On March 6, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners conducted a public hearing on a proposal that would require an "Environmental Justice Review" of land development actions in unincorporated South Fulton. The measure has been criticized by the business community and Atlanta REALTORS® oppose the measure.

"Our analysis found numerous structural and technical problems with the measure," said Robert Broome, director of governmental affairs for the Atlanta Board of REALTORS® and the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®. "We find that enactment of this proposal will inhibit private property rights, reduce property values, and have a chilling effect on economic development."

Watch video of the testimony

In addition to other concerns, Broome warned the commissioners that no economic impact analysis has been conducted of this proposal. Given the fragile state of economic recovery of the residential and commercial real estate market, he stated, "This is no time for a 'Ready, Fire, Aim' policy."

District 3 Commissioner Liz Haussman seized on the fact that this would be a first-in-the-nation policy when she asked, ""We couldn't find any local ordinances or guidelines in the whole country?" County staff confirmed that no other jurisdiction imposes a similar requirement.

District 5 Commissioner Emma Darnell requested a 30-day deferral of the proposal. Commissioner Haussman offered a friendly amendment to defer the proposal for 60 days, but Commissioner Darnell objected. The Board of Commissioners later approved a substitute motion to defer the matter for 45 days on a 6-0 vote.

Read the official comment letter from ABR and ACBR