an act to authorize the town of beaufort to lease certain property owned or leased by the town.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Any or all of the real property presently owned or leased or hereinafter owned or leased by the Town of Beaufort within (i) the areas described in Chapter 371 of the Session Laws of 1979 and Chapter 1199 of the Session Laws of 1981, as amended by Chapter 100 of the Session Laws of 1983, and all littoral and riparian rights attached thereto and (ii) the area more particularly described as bounded on the north by Front Street, on the west by Orange Street, and on the east by Marsh Street and all littoral and riparian rights attached thereto may be leased or rented by the Town of Beaufort upon such terms and conditions as the Town's Board of Commissioners may determine, including leases for longer than 10 years if the Board determines that the real property will not be needed by the Town for the term of the lease. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160A‑272, the Town of Beaufort may lease such property for longer than 10 years as long as it follows the requirements of G.S. 160A‑272 for leases of 10 years or less.

SECTION 2.  The Town of Beaufort is hereby authorized to renew or extend any leases of the real property described in Section 1 of this act for periods in excess of 10 years upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Commissioners may determine pursuant to a resolution of the Board authorizing the extension or renewal of any present leases on the property which may be adopted at a regular Board meeting upon 10 days' public notice. Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 160A‑272, the Board may renew or extend the leases for periods longer than 10 years as long as it follows the requirements of G.S. 160A‑272 for leases of 10 years or less.

SECTION 3.  Nothing in this act shall be construed as restricting or modifying the Town's authority to lease or rent real property or to renew or extend any leases of real property as authorized in Chapter 371 of the Session Laws of 1979 and Chapter 1199 of the Session Laws of 1981, as amended by Chapter 100 of the Session Laws of 1983.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.