news-record.com

RALEIGH - Bills to restore protest petition rights to Greensboro residents were filed in both the House and Senate this week.

Protest petitions are tools used by neighbors of property involved in rezoning cases, legal proceedings that change what can be built on a property. If a sufficient number of neighbors file such a petition - representing 5 percent of the property bordering the property in question - a city council must approve the change in land use by a supermajority vote.

Greensboro is the only city in the state where residents do not have protest petition rights. They were taken away by a 1971 law that current lawmakers and city council members are at a loss to explain.

The bills filed Wednesday would reverse that law. They must be heard by committees and passed by both chambers before taking effect.

House Bill 64 was filed by Reps. Pricey Harrison, Maggie Jeffus, Alma Adams, Laura Wiley and John Blust.

Senate Bill 67 was filed by Sens. Katie Dorsett and Don Vaughan.