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Commissioners defer URA steps to buy 4380 Memorial Drive after public questions about notice and use
Summary
The board postponed action on two companion urban redevelopment items tied to the county's planned purchase of 4380 Memorial Drive for further review after members and public speakers asked for more details about notice, price and future use.
The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday deferred two items that would have designated an area around 4380 Memorial Drive as an urban redevelopment area and adopted an associated urban redevelopment plan that would enable the county’s purchase of the property.
Administration staff said the measures were prerequisites to financing the $17 million purchase through bonds issued by the county’s Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA). At the meeting, county staff said the URA would issue bonds in a not-to-exceed principal amount of about $19 million and the county would enter an intergovernmental agreement to pay debt service.
Board members and public speakers raised procedural and transparency concerns. A member of the public questioned whether published notice met statutory timing requirements, and several commissioners said the agenda language lacked detail on the county’s intended future uses for the 26-acre site.
Commissioner Robert Patrick moved to send the two items to the Finance, Audit and Budget (FAB) committee and to defer final action to a special-called meeting next Tuesday; the motion passed. Commissioners said FAB would review the plan of finance in a public committee meeting and that the URA itself would have to convene and vote before the purchase could close.
Why it mattered: County officials said the site currently houses Treasury and registration operations and that the county is paying approximately $1 million per year in rent for some operations on the property. Purchasing the property would give the county control over long-term use and possible future master planning of the 26-acre site; administration officials described potential public‑safety or other government uses but said no redevelopment plan had been finalized.
Price and timing: County staff said the purchase-and-sale agreement lists an approximate purchase price of $17 million and that the bond authorization would not exceed $19 million. Staff told the board bids for tax‑anticipation notes and other financing tools were being solicited and would be presented next week; the board deferred the URA items to allow a committee review of the plan of finance.
Public comment and board concerns: Steve Benny and other residents asked for clearer public notice and said they did not understand the scope of the proposed purchase and financing. Several commissioners asked staff to include clearer agenda language and to brief committees on the financing and planned uses before the board recorded a final vote. Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson said the county has significant existing operations at Memorial Drive and suggested ownership may be prudent; other commissioners stressed a need for earlier disclosure and more complete agenda materials.
Next steps: Staff said the URA will need to convene and that final bond documents and the agency resolution would be brought back for approval. The board set the items for committee review and for potential board action at a special-called meeting scheduled for next week.
