In re Annexation Ordinance 301-X

BRANCH, Chief Justice. Petitioners argue first that the annexation plan of 25 February 1980 lacks sufficient detail and specificity to comply with the requirements of G.S. 160A-47, which establishes the essential requisites of such a plan. The City argues that the only allegation in the petition which even refers to G.S. 160A-47 is paragraph 4(a) which states: The report prepared at the direction of the Charlotte City Council setting forth plans for furnishing of police protection, fire protection, garbage collection and street maintenance [567] services in the proposed annexed area is in error and in violation of G.S. 160-A-47(3)(a) [sic] in that such services will not be provided as described, cannot be provided as described and will be inferior to the services now being rendered, all to the material injury of the petitioners. The City argues that this allegation failed to raise properly for review the issue of whether the report lacked specificity and detail, an argument which petitioners raise for the first time before this Court. Although we tend to agree with the City’s position, we elect not to reach this question since the question of the degree of specificity and detail required in a plan under G.S. 160A-47(3) has been resolved. In re Annexation Ordinance 300-X, 304 N.C. 549, 284 S.E. 2d 470 (1981) (decided this date). We decided adversely to petitioners’ contentions in that case on the basis of a plan which was so factually similar to the plan in instant case as to be almost identical. Based upon the reasoning and authorities set forth in that case, we hold that here the City’s plans were sufficiently detailed and specific to meet the requirements of G.S. 160A-47(3). The remainder of petitioners’ arguments relate to the City’s alleged lack of compliance with the requirements of G.S. 160A-48(c). The statute requires in pertinent part: (c) Part or all of the area to be annexed must be developed for urban purposes. An area developed for urban purposes is defined as any area which meets any one of the following standards: (1) Has a total resident population equal to at least two persons for each acre of land included within its boundaries; or (2) Has a total resident population equal to at least one person for each acre of land included within its boundaries, and is subdivided into lots and tracts such that at least sixty percent (60%) of the total acreage consists of lots and tracts five acres or less in size and such that at least sixty percent (60%) of the total number of lots and tracts are one acre or less in size .... [568] We note at the outset that the statute’s requirement that the area to be annexed “must be developed for urban purposes” is satisfied if either the standard of (c)(1) or the standard of (c)(2) is met. Food Town Stores v. City of Salisbury, 300 N.C. 21, 34, 265 S.E. 2d 123, 131 (1980). It is not required that both standards be satisfied. Having so stated we turn first to petitioners’ single argument relating to the standard set out in G.S. 160A-48(c)(2). Petitioners do not question the City’s compliance with the population density standard of the above section but rather argue that the trial court erred in concluding that the City was correct in its assertion that at least 60 percent of the total acreage of Coulwood consists of lots and tracts of five acres or less. In their brief petitioners review evidence which they argue tended to show that the City had overestimated the total acreage composed of lots and tracts of five acres or less by 32.877 acres. In light of the entire computation under G.S. 160A-48(c)(2), we fail to see how the alleged error could have prejudiced petitioners. G.S. 160A-48(c)(2) requires that 60 percent of the total acreage consist of lots and tracts of five acres or less. To perform the computations required by this “subdivision test” two figures are needed: the total acreage and the subdivided acreage. First, the total acreage must be determined. The City estimated the total area of Coulwood at 1198 acres based on county tax maps and records but requested the deduction from this figure of those portions of Coulwood dedicated as street rights-of-way, since the streets were not subject to subdivision. The court allowed the use of this reduced figure, 1015.7 acres, as the “total acreage” to be used in the subdivision test of section (c)(2) of the statute. The City’s estimate of the total area of Coulwood was 1198 acres. Petitioners claim that the City failed to include in its estimate a 41.73 acre tract which lies within the annexed area and included 8.119 acres which actually lie outside the area, thus they claim a total error in the City’s estimate of 33.611 acres. G.S. 160A-54 provides in part: In determining whether the standards set forth in G.S. 160A-48 have been met on appeal to the superior court under [569] G.S. 160A-50, the reviewing court shall accept the estimates of the municipality: * * * (2) As to total area if the estimate is based on an actual survey, or on county tax maps or records, or on aerial photographs, or on some other reasonably reliable map used for official purposes by a governmental agency, unless the petitioners on appeal demonstrate that such estimates are in error in the amount of five percent (5%) or more. Thus the court below was required under the facts of this case to accept the City’s estimate of the total area of Coulwood since 41.73 is less than 5 percent of 1198, the City having used county tax maps and records in arriving at this estimate as required by the above-quoted statute. The City did not use 1198 in its computation under G.S. 160A-48(c)(2) but reduced this figure by the 182.3 acres which were subject to street rights-of-way rendering a total acreage capable of subdivision of 1015.7. While the trial court’s conclusion that 1015.7 was the proper figure to be used in the subdivision test of G.S. 160A-48(c)(2) was excepted to at trial, it was not made the subject of an assignment of error, nor was the propriety of this figure addressed in the briefs. Under our Rules this exception is deemed abandoned, see N.C. Rules App. P., Rule 10(b). Whether it was proper for the trial court to reduce the area of Coulwood to 1015.7 is thus not before this Court for review, and 1015.7 is the figure upon which we must base our review of the computation in this case of the subdivision test of G.S. 160A-48(cX2). The second determination is that of the subdivided acreage; that consisting of lots and tracts of five acres or less. Based on county tax maps and records, the City submitted an estimate of 765.6 acres in tracts of five acres or less. Petitioners claim this figure must be reduced by 32.877 acres, the amount of the alleged error. Assuming arguendo that the City’s estimate should be reduced, rendering the new figure of 732.723 subdivided acres, the outcome of the computation remains unaltered. The figure 732.723 is 72.14 percent of 1015.7. The statute requires only that the acreage in lots of five or less acres be at [570] least 60 percent; moreover, G.S. 160A-54 requires acceptance of the City’s estimate: (3) As to degree of land subdivision, if the estimates are based on an actual survey, or on county tax maps or records, or on aerial photographs, or on some other reasonably reliable source, unless the petitioners on appeal show that such estimates are in error in the amount of five percent (5%) or more. The City, using their 765.6 figure, estimated that 75.4 percent of the Coulwood area was subdivided into lots of five acres or less. Petitioners’ evidence, even if fully believed, would thus establish an error of no more than 3.26 percent, which under G.S. 160A-54(3) would not be sufficient to allow the trial court to disregard the City’s estimate. We note further that even if the trial court had erred in reducing the total area of Coulwood by the area devoted to street rights-of-way, an issue not before this Court and one which we do not herein decide, the area composed of lots of five or less acres would comprise 61.162 percent of Coulwood’s total area (732.723 -4- 1198 = .61162); a figure still in excess of the 60 percent required by G.S. 160A-48(c)(2) and one which would render harmless any error in accepting the City’s estimate. We find this assignment of error to be without merit. Petitioners present two arguments alleging error in the computation and procedure of the population test of G.S. 160A-48(c)(l). They are: first, that the trial court erred in concluding that the area in question qualifies for annexation under G.S. 160A-48(c)(l); and second, that the trial court erred in refusing to remand the proceeding to the referee for a more complete report on the population of the annexation area. We reach neither of these questions. The area qualifies under G.S. 160A-48(c)(2). The statute requires only that the area to be annexed meet one of the standards listed. The judgment of the trial judge affirming Annexation Ordinance 301-X is Affirmed.