A. Upon issuance of a developmental permit, the statutory vesting granted by subsection Sec. 9-1.1 of this section or subsection (c) of G.S. 160D-108 for a development project is effective upon filing of the application in accordance with G.S. 143-755, for so long as the permit remains valid pursuant to law.
B. Unless otherwise specified by this section, G.S. 160D-108, or other statute, local development permits expire one year after issuance unless work authorized by the permit has substantially commenced.
C. For the purposes of this section, a permit is issued either in the ordinary course of business of the applicable governmental agency or by the applicable governmental agency as a court directive.
D. Except where a longer vesting period is provided by statute or land development regulation, the statutory vesting granted by this section, once established, expires for an uncompleted development project if development work is intentionally and voluntarily discontinued for a period of not less than 24 consecutive months, and the statutory vesting period granted by this section for a nonconforming use of property expires if the use is intentionally and voluntarily discontinued for a period of not less than 24 consecutive months.
E. The 24-month discontinuance period is automatically suspended during the pendency of any board of adjustment proceeding or civil action in a State or federal trial or appellate court regarding the validity of a development permit, the use of the property, or the existence of the statutory vesting period granted by this section. The 24-month discontinuance period is also suspended during the pendency of any litigation involving the development project or property that is the subject of the vesting.
(Ord. No. O-21-06-15-5, §1, 6-15-21)