After two years of work by local activists that led to groundbreaking legislation by the Georgia General Assembly and challenges in state and federal courts, the referendum to create the city of Eagle’s Landing was defeated the old-fashioned way — at the ballot box.

Results posted by on the county’s website by the election office showed that more than 7,500 voters, both in and out of the current Stockbridge city limits, came out to have their say on the issue. The “no” votes totaled 4,289 while 3,220 voted in favor, a breakdown of 57 to 43 percent.

The proposed new city would have taken land from the existing city of Stockbridge. Never in the history of Georgia has property been de-annexed from an existing city and annexed into a new one.

City officials declared “victory” in a press release the morning after the election.

“Stockbridge has continued to advocate the unconstitutionality of the referendum vote which disallowed the majority of city residents to vote on the involuntary de-annexation of city property to create an additional neighboring city,” according to the statement.

“We are extremely excited and grateful,” said Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford after the vote. “We are a strong team and we will continue to move forward united as one dynamic community made up of diverse Americans who proudly contribute to their society. Stockbridge continues to be a leader in the region and we will continue to represent all of our citizens.”

Throughout the process, Stockbridge leaders maintained that the legislation was unconstitutional. A lawsuit in Henry County Superior Court did not rule in the city’s favor, and the city’s appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court on the constitutionality issue was pending on election day. Also undecided at that time was a federal judge in a separate legal action related to the cityhood issue. Both courts refused to grant an injunction that would have stopped the referendum.

The Eagle’s Landing Educational Research Committee, the primary organization behind the drive for the new city, posted this message on its Facebook page the morning after the referendum:

“Thank you to all board members, volunteers, supporters, friends, and family. We didn’t make it but not because we didn’t have the guts, grit or integrity. Let’s continue to try to help make the Eagle’s Landing community a spark of the south side.”

At roughly the same time this message was posted, the ELERC’s website was taken down.