(a) Upon the receipt of a petition for street improvements, the city clerk shall examine the petition and certify as to its sufficiency to the council. No petition shall be considered for street improvements where streets have been opened after the effective date of the article from which this section derives in violation of section 15-27. In addition, no petition shall be considered for a street less than one (1) normal block in length.
(b) If the petition from the property owners is found to be sufficient, the council shall direct the city public works director to estimate the total cost of the street project in accordance with street specifications, to determine the total cost per foot of property frontage and the total cost to the city for intersections and other improvements the cost of which is to be borne by the city.
(c) When cost estimates are received, the council shall consider the availability of funds for street improvements, the degree of development along the street proposed to be improved and may approve such street improvement project as they deem best. The city will pay twenty-five (25) percent of the cost of improvements and the property owners, when property abuts the street improvements, shall be assessed for seventy-five (75) percent of the cost.
(d) When a street improvement project is approved, the property owners abutting such improvement shall be notified of the total estimated cost per foot of frontage and further notified that each owner has the opportunity to pay his proportionate share in cash in advance.
(e) The street improvement assessment procedure as authorized in general statutes section 160A, article 10 shall be followed and assessments shall be made against the properties abutting upon such improvement according to an equal rate per front foot. Property owners who have made a cash deposit in advance as authorized in this section shall be credited for such payments on the assessment rolls. In accordance with the requirements of the general statutes, property owners not paying assessments in cash in advance shall pay their assessments in five (5) equal annual installments which shall bear interest at a rate to be determined by the council.
(f) If the actual cost of improvements is less than the estimated cost, such excess shall be refunded to property owners. In event the actual cost exceeds the estimated cost the property owners will be assessed for this amount or may pay such amount in cash in the manner provided by law.
(Code 1982, 4-1005; Ord. of 2-21-89)
State Law References: Petition for street or sidewalk improvements, G.S. 160A-217.