GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1284

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Sponsors: Representative Ellis.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

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May 7, 1993

A JOINT RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION OF EXTRATERRITORIALLY ZONED AREAS.
Whereas, cities by general law and some local acts are allowed to exercise zoning and planning jurisdiction over areas outside their corporate limits (the "ETJ" ); and
Whereas, the cities exercise considerable control over the property of the persons in the ETJ, without those persons having the right to vote in municipal elections; and
Whereas, numerous suggestions for correcting this imbalance have been proposed, including allowing persons in the ETJ to vote in municipal elections, requiring cities to annex ETJ areas within a certain number of years or drop the area from the ETJ, allowing nonvoting membership on the city governing board by residents of the ETJ, and other options; and
Whereas, different statutes provide for ETJ extensions of one mile for all cities, and two or three miles for other cities, and there are conflicts between the two statutes as to procedures and representation;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission shall study the issue of how to best reduce the inequity of persons in the ETJ not having a voice in decisions affecting them.  The Legislative Research Commission as part of that study shall also recommend clarification of how the different statutes on extensions of different mileages relate to each other.
Sec. 2.  This resolution becomes effective upon ratification.