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RALEIGH – After months of study and debate, a state legislative committee says forced annexation should not be allowed in North Carolina.

The Joint Legislative Study Commission on Municipal Annexation, charged by the General Assembly to review the state's annexation laws, recommended changes to the current system.

Opponents and proponents of North Carolina have packed past commission meetings, and Thursday was no different as the group voted overwhelmingly for change. The recommendation came despite concern from some commission members about the effects of such a massive overhaul.

One of the commission's recommendations is to put a moratorium on annexations while lawmakers debate current laws. They also proposed discontinuing forced annexations in the state, saying citizens should vote if they want to be annexed in the city.

"I think they listened to the research that had been done on how other states around this country handle a vote, and came to the conclusion that North Carolina is out of step with the rest of the country," Doug Aitken, with the Fair Annexation Coalition, said.

Some commission members say allowing voting before annexation would essentially end the practice in the state.

"There is absolutely no question that a vote of annexed citizens would kill it," Charlotte City Manager Mac McCarley said.

But even with this commission's vote, people on both sides of the issue say there is a very long road in front of them.

"We do continue to be very open to the discussion," Kelli Kukura, with the N.C. League of Municipalities, said. "We do, obviously, have work to do as we get in to the session."

With the recommendation in hand, members of the General Assembly will now begin their discussion of the issue. In the meantime, many opponents of the state's annexation system say the commission's action was a huge step forward.

"We've made major progress in coming this far," Charles Mardigian, of Moore County, said. "It's been a lot of work from a lot of people.