Tryon Town Council has agreed to seek an exemption from state law that limits towns from voluntarily annexing more than 10 percent of its incorporated area through satellite or non-contiguous annexations.
Council agreed Tuesday to seek a local bill from the North Carolina legislature for the exemption.
Town attorney Bailey Nager explained it would be a good idea because the town is currently at about 50 percent of the total area it is allowed for satellite annexations.
Nager explained the town is seeking an exemption from voluntary satellite annexation requirements, which are different than involuntary annexations or contiguous voluntary annexations.
Voluntary satellite annexations are when the town is petitioned by a property owner to be annexed into the town when that property does abut the town limits.
Nager added that if Harmon Field ever wants to expand, the town may exceed its area allowed and town ordinances could not be enforced if the new area could not be voluntarily annexed.
Harmon Field is approximately 50 acres and is the largest satellite annexation area of the town. Any new property acquired by Harmon Field, even if it was contiguous to Harmon Field, would still be considered a satellite annexation.
The City of Saluda last week agreed to seek legislation to exempt it from the satellite annexation rule as well. Tryon and Saluda may seek the legislation together for the upcoming N.C. General Assembly session. Columbus is already exempt from the rule as after seeking legislation a few years ago. Nager said about 95 North Carolina cities and towns are exempt from the statute.
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