Agenda - 04-21-2009 - 5b - Laserfiche WebLink

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12/12/2006 Ti18 16s 45 PAY Page S of 8 (2~~ - The General A,ssetn~lyllas delegated the legislative act of adapting and amending zottnng t~gttlatiutts m mttnicipaiitie$. Zoning is a kgislatfi-e act and only the legislative body of a ' . rnuniapalityi is authorized to adopt and amend zoning ordinances. Only a law ti~tg body can adapt and amend a zoning ordinance. I.ee.v_ Ad' ~ 226 N.C.1 OT, 37 g.E?d 12$ (1946); ~tvan v. Wilson. 259 N.C. lOT,130 S.B.2d68 (1963); nliwtiono£Rea Constr. Co.. 27Z N.Cr 7I5, I58 S.e.2d 887 (1968}_ The power of a mtmicipality (cities, fawns, and counties} to enact toning ordinances has beat exprrssly 8 by statxite. The author~ityto adopt, repeal, acrd amend zatiing nc:g»lations is contained in the "enabling act" that is found in the North Carolina General Stawtes. The state lavv for adaptiiag zoning ordinances and amendrttents for cities is found at N.C, Gan. Stet. Section 160A 381 et seq: and for oortttries is found at iS3A-320 et seq. State law provides tliaf the city . - council ar the board of county comtnissiorters pt; ovidv aa6ce to certain landoxmcrs.:~.C G.S. § 150A-384 outlines specific p~racednres for adopting zoning ardimances and ameudmettts for ' .cities and morns. See N:C.G.S. ~160A--384 attached. State lttw provides foal for cities acrd to'vvns "DOttit~ regulations and tastrictrons and zone boundaries may ... be amended, sa~tpleritexttod, _ r.hattg+ed, modified or repealed." If thcre~ is a protest against the change, "an amettdmeat shall not beootne etT+ective except by favorable vote of tlnuc-fautYhs of all the members of the ca~ty , c:ortncil," 1±I.C.G.S..§1 h0A-3$5. Sec N.C G.S. § I60A 385 attached. ~ The sta~bc lavv for adopting coning order end amendments for oouraies'is tionad at N C.Q.S. § 133A-340. See N.C.G.S. §153A--340 attached: N.C.G.S. ~I53A-343~and §.153A 344 otdline.specificprocedtttea.far adopting zoamg ordinances and amendments for couunties. See N.C.G.S. § 153A 343 and ~ 153A. 344 attached ~ . Zoning or a change in totting is a legislative aei. Regarding counties' authority m_ amend totting ordtnatices,•thecourt Tn Alderman v. Ch t~h,tm nt 89 N.C: App. 510, X66 S.E.~d 885 (1988), states "N.C.G:S.153A 344 exgc~essly gives counties the power to atnead their zotdng . ordinances. As a kgstative function, the eoutit}~s act of eatettding its zonutg ordinance is antitled~ .to a preattinption of validity." Sip Associates V. City of Raleigh, 298 N.C. 207,25$ S.E.2d 444 .(197'9). 'Che legislative act of enacting or amending a toning ardirt_attce is invalid ifst is . unreasonable, arbitrtity, or an unequal exercise of legislative power." .A county's legislative body 'has :tutlrmity to t+ezono when reasonably necessary to do so in the interests of the public health, safety, moxals err gateral welfare. Ordinarily the only lim'station upon this authority'is that it may not be exercised arbitraxiiy or.. capriciously. yfj'tllis v iJnion.~out~t~ 77 N.C. Aplx 407, 335 S.E.2d ?5(1985). N.C.G.S. I53A-340 contains the Eegislative grant of power ba crnmlies so enact zoning ord~ttattces. Deve]~nient 'ores. Luc. V: The Wake Cotmty Ba of Adiustmeat. 48 N.C. App. 541,269 S.E2d 700 (1980)_ ~8$