Property Rights Bill Gets Squashed by Local Delegation

StarNews:

A divided committee of local elected leaders turned down the chance to oppose a state proposal that transportation officials say could put the brakes on major projects.

The regional Transportation Advisory Committee voted 5-5 during a regular meeting Wednesday on a resolution opposing Senate Bill 214, which would limit the amount of time the government can prevent development in the path of a planned road. 

N.C. Department of Transportation officials argue the bill, if passed, would have a severe impact and possibly kill local projects like the Hampstead Bypass and the Cape Fear Skyway Bridge. 

The bill would require governments protecting properties from development to purchase them or begin condemnation proceedings within 18 months from the time a corridor protection map is filed. If the government that filed the map doesn’t do so, the property owner would be free to develop the land, according to the bill.

Under current law, no building permits or subdivision approvals may be issued inside a protected corridor for up to three years, or 36 months, from the date an application was submitted by a developer.

The Senate bill also would change the “trigger” starting the time period from the application submittal date to the filing date of the corridor map

[...]Belville Mayor Jack Batson said he gets more phone calls from residents upset about their property being held up by DOT than anything else.