Orange County NC Website
20 <br /> (d) The court shall fix the date for review of the petition so that review shall be expeditious and without <br /> unnecessary delays. The review shall be conducted by the court without a jury. The court may hear oral <br /> arguments and receive written briefs, and may take evidence intended to show either: <br /> (1) That the provisions of this Part were not met; or <br /> (2) That the provisions of the agreement were not met. <br /> (e) At any time before or during the review proceeding, any petitioner may apply to the reviewing court <br /> for an order staying the operation of the annexation ordinance pending the outcome of the review. The court may <br /> grant or deny the stay in its discretion upon such terms as it deems proper, and it may permit annexation of any <br /> part of the area described in the ordinance concerning which no question for review has been raised. <br /> (f) Upon a finding that the respondent city has not violated this Part or the agreement, the court may <br /> affirm the action of the respondent city without change. Upon a finding that the respondent city has violated this <br /> Part or the agreement, the court may: <br /> (1) Remand to the respondent city's governing board any ordinance adopted pursuant to <br /> Parts 2 or 3 of this Article, as the same exists now or is hereafter amended, for <br /> amendment of the boundaries, or for such other action as is necessary, to conform to <br /> the provisions of this Part and the agreement. <br /> (2) Declare any annexation begun pursuant to any other applicable law to be void. If the <br /> respondent city shall fail to take action in accordance with the court's instructions upon <br /> remand under subdivision (d)(1) of this section within three months from receipt of <br /> such instructions, the annexation proceeding shall be void. <br /> (g) Any participating city which is a party to the review proceedings may appeal from the final judgment <br /> of the superior court under rules of procedure applicable in other civil cases. The appealing party may apply to <br /> superior court for a stay in its final determination, or a stay of the annexation ordinance, whichever shall be <br /> appropriate, pending the outcome of the appeal to the appellate division; provided, that the superior court may, <br /> with the agreement of the parties,permit annexation to be effective with respect to any part of the area concerning <br /> which no appeal is being made and which can be incorporated into the respondent city without regard to any part <br /> of the area concerning which an appeal is being made. <br /> (h) If part or all of the area annexed under the terms of a challenged annexation ordinance is the subject <br /> of an appeal to the superior court or appellate division on the effective date of the ordinance, then the ordinance <br /> shall be deemed amended to make the effective date with respect to such area the date of the final judgment of <br /> the superior court or appellate division,whichever is appropriate,or the date the respondent city's governing board <br /> completes action to make the ordinance conform to the court's instructions in the event of remand. <br /> (i) A participating city which is prohibited from annexing into an area under a binding agreement may <br /> file a petition in the superior court where any of the territory proposed to be annexed is located, or a response in <br /> a proceeding initiated by another participating city, seeking permission to annex territory in the area <br /> notwithstanding the agreement. If the territory qualifies for annexation by the city seeking to annex it, the court <br /> may enter an order allowing the annexation to proceed with respect to all or a portion of the territory upon a <br /> finding that there is an imminent threat to public health or safety that can be remedied only by the city seeking <br /> annexation. The procedural provisions of this section shall apply to proceedings under this subsection, so far as <br /> applicable. (1989, c. 143, s. 1.) <br /> § 160A-58.28. Effect on prior local acts. <br /> This Part does not affect Chapter 953, Session Laws of 1983, Chapter 847, Session Laws of 1985 (1986 <br /> Regular Session), or Chapters 204, 233, or 1009, Session Laws of 1987, authorizing annexation agreements, but <br /> any city which is authorized to enter into agreements by one of those acts may enter into future agreements either <br /> under such act or this Part. (1989, c. 143, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1030, s. 48.) <br /> § 160A-58.29: Reserved for future codification purposes. <br /> § 160A-58.30: Reserved for future codification purposes. <br />