Balanced Growth Policy Act.
§ 143-506.6. Title.
This Article shall be known as the North Carolina Balanced Growth Policy Act. (1979, c. 412, s. 1.)
The purposes of this Article are to declare as a policy that the State of North Carolina shall encourage economic progress and job opportunities throughout the State; support growth trends which are favorable to maintain a dispersed population, to maintain a healthy and pleasant environment and to preserve the natural resources of the State. (1979, c. 412, s. 2.)
§ 143-506.8. Declaration of State Balanced Growth Policy.
The General Assembly of North Carolina recognizes the importance of reaching a higher standard of living throughout North Carolina by maintaining a balance of people, jobs, public services and the environment, supported by the growing network of small and large cities in the State. The General Assembly of North Carolina, in order to assure that opportunities for a higher standard of living are available all across the State, declares that it shall be the policy of the State to bring more and better jobs to where people live; to encourage the development of adequate public services on an equitable basis for all of the State's people at an efficient cost; and to maintain the State's natural environmental heritage while accommodating urban and agricultural growth. (1979, c. 412, s. 3.)
§ 143-506.9. Cooperation of agencies.
The General Assembly encourages, to the fullest extent possible, all State agencies to review their existing policies, procedures and regulations to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this Balanced Growth Policy. (1979, c. 412, s. 4.)
§ 143-506.10. Designation of growth centers; achieving balanced growth.
It shall be the policy of the State of North Carolina to support the expansion of the State and to designate growth areas or centers with the potential, capacity and desire for growth. The Governor, with the advice of county and municipal government officials and citizens, is charged with designating growth areas or centers, which shall include at least one center in each North Carolina county. Designation of growth areas or centers shall be reviewed annually. These designations may be used for the purpose of establishing priority consideration for State and federal assistance for growth.
Progress toward achieving balanced growth shall be measured by the strengthening of economic activity and the adequacy of public services within each of the State's multi-county regions and, as to the geographical area included, the Southeastern Economic Development Commission. The Governor, with the advice of county and municipal government officials and citizens, shall develop measures of progress toward achieving balanced growth. (1979, c. 412, s. 5.)
§ 143-506.11. Citizen participation.
The Governor shall establish a process of citizen participation that assures the expression of needs and aspirations of North Carolina's citizens in regard to the purposes of this Article. (1979, c. 412, s. 6.)
The following program area guidelines shall become the policy for the State of North Carolina:
(1) To encourage diversified job growth in different areas of the State, with particular attention to those groups which have suffered from high rates of unemployment or underemployment, so that sufficient work opportunities at high wage levels can exist where people live;
(2) To encourage the development of transportation systems that link growth areas or centers together with appropriate levels of service;
(3) To encourage full support for the expansion of family-owned and operated units in agriculture, forestry and the seafood industry as the basis for increasing productive capacity;
(4) To encourage the development and use of the State's natural resources wisely in support of Balanced Growth Policy while fulfilling the State's constitutional obligation to protect and preserve its natural heritage;
(5) To promote the concept that a full range of human development services shall be available and accessible to persons in all areas of the State;
(6) To encourage the continued expansion of early childhood, elementary, secondary and higher education opportunities so that they are improving in both quality and availability;
(7) To encourage excellent technical training for North Carolina workers that prepares them to acquire and hold high-skill jobs and that encourages industries which employ high-skill workers to locate in the State;
(8) To encourage the availability of cultural opportunities to people where they live;
(9) To encourage the expansion of local government capacity for managing growth consistent with this Balanced Growth Policy; and
(10) To encourage conservation of existing energy resources and provide for the development of an adequate and reliable energy supply, while protecting the environment. (1979, c. 412, s. 7.)
§ 143-506.13. Implementation of a State-local partnership.
The Governor, with the advice of the State Goals and Policy Board, shall establish a statewide policy-setting process for Balanced Growth, in partnership with local government, that brings about full participation of both the State and local government. The purpose of this State-local partnership is to arrive at joint strategies and objectives for balanced statewide development and ensure consistent action by the State and local government for jointly agreed upon strategies and objectives. (1979, c. 412, s. 8.)
§ 143-506.14: Repealed by Session Laws 2011-266, s. 1.12, effective July 1, 2011.