RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Five North Carolina cities are challenging a new state law that allows landowners to block communities from growing by annexing land.
The cities are asking a Wake County judge Thursday to temporarily block official confirmation of petition drives that appear to stop annexations planned for years. State legislators this year allowed property owners to block an annexation if 60 percent or more in the area sign a petition against it.
State law allows cities to grow by annexing developed neighboring land in a municipality's economic orbit whether property owners like it or not.
The lawsuit was filed by the cities of Goldsboro, Lexington, Kinston, Wilmington and Fayetteville. All five were targeted by legislative action that blocked pending annexations or reversed one already completed.
(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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