of government do not come cheap)

Over development (developers are counting on a "friendly" zoning process)

Higher Taxes (developers make their money and run, the residents are left holding the bag for infrastructure costs)

A Less livable area = decreased property value

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