A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
an act TO CLARIFY THE LAW REGARDING APPEALS OF QUASI‑JUDICIAL DECISIONS MADE UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF CHAPTER 160A AND ARTICLE 18 OF CHAPTER 153A OF THE GENERAL STATUTES.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑393.  Appeals in the nature of certiorari.
(a)	Applicability. – This section applies to appeals to superior court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari authorized under the provisions of this Article.
(b)	Filing the Petition. – An appeal in the nature of certiorari shall be initiated by filing with the superior court a petition for writ of certiorari. The petition shall state the facts that demonstrate that the petitioner has standing to seek review and shall set forth the grounds upon which the petitioner contends that an error was made as well as the relief the petitioner seeks. The facts in support of allegations that the votes of one or more members of the decision-making body were affected by impermissible bias or conflict of interest shall be set forth with particularity.
(c)	Standing. – A petition may be filed under this section only by a person who has standing to challenge the decision being appealed. A person has standing if a reasonable person in the position of the person seeking to challenge the decision could reasonably conclude that the use of the property authorized by the decision would be likely to adversely affect the interests of the person in some real, substantial, and concrete way that is not speculative, insignificant, or philosophical, or that is demonstrably different in nature or degree than the manner in which the decision affects members of the general public. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following principles shall apply in determining whether a petitioner has standing:
(1)	If the decision being appealed involves a denial of a permit request, a denial of a variance, or a determination that property is being used in violation of an ordinance adopted under this Article, then any person with an ownership or leasehold interest in the property in question, as well as the applicant for the permit or the variance (if different than the owner), has standing to file a petition.
(2)	If the decision being appealed involves the issuance of a permit, the granting of a variance, or a determination that property is being used in conformity with an ordinance adopted under this Article, then the following persons shall have standing to file a petition, so long as they satisfy the general criteria set forth at the beginning of this subsection:
a.	Any person who resides or owns property in such close proximity to the property that is the subject of the decision that the use of the property authorized by the decision would adversely affect such person's use or enjoyment of his or her residence or property or would adversely affect the value of such property.
b.	Any person whose economic interests are directly threatened by the use authorized by the decision.
(3)	An incorporated property owners association to which all owners of property in a designated area belong by virtue of their ownership of property in such area shall have standing to challenge the issuance of a permit, the granting of a variance, or a determination that property is being used in conformity with an ordinance adopted under this Part if any of the members of such incorporated property owners association would have standing to challenge the decision as an individual.
(4)	For purposes of this subsection, the term "person" refers to any legal entity authorized to bring suit in his, her, or its own name, and the term "owner" refers to any person having an ownership interest in property.
(d)	Respondent. – The respondent named in the petition shall be the city whose council, board of adjustment, planning agency, or other body made the decision that is being appealed. If the petitioner is not the applicant before the council, board of adjustment, or planning agency whose decision is being appealed, the petitioner shall name such applicant as a respondent. Any petitioner may, but need not, also name as a respondent any person who participated in the hearing before the council, board of adjustment, or planning agency.
(e)	Writ of Certiorari. – Upon filing the petition, the petitioner shall present the petition and a proposed writ of certiorari to the clerk of court of the county in which the matter arose. The writ shall direct the respondent city to prepare and certify to the court the record of proceedings below within a specified date. The writ shall also direct that the petitioner shall serve the petition and the writ upon each respondent named therein in the manner provided for service of a complaint under Rule 4j of the Rules of Civil Procedure. No summons shall be issued. The clerk shall issue the writ without notice to the respondent or respondents if the petition has been properly filed and the writ is in proper form. A copy of the executed writ shall be filed with the court.
(f)	Answer to the Petition. – The respondent may, but need not, file an answer to the petition, except that, if the respondent contends that any petitioner lacks standing to bring the appeal, such contention must be set forth in an answer served on all petitioners at least 30 days prior to the hearing on the petition.
(g)	Intervention. – Rule 24 of the Rules of Civil Procedure shall govern motions to intervene as a petitioner or respondent in an action initiated under this section, except that:
(1)	If the petitioner is not the applicant before the council, board of adjustment, or planning agency whose decision is being appealed, and the petitioner fails to name such applicant as a respondent, then such applicant may intervene as a matter of right.
(2)	Except as otherwise stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection, an intervenor must demonstrate that a reasonable person in the position of the intervenor could reasonably believe that the outcome of the appeal could adversely affect the interests of the person in some real, substantial, and concrete way that is not purely speculative, insignificant, or philosophical or that is demonstrably different in nature or degree than the manner in which the decision affects members of the general public.
(h)	The Record. – The record shall consist of all documents and exhibits submitted to the council, planning agency, or board of adjustment whose decision is challenged, together with the minutes of the meeting or meetings at which the matter appealed was considered. Upon request of any party, the record shall also contain an audiotape or videotape of the meeting or meetings at which the matter appealed was considered if such a recording was made. Any party may also include in the record a transcript of such proceedings, which shall be prepared at the cost of the party choosing to include it. The parties may agree, or the court may direct, that matters unnecessary to the court's decision be deleted from the record or that matters other than those specified herein be included. The record shall be bound and paginated or otherwise organized for the convenience of the parties and the court. A copy of the record shall be served by the municipal respondent upon all petitioners within three days after it is filed with the court.
(i)	Hearing on the Record. – The court shall hear and decide all issues raised by the petition by reviewing the record submitted in accordance with subsection (h) of this section, except that the court may, in its discretion, allow the record to be supplemented with affidavits, testimony of witnesses, or documentary or other evidence if and to the extent that the record is not adequate to allow an appropriate determination of the following issues:
(1)	Whether a petitioner or intervenor has standing.
(2)	Whether, as a result of bias or conflict of interest, the decision-making body was not sufficiently impartial to comply with due process principles.
(3)	Whether the decision-making body erred for the reasons set forth in subdivision (j)(1)a. or subdivision (j)(1)b. of this section.
(j)	Scope of Review.
(1)	When reviewing the decision of a city council, board of adjustment, or planning agency under the provisions of this section, the trial court shall ensure that the rights of petitioners have not been prejudiced because the decision-making body's findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions were:
a.	In violation of constitutional provisions, including, but not limited to, those protecting procedural due process rights.
b.	In excess of the statutory authority conferred upon the municipality or the authority conferred upon the decision- making body by ordinance.
c.	Inconsistent with applicable procedures specified by statute or ordinance.
d.	Affected by other error of law.
e.	Unsupported by substantial competent evidence in view of the entire record.
f.	Arbitrary or capricious.
(2)	When the issue before the trial court is whether the decision-making body below erred in interpreting an ordinance, the trial court may review that issue de novo and substitute its own judgment for that of the decision-making body.
(3)	The term "competent evidence" as used in this subsection shall not preclude reliance by the decision-making body on evidence that would not be admissible under the rules of evidence as applied in the trial division of the General Court of Justice if (i) the evidence was admitted without objection, or (ii) the evidence appears to be sufficiently trustworthy and was admitted under such circumstances that it was reasonable for the decision-making body to rely upon it. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the term "competent evidence" shall not be deemed to include the opinion testimony of lay witnesses or persons not qualified by reason of specialized knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education to testify as an expert as to matters about which only expert testimony would generally be admissible under the rules of evidence. By way of illustration without limitation, the term "competent evidence" shall not be deemed to include the opinion of lay witnesses as to whether (i) the use of property in a particular way would affect the value of other property, or (ii) the increase in vehicular traffic resulting from a proposed development would pose a danger to the public safety.
(k)	Decision of the Trial Court. – Following its review of the decision-making body in accordance with subsection (j) of this section, the trial court may affirm the decision, reverse the decision and remand the case with appropriate instructions, or remand the case for further proceedings. If the court does not affirm the decision below in its entirety, then the court shall be guided by the following in determining what relief should be granted to the petitioners.
(1)	If the court concludes that the error committed by the decision-making body is procedural only, the court may remand the case for further proceedings to correct the procedural error.
(2)	If the court concludes that the decision-making body has erred by failing to make findings of fact such that the court cannot properly perform its function, then the court may remand the case with appropriate instructions so long as the record contains substantial competent evidence that could support the decision below with appropriate findings of fact. However, findings of fact are not necessary when the record sufficiently reveals the basis for the decision below or when the material facts are undisputed and the case presents only an issue of law.
(3)	If the court concludes that the decision below is not supported by substantial competent evidence in the record, or is based upon an error of law, then the court may remand the case with an order that directs the council, board of adjustment, or planning agency to take whatever action should have been taken had the error not been committed or to take such other action as is necessary to correct the error. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) if the court concludes that a permit was wrongfully denied because the denial was not based on substantial competent evidence or was otherwise based on an error of law, the court shall remand with instructions that the permit be issued; and (ii) if the court concludes that a permit was wrongfully issued because the issuance was not based on substantial competent evidence or was otherwise based on an error of law, the court shall remand with instructions that the permit be revoked.
(l)	Ancillary Injunctive Relief. – Upon motion of a party to a proceeding under this section, and under appropriate circumstances, the trial court may issue an injunctive order requiring any other party to such proceeding to take certain action or refrain from taking action that is consistent with the court's decision on the merits of the appeal. By way of illustration without limitation, if the court affirms the decision of a board of adjustment that a petitioner is in violation of a zoning ordinance, the court may issue an order enjoining the petitioner from continuing the violation."
SECTION 2.  Article 18 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑349.  Appeals in the nature of certiorari.
Whenever appeals to superior court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari are authorized under the provisions of this Article, the provisions of G.S. 160A‑393 shall be applicable to such appeals. In this context, the term "city council" as used in G.S.160A‑393 shall be deemed to refer to the "board of commissioners" and the term "municipality" shall be deemed to refer to the "county"."
SECTION 3.  Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑377.  Appeals of decisions on subdivision plats.
(a)	When a subdivision ordinance adopted under this Part provides that the decision whether to approve or deny a preliminary or final subdivision plat is to be made by a city council or a designated planning agency (other than a planning agency comprising solely members of a city planning staff), and the ordinance authorizes the council or planning agency to make a quasi‑judicial determination in deciding whether to approve the subdivision plat, then the decision of the council or planning agency shall be subject to review by the superior court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. The provisions of G.S. 160A‑381(c) and G.S. 160A‑393 shall apply to the appeals.
(b)	When a subdivision ordinance adopted under this Part provides that a city council, designated planning agency, or staff member is authorized to make only an administrative or ministerial determination in deciding whether to approve a preliminary or final subdivision plat, then any party aggrieved by such decision may seek to have the decision reviewed by filing an action in superior court seeking appropriate declaratory or equitable relief.  Such an action must be filed within the time frame specified in G.S. 160A‑381(c) for petitions in the nature of certiorari.
(c)	For purposes of this section, an ordinance shall be deemed to authorize a quasi-judicial determination on a preliminary or final plat application if the ordinance (i) authorizes the council or planning agency to decide whether to approve or deny the plat based not only on whether the application complies with the specific requirements set forth in the ordinance, but also whether it complies with one or more generally stated standards requiring a discretionary determination to be made by the council or planning agency; or (ii) authorizes the council or planning agency to approve the subdivision plat subject to conditions that impose requirements or limitations on the subdivision beyond those set forth in the ordinance."
SECTION 4.  Article 18 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑377.  Appeals of decisions on subdivision plats.
(a)	When a subdivision ordinance adopted under this Part provides that the decision whether to approve or deny a preliminary or final subdivision plat is to be made by a board of commissioners or a designated planning agency (other than a planning agency comprising solely members of a county planning staff), and the ordinance authorizes the board of commissioners or planning agency to make a quasi‑judicial determination in deciding whether to approve the subdivision plat, then the decision of the board of commissioners or planning agency shall be subject to review by the superior court by proceedings in the nature of certiorari. The provisions of G.S. 153A‑340(f) and G.S. 153A‑349 shall apply to such appeals.
(b)	When a subdivision ordinance adopted under this Part provides that a board of commissioners, planning agency, or staff member is authorized to make only an administrative or ministerial determination in deciding whether to approve a preliminary or final subdivision plat, then any party aggrieved by such decision may seek to have the decision reviewed by filing an action in superior court seeking appropriate declaratory or equitable relief.  Such an action must be filed within the time frame specified in G.S. 153A‑340(f) for petitions in the nature of certiorari.
(c)	For purposes of this section, an ordinance shall be deemed to authorize a quasi-judicial determination on a preliminary or final plat application if the ordinance (i) authorizes the board of commissioners or planning agency to decide whether to approve or deny the plat based not only on whether the application complies with the specific requirements set forth in the ordinance, but also whether it complies with one or more generally stated standards requiring a discretionary determination to be made by the board of commissioners or planning agency; or (ii) authorizes the board of commissioners or planning agency to approve the subdivision plat subject to conditions that impose requirements or limitations on the subdivision beyond those set forth in the ordinance."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to actions filed on or after that effective date.