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ETJ Frequently Asked
Questions
What does
ETJ (Extra-territorial jurisdiction) mean?
The ETJ is an area outside of the Town Limits that is
likely to become part of the Town’s limits within the 10 years and
is part of a municipal planning area. An area within an ETJ
designation is subject to the specified Town’s zoning and building
regulations, not the county’s, to enable the Town to better ensure
that development patterns and associated infrastructure will allow
the efficient provision of urban services as the Town grows into
that area. According to the rules set by the State of North
Carolina, Towns less than 10,000 population can request an ETJ up
to 1 mile from their Town’s primary corporate limits.
What if I
don’t want to be included in any municipal planning area?
You already are. The
Wake County Land Use Plan, adopted by the Wake County Board Of
Commissioners in 1997 identifies this ETJ area for urban
development in the near future by the Town of Knightdale. The
plan places areas adjacent to all municipalities in Wake County in
either “short-range” or “long range” urban services areas. These
areas are expected to become urban, be provided with urban
services, and typically annexed in the next 20 years by the Town
of Knightdale
Will I
have to pay Knightdale property taxes?
No one in Knightdale’s
extra-territorial jurisdiction pays Town property taxes.
Will I
have to pay for water and sewer extensions?
Water and sewer lines are not extended to existing
subdivisions or other properties when they are included in the
Town’s ETJ. Typically, only if existing neighborhoods and
properties outside the Town limits where private wells or septic
systems have failed.
County
policy for granting additional ETJ requires that an area be able
to be served, but does not require all areas to have services
and be annexed:
“ETJ extensions should only be granted for areas
anticipated to be substantially developed and annexed within ten
(10) years. The ten year period projections should be used as a
guideline, and is adopted with the understanding that actual
progress in development and annexation of a given ETJ area may
vary from that originally projected at the time of ETJ extension.”
What if I
don’t want to be annexed?
The extension of ETJ
does not annex your property. Annexation is an entirely different
process from being included in the Town’s ETJ and is guided by
state law and Town policy. Two annexation approaches exist.
Either a landowner voluntarily requests to be annexed or a town
may involuntary annex an area. Both are covered by extensive
guidelines spelled out in North Carolina law. The Town currently
is not planning on initiating an annexation of this area.
Will I
have an opportunity to present my comments?
Opportunities to comment on the ETJ request will be
provided by Wake County since the Wake County Board of
Commissioners must approve Knightdale’s request to extend the
extraterritorial jurisdiction to cover more area. The Wake County
Planning Board will review the request and make a recommendation
to the County Commissioners. Their meetings will be open to the
public. Additionally, the commissioners must conduct a public
before they make any decision to approve additional ETJ. Before
any county hearings, legal advertisements will be placed in
newspapers, signs will be posted, and mailed notice will be sent
to every property owner in the affected area. Once a
determination is made by Wake County to extend the Town’s ETJ, the
Town will also hold a public hearing to set the zoning of the
properties within the newly extended ETJ.
How will
my property be zoned?
Any land brought into the Town’s ETJ will be zoned
according to the goals of the Town's Comprehensive Plan.
Property owners will be notified of their specific designation
prior to the public hearing to re-zone the land that is brought
into the ETJ.
How will
this affect my current residential property?
Instead of being subject to Wake County regulations,
all new additions, decks, porches, fences, pools, storage sheds,
etc. will be required to be in compliance with the Town’s zoning
requirements and will be required to obtain a building permit from
the Town of Knightdale, not Wake County. All new Home Based
Business and Home Occupations will be subject the Town’s
regulations and will be required to be registered with the Town.
How will
this affect my current non-residential property?
Instead of being subject to Wake County regulations,
all new additions, fences, dumpsters, parking areas, signs, etc.
will be required to be in compliance with the Town’s zoning
requirements and will be required to obtain a building permit from
the Town of Knightdale, not Wake County.
How will
this affect my undeveloped property?
Instead of being subject to Wake County zoning
requirements and review procedures, all future development will be
subject to the Town’s zoning requirements and review procedures
and will be required to obtain a building permit from the Town of
Knightdale, not Wake County.
For more
information, contact:
Jeff Triezenberg, AICP, GISP
Planner II - Long Range
919-217-2245
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