§ 113A-151. Findings, intent and purpose.
§ 113A‑151. Findings, intent and purpose.
(a)       Findings. – The General Assembly hereby finds that:
(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The land of North Carolina is a resource basic to thewelfare of her people.
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A lack of coordination of governmental action; a lack ofclearly stated, sound, and widely understood guidelines for planning; and alack of systematic collection, classification, and utilization of informationregarding the land resource have led to inconsistencies in policy andinadequacies in planning for the present and future uses of the land resource.
(3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Governmental agencies responsible for controlling land useand private and public users of the land resource are often unable toindependently develop guidelines for land‑use practices which provideadequate and meaningful provision for future demands on the land resource,while allowing current needs to be met.
(4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Systematic and sound decisions as to the location and natureof major public investments in key facilities cannot be made without acomprehensive State policy regarding the land resource.
(5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Those affected by State land‑use policy and decisionsmust be given an opportunity for full participation in the policy‑ anddecision‑making process. Such a process must allow for the finalimplementation of policy by local governments. The State should take whateversteps necessary to encourage and assist local governments in meeting theirobligation to control current uses and plan for future uses of the landresource.
(b)       Intent and Purpose. – The General Assembly declares that itis the intent of this Article to undertake the continuing development andimplementation of a State land‑use policy, incorporating environmental,esthetic, economic, social, and other factors so as to promote the publicinterest, to preserve and enhance environmental quality, to protect areas ofnatural beauty and historic sites, to encourage beneficial economicdevelopment, and to protect and promote the public health, safety, and welfare.Such policy shall serve as a guide for decision‑making in State andfederally assisted programs which affect land use, and shall provide aframework for the development of land‑use policies and programs by localgovernments. It is the purpose of this Article to:
(1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Promote patterns of land use which are in accord with aState land‑use policy which encourages the wise and balanced use of theState's resources;
(2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Establish a State policy to give local governments guidanceand assistance in the establishment and implementation of local land planningand management programs so as to effectively meet their responsibilities foreconomically and environmentally sound land‑use management;
(3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Establish a State land‑use policy which seeks toprovide essential public services equitably to all persons within the State andto assure that citizens shall have, consistent with sound principles of landresource use, maximum freedom and opportunity to live and conduct theiractivities in locations of their personal choice;
(4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Condition the distribution of certain federal and Statefunds on meeting reasonable and flexible State requirements for basic landplanning; such conditions to include a clear statement of the State's authorityand responsibility for review of planning and management by local governments;
(5)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Develop and maintain coordination of all State programshaving a land‑use impact, including joint planning and management ofState lands with adjacent nonstate lands, so as to ensure consistency with thepurposes of this Article;
(6)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Promote the development of systematic methods for theexchange of land‑use, environmental, economic, and social informationamong all levels of government, and among agencies at all levels of government.(1973, c. 1306, s. 1.)