The “Threats” Facing Sandy Springs (And What the City Plans to Do)
Every year, the Sandy Springs Mayor and City Council gather for an Annual Retreat. This year’s retreat took place on Feb. 5 and 6.
These meetings are open to the public and can be viewed on YouTube here.
As part of this process, LAST Year, our elected officials participated in a SWOT Analysis—identifying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing our community.
We are bringing this SWOT up now to inform our followers of what was done last year and to ask you: "What will the priorities be this year?"
While it is great to celebrate our strengths (like our world-class first responders), we believe it is even more critical for residents to understand the Threats—the external factors outside of city government, that the Council believes could jeopardize our city's long-term vitality.
Why does this matter right now? Because the priorities set in these meetings determine where your tax dollars go and what policies get passed in 2026 and 2027. Looking at last year's analysis gives us the context we need to evaluate the decisions being made today.
The Major Threats: What the Council Identified
During the 2025 analysis, the Council identified four main categories of "Threats." Interestingly, Housing and Neighborhoods ranked as the highest concern with a score of 0.86—significantly higher than other categories.
Here is what they identified:
Housing and Neighborhoods: The Council noted concerns about the "affordability of living in Sandy Springs for younger generations" and a lack of housing diversity ("too many apartments and not enough single-family housing"). They also flagged a potential "breakdown of neighborhood cohesion" and the issue of "too many big expensive houses" that may not sell as the population ages.
Financial Stability: Concerns included "excess desires by public" leading to financial overreach, the rising cost of delivering basic services due to inflation and the risk of an extended economic recession.
Water Reliability: The uncertainty and potential costs surrounding the city securing its own water system were marked as a significant threat.
Public Apathy: There is a growing concern about "apathy going forward by public"—meaning fewer residents engaging in the civic process.
The Response: 2025 Adopted Priorities
In response to these threats (and the rest of the SWOT analysis), the Council adopted specific priorities to guide their work. These are the areas where the city intends to focus its energy and resources.
The 7 Core Priorities:
Public Safety
Economic Development (with a focus on Redevelopment)
Sustainable Growth & Environmental Stewardship
Customer Service & Citizen Engagement
Transportation, Accessibility & Community Appearance
Recreational & Cultural Enrichment
Water Reliability
The Action Plan: What Happens Next?
Identifying a threat is one thing; doing something about it is another. The city staff created a workplan to address these specific gaps. Here is how they plan to tackle the biggest threats identified above:
Addressing Housing: The city has committed to "Begin work on the 10-Year Update to the Comprehensive Plan." This is a massive opportunity for residents to have a say in how our neighborhoods grow and what "attainable housing" actually looks like.
Combating Apathy: To get more people involved, the city plans to "Expand community engagement," including strengthening youth programming (SSCLA) and recognizing active community members.
What You Can Do
The City Council has identified that housing affordability and public apathy are major threats to our future. We agree. But the solution to both is the same: Engagement.
If you have ideas about how Sandy Springs should address these threats—or if you want to ensure the "Comprehensive Plan Update" includes housing options for all income levels—now is the time to speak up and tell the Council what you think this year's priorities should be.
Contact your City Council member today: https://www.sandyspringsga.gov/mayor-and-city-council