Voters Reject Atlanta-Area Cityhood Proposals

After local activists whipped up concerns about forced density to promote cityhood for three wealthy Atlanta suburbs, residents voted to remain in unincorporated Cobb County.

2 minute read

May 27, 2022, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Aerial view of single-family homes in Atlanta, Georgia suburb

WorldTraveler_1 / Atlanta suburbs

“Voters defeated ballot referendums for three unincorporated areas that were hoping to turn into the newest cities of Cobb County, just west of Atlanta,” reports Brentin Mock in Bloomberg CityLab.

The communities of East Cobb, Los Mountain, and Vinings started agitating for cityhood after Cobb County proposed zoning reforms that, as interpreted by some, would allow for increased density and mass transit in the historically single-family neighborhoods. “Only through creating their own cities, said cityhood proponents, could they control land use to stop these developments.” The secession of three of the county’s wealthiest areas would have a significant impact on local tax revenue. “A preliminary study said that the formation of the three cities would have had a net annual impact of roughly $33 million on the county’s budget, which would have forced the county to lay off dozens of police, firefighters, and other government administrators.”

As Mock writes, “In reality, those concerns were mostly unfounded: As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners — the governing authority for the county — had introduced no plans to add density to these areas.”

Voters didn’t buy into the hysteria. “Just over half of voters, 55%, in the Vinings ballot referendum voted against the cityhood proposal (only those who live within the proposed city boundaries can vote on cityhood referendums); 57% voted against the Lost Mountain proposal and 72% rejected East Cobb cityhood.”

Buckhead, a neighborhood in the city of Atlanta, also attempted to put secession on the ballot for November 2022, but those efforts were thwarted by state leaders.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

View of dense apartment buildings on Seattle waterfront with high-rise buildings in background.

King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents

The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.

6 hours ago - Real Change

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

7 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

July 11 - Cities Today