§113A-153. North Carolina Land Policy Council

(a),       (b) Repealed by Session Laws 1981, c. 881, s. 3.

(c)        Duties. -

(1)        To assemble and analyze significant existing laws, policies and programs in State and local government as they pertain to or have substantial effect upon the use, management, development or conservation of all lands and waters, public and private, within the State of North Carolina.

(2)        To define and cause to be prepared and periodically revised, a system of information and data concerning the land resources of the entire State, including, but not limited to, esthetic, economic, ecological, demographic, geologic, and physical conditions, both current and projected, as well as a continuing inventory of governmental and private needs and priorities for the use of land resources. All State agencies and units of local government including the register of deeds of each county shall make all pertinent data in their custody available to the Land Policy Council.

(3)        To consider, and to consult with the federal government and relevant states on, the interstate aspects of land-use issues of more than intrastate concern.

(4)        To prepare, and revise on a continuing basis, an inventory of public and private institutional and financial resources available for land-use planning and management within the State and of State and local programs, projects, and activities which have a regional impact of more than local concern.

(5)        To establish a method for identifying new community and large-scale development and land-use projects with regional impact.

(6)        To prepare, in consultation with concerned State agencies and other recognized authorities, principles and guidelines for the systematic identification of areas of environmental concern.

(7)        To provide technical assistance and training programs for State and local agency personnel concerned with the development and implementation of State and local land-use programs.

(8)        To establish a method for coordinating all State and local agency programs and services which significantly affect land use.

(9)        To prepare, in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Land Policy as described in G.S. 113A-154, and following procedures established by this Article, a State land policy as defined in G.S. 113A-155.

(10)      To prepare, in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Land Policy as described in G.S. 113A-154, and after consultation with the duly constituted and authorized planning agencies of local governments, and following procedures established by this Article, a State land policy and State land classification system as defined further in this Article.

(11)      To prepare and recommend to the General Assembly a system of valuation of property for tax purposes related to the range of public services available or to be made available to properties designated in each of the several land classifications.

(d)       Hearings. - The Council shall conduct such public hearings as it shall determine to be necessary or appropriate to the development of the State land policy and the State land classification system, provided only that there be no fewer than six such hearings held, two in each of the three major physiographic regions of the State. The Council shall give adequate public notice of each hearing at least 30 calendar days prior to the date of the hearing and shall consider all relevant statements and matters presented at hearings.

The Council shall designate the place and time of hearing and may adopt appropriate rules of procedure governing the conduct of the hearing, including the presentation of oral and written statements, and the form, content and method of giving notice of hearing.

(e)        Acceptance and Administration of Federal or Private Funds. - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall have power and authority to accept, receive and administer, on behalf of the Council, any funds, gifts, devises, or other financial assistance given, granted or provided by legislative appropriation, or under any federal act or acts or from any federal agency, or from foundations or private sources, and to comply with all conditions and requirements necessary for the receipt, acceptance and use of said funds to the extent not inconsistent with the laws of this State and the rules thereunder pertaining to land-use planning and management. The Council shall have authority to formulate plans and projects for the approval of all funding agencies and institutions and to enter into such contracts and agreements as may be necessary for such purposes or to enter into joint agreements with any other agency or division of government for such purposes and to furnish such information as may be requested for any project or program related to or conducted pursuant to such plans and contracts. Such funds received by the Council pursuant to this provision shall be deposited in the State treasury to the account of the Council and shall remain in such account until used by the Council.

(1973, c. 1306, s. 1; 1977, c. 771, ss. 4, 15; 1979, c. 44, s. 1; 1981, c. 47, s. 1; c. 881, s. 3; 1987, c. 827, s. 146; 1989, c. 727, s. 218(67); 1997-443, s. 11A.119(a); 2011-284, s. 75.)