The city of Cumming could soon grow by more than 100 acres.

At a work session on Tuesday, Forsyth County Commissioners discussed a request from the city to annex about 108 acres between Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Ga. 400 — and Ga. 400 and Atlanta Highway (Hwy. 9 south.)

“This is a large potential annexation,” said County Attorney Ken Jarrard.

Jarrard said the property owner requested to be part of the city. 

“That’s the way most annexation works,” Jarrard said. “Not all of it, but most of it from the city of Cumming is almost always the 100-percent method, which means the property owner is driving it.”

Jarrard said county officials received the request on Feb. 28 and had 30 days to respond. 

He said the county doesn’t have many options for annexation requests.

“We don’t have the right to deny an annexation,” Jarrard said. “What we have the right to do is object to the annexation.”

Had the commissioners chosen to object, the matter could have gone to arbitration between the municipalities. 

Annexations are required to border other property in the city. The property being considered for annexation would border city land, Northside Hospital Forsyth – across Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road. 

If the annexation is successful, all the property will be zoned to the city’s highway business district.

Though most of the area is undeveloped, Lakewood 400 Antiques Market and a vehicle sales and leasing business are in the area. 

Commission Chairman Todd Levent raised issues on how the proposal could impact officers responding to emergencies.

Jarrard said a portion of the property lies in the area of the proposed city of Sharon Springs and would not be included with the rest of the property in Cumming’s annexation if the new city is approved. 

District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said state officials had told her the creation of a new city could “start an annexation war because of the threat of the new city coming in with higher taxes.”

Commissioners approved the motion with requests that city officials consider an agreement between the two for maintenance of “mixed jurisdictional roadways” and “clean up” the borders of the area up for annexation.