Oakwood City Council is set tonight to consider annexing 56 tracts as part of an effort to bring into the city unincorporated areas surrounded by city property, or "islands," scattered around town.

The property is located mainly around the old city center, off streets such as Plain-
view Road, Nellie Drive, Mundy Mill Drive and Oakwood Road.

Tonight’s vote would be a first reading. Final approval would rest on a second reading, which would come at a later meeting.

Patti Doss-Luna, assistant city manager, has said the move would affect some 125 residents.

The city sent a letter earlier this year to residents seeing if they would be interested in annexation.

Oakwood "offers a terrific place to live and work," Mayor Lamar Scroggs said in the letter.

"The city is extremely responsive to the needs of its residents and businesses. A staff member or a city official is only a telephone call away at any time and always available to meet to resolve any issues."

Georgia Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory at 4457 Oakwood Road is one of those seeking annexation.

Bryan Davenport, building manager for the Georgia Poultry Improvement Association, said a main reason the lab wanted to be part of the city "is for the security of our employees and guests."

Another reason is access to services such as sewer.

"We ... want to continue to grow and progress with the city of Oakwood and its plans for the future, (and) provide the safest environment for our employees and guests," Davenport said.

In other business tonight, the council will consider on first reading two annexation/rezoning applications on Chestnut Drive, off Winder Highway.

The applicants, Nicholas Jay Martin and John and Elizabeth Wilson, are seeking a rezoning to a highway business classification from a residential one on a combined 1.1 acres.

The two lots, along with a third one already in the city, would serve as the site for a planned 12,000-square-foot shopping center, city Planning Director Larry Sparks has said.

The center would be located near a site recently approved by City Council for a Discovery Point child care center.

The planning board also is considering Yolanda Reed’s application to rezone three-quarters of an acre at 3171 Atlanta Highway, near Poplar Springs Road and South Hall Middle School.

There are no immediate plans for the site.