Residents press council on taxes, HOAs, I-20 sound barriers and tree protections; staff outlines next steps

Residents used both public comment and the public-hearing period at the Feb. 24 Stonecrest City Council meeting to raise a range of community concerns, including property taxes, homeowners association disputes, I-20 noise and sound barriers, street lighting, and tree protections. City staff responded with clarifications about which issues fall under city jurisdiction and with several planned follow-ups.

HOA disputes: Wesley Smith described ongoing problems with his homeowners association and private management company and said he had not received promised follow-up from city contacts. Mayor Jasmine Cabo and city officials responded that HOA enforcement is a civil matter generally outside the city's direct jurisdiction and that city staff can only try to connect residents to legal resources; council pledged to follow up where staff or officials had committed to contact residents.

I-20 sound barriers and street lighting: A resident from Chaparral asked whether sound barriers along westbound I-20 would be extended; staff said that the I-20 project is a state/Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) project and is not under city control. The city manager said updates are posted to the city's website and staff will continue to raise concerns with project leads. On street lighting, the manager said capital-improvement funds in the FY 2025 budget are earmarked for additional lights at identified locations.

Tree protection and arborist position: Residents called for a stronger tree ordinance and protections after tree removal near neighborhoods. The city manager said Stonecrest already has a tree protection ordinance (chapter 14, article 6, section 14-516 of the land-development code) and that the FY 2025 budget added an arborist position under Community Development. Staff also said the city will perform a tree-canopy study later in 2025 and has a tree-bank mechanism adopted in previous action.

Taxes and HB 581 framing in public comment: Many speakers focused on HB 581 (see separate article). Some residents said the statewide measure would protect homeowners; others said the city should keep local control. The council and staff repeatedly clarified that the Feb. 24 opt-out vote applied only to Stonecrest's city portion of taxes and would not change county or school-board levies.

Youth engagement and gratitude: Several speakers, including teacher Dr. Stacy Johnson and PTSA president Carline Anderson, thanked Mayor Cabo and Councilman Terry Fye for facilitating student participation in Georgia PTA Day at the Capitol and other student events. A Lithonia High School student representative, Gerard Champion, described the experience and thanked council members for their support.

Staff follow-ups announced: The city manager listed planned actions and upcoming items: a tree-canopy study, continued posting of GDOT project updates, new street-light locations under the capital program, planned revisions to design standards and the code of ordinances in FY 2025, and outreach for a Citizens Academy and city mobile app naming contest.