Harlem residents invited to voice thoughts on possible expansion
HARLEM, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The City of Harlem is set to discuss an annexation request this month to expand the zoning of the city.
According to Mayor Roxanne Whitaker, a land developer asked a year ago what size lots the city recommends and did not ask for an annexation.
The City has explained that it received an application from a property owner for their property to be annexed into the city limits of Harlem on March 14, 2025.
The city sent notification to the Columbia County Board of Commissioners on March 18, 2025 of the request for annexation, according to a Facebook post by the city.
The city recently received the request to expand from the developer, Whitaker says, and it will be discussed for the first time on April 28.
They noted that this is a private deal that has been made between the City of Harlem and the landowners, according to Cassidy Harris, public relations manager for Columbia County Board of Commissioners.
“This is totally the prerogative of the landowners. They want their land to be in the City of Harlem, and all they have to do legally is ask,” said Columbia County commission chairman Doug Duncan.
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Commissioner Alison Couch said the county was left out of any negotiations and not given any plans for the property’s future, even though the annexation will affect the county, said Harris.
Commissioner Trey Allen countered, saying Harlem wouldn’t have been able to make such a deal if Columbia County had incorporated in Dec. 2024.
“I have always been for incorporation, and I plan to bring the issue back up. It is definitely coming back to the table, nothing against our two cities, but we need to go ahead and work on incorporation,” said Allen.
On May 6, there will be a public hearing for the recommendation of a City zoning classification to be applied to this property, and on May 22, there will be a regular meeting where the second reading will happen.
All meetings are open to the public, and public comment is allowed. For the regular meetings, people must sign up by 2:00 p.m. the Friday before the meetings. For the planning & zoning meeting, people have to sign up to be able to speak during the public hearing prior to the start of the meeting. Council meetings start at 6:30 p.m.; planning & zoning starts at 6:00 p.m.
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